Régiment de Marche du Tchad

Régiment de Marche du Tchad
Unit name	Régiment de Marche du Tchad
Dates	1943–present
Country	France
Branch	French Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Mechanized infantry
Size	Regiment
Garrison	N'Djamena?
Nickname	"RMT"
Motto	"Je servirai"
Battles	Battle of Kufra, Operation Overlord, Battle of Paris, Siege of Colmar, Battle of Alsace, Battle of Djebel Djerissa
Notable commanders	Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque, Colonel Rémy Raffalli

Régiment de Marche du Tchad is a line infantry regiment of the French Army with origins in Free French formations raised in World War II. Formed from saharan and colonial contingents associated with the Free French Forces and Forces Françaises Libres, the regiment acquired renown during the Battle of Kufra, the liberation of Paris, and the advance to Strasbourg. It remains a decorated unit in the postwar French Army order of battle with continued service in overseas operations and NATO commitments.

Formation and Early History

Raised in 1943 from marching battalions assembled in the Tchad, the unit traced its lineage to the Bataillon du Tchad and elements gathered under Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque. Early cadres included veterans of the Fezzan and Fezzan operations who had fought at the Battle of Kufra under Leclerc's command. Recruitment drew on personnel from the Forces Aériennes Françaises Libres support elements, colonial troops from Senegal, Cameroon, and metropolitan volunteers who rallied after the Battle of France and the Armistice of 22 June 1940. The regiment's identity formed amid the broader reconstitution of the Forces Françaises Libres into regular formations during the North African Campaign and the build-up to operations in Europe.

World War II Service

During World War II, the regiment served with 2e Division Blindée and elements of the French Expeditionary Corps in key actions from the liberation of Paris to the campaign in Alsace. Under the overall strategic direction of Operation Overlord planning and the Allied advance from Paris to the Rhine, it participated in urban combat in Paris, mechanized maneuver toward Le Mans, and hard fighting in the Colmar Pocket. Coordination with United States Army formations, liaison with the British Army and operational orders from Leclerc linked the regiment to the liberation of Strasbourg and the symbolic march on the Kehl sector. The unit's wartime actions brought decorations from the Ordre de la Libération tradition and citations that tied it to the memory of the Free French Forces' contribution to the defeat of Nazi Germany.

Postwar Reorganizations and Deployments

After World War II, the regiment underwent reorganization within the French Army as metropolitan, colonial, and overseas structures were redefined during the Fourth Republic and the Fifth Republic. Elements were posted to theaters including Indochina, Algeria, and later to Chad and Central African assignments during decolonization and Cold War crises such as the Suez period and African internal security operations. In the postcolonial era the regiment adapted to mechanized doctrine, integrating VAB transports and other infantry vehicles while contributing to Operation Daguet and NATO readiness during the Cold War. More recently, detachments have participated in Operation Serval, Operation Barkhane, and multinational deployments to Kosovo, Lebanon, and United Nations missions, reflecting France's expeditionary commitments and cooperation with United Nations mandates and NATO taskings.

Organization and Traditions

Structured as a regiment with multiple combat companies, support companies, and a regimental command, the unit evolved from marching battalion composition to a modern mechanized organization incorporating armored reconnaissance, infantry companies, and artillery or engineer attachments. Ceremonial traditions draw on the regiment's Free French heritage, maintaining symbols associated with Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque, the Cross of Lorraine, and commemorations of the Kufra campaign and the Liberation of Paris. The regiment's insignia, colors, and regimental song reflect anniversaries tied to Leclerc's march and to battle honours recognized by the Ministry of Armed Forces. Annual commemorations bring veterans' associations, including those linked to the Ordre de la Libération and French Resistance networks, into regimental parades.

Battle Honours and Decorations

Battle honours emblazoned on the regimental colors reference key engagements such as Kufra, Paris, Alsace, and operations in North Africa. The regiment and its antecedent formations have received multiple citations at the order of the Armée, decorations including the Croix de Guerre 1939–1945, and individual awards drawn from the Légion d'honneur and the Ordre de la Libération for specific acts during the Free French campaigns. Collective mentions in despatches reflect coordination with Allied Command elements and recognition by French national commemorative institutions.

Notable Personnel and Commanders

Command figures associated with the regiment include Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque, whose leadership of Free French forces shaped the unit's early ethos, and regimental commanders who later served in senior French Army posts. Officers and NCOs who served include veterans of the Bataillon du Pacifique, former colonial officers from French Equatorial Africa, and decorated fighters recognized by Ordre national du Mérite and other French distinctions. The regiment's alumni feature in historical works on the Free French Forces, memoirs of the Leclerc Column, and studies of the Second World War in Europe.

Category:Infantry regiments of France Category:Military units and formations established in 1943