Red Devils (Belgian Parachute Regiment)
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| Red Devils (Belgian Parachute Regiment) | |
|---|---|
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| Unit name | Red Devils |
| Dates | 1940s–present |
| Country | Belgium |
| Branch | Belgian Armed Forces |
| Type | Airborne forces |
| Role | Special operations |
| Size | Regiment |
| Garrison | Tielen |
| Nickname | Red Devils |
| Motto | "Who Dares Wins" |
| Notable commanders | Major General Daniel Féret; Brigadier General Philippe De Baets |
Red Devils (Belgian Parachute Regiment) The Red Devils are the airborne infantry regiment of Belgium with origins in World War II and links to the Special Air Service lineage, formed from Belgian volunteers who fought with United Kingdom forces and later integrated into the postwar Belgian Army and Belgian Defence structures. The unit is noted for participation in Cold War NATO planning alongside Royal Netherlands Army and British Army formations, and for deployments in post‑Cold War operations such as Operation Allied Force, ISAF, and Operation Active Endeavour. The regiment's heritage connects to symbols and personalities from wartime commando traditions and modern multinational expeditionary missions.
History
The regiment traces its roots to Belgian volunteers in the Special Air Service who served during Second World War campaigns including the Western Front (1944–1945), with veterans linked to operations in Normandy, the Low Countries, and the Rhine. Post‑war reconstitution led to formation within the Belgian Army and integration into NATO defence plans during the Cold War, operating alongside units from United States Army Europe, Bundeswehr, and French Army formations. In the 1990s and 2000s the regiment deployed to peacekeeping and combat operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo War, Iraq War, Afghanistan, and maritime security tasks in the Mediterranean Sea. Organizational changes reflected broader reforms in the Belgian Armed Forces and interoperability initiatives with NATO Response Force, European Union battle groups, and bilateral agreements with Netherlands airborne units.
Organisation and Structure
The regiment is organised into parachute companies, support elements, reconnaissance detachments, and headquarters staff with command relationships to the Land Component (Belgium). Subunits mirror NATO airborne doctrine and maintain liaison links with the Special Air Service, United States Army 82nd Airborne Division, Royal Marines, and French Foreign Legion airborne elements. Administrative affiliation has shifted between garrisons such as Tielen and joint bases used for training with NATO Allied Rapid Reaction Corps and Eurocorps. Logistics, signals, and medical support are coordinated with Belgian joint forces and multinational partners including NATO Allied Command Transformation and European Defence Agency programs.
Training and Selection
Selection parallels rigorous airborne and commando standards derived from wartime SAS techniques and modern special forces methodology, involving parachute qualification, airborne operations, survival training, and close‑quarter battle skills validated by joint exercises with British Army Parachute Regiment and U.S. Army Special Forces. Candidates undergo assessments at Belgian training centres and international schools such as the Royal Military Academy (Belgium), Centro Addestramento Paracadutisti equivalents, and participate in exercises like Exercise Steadfast Jaguar and Exercise Trident Juncture. Training includes mountain warfare with units like the Alpenjäger and amphibious interoperability with Royal Netherlands Marine Corps and Italian Marina Militare elements, plus language and cultural preparation for deployments to regions including Sahel and Horn of Africa.
Operational Deployments
Operational history spans battalion and company‑level deployments to Suez Crisis‑era contingencies, Cold War readiness in West Germany, and expeditionary missions to Bosnia and Herzegovina under UNPROFOR and IFOR, peace enforcement in Kosovo with KFOR, counterinsurgency operations during the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) under ISAF, counterterrorism and stability tasks in Mali in coordination with Operation Serval and Operation Barkhane, and maritime security patrols in the Mediterranean Sea as part of Operation Sophia. The regiment has also contributed forces to NATO Response Force rotations and EU Battlegroup readiness cycles.
Equipment and Insignia
Standard infantry equipment includes weapons interoperable with NATO calibres such as the FN SCAR and legacy FN FAL variants, small arms from FN Herstal, and squad support weapons similar to those in British Army airborne units. Mobility relies on tactical vehicles compatible with heavy transport aircraft like the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, C-17 Globemaster III, and rotary wing lift from NHIndustries NH90 and Sikorsky UH-60. Insignia feature the nickname derived emblem and maroon beret traditions associated with airborne forces, with ceremonial distinctions awarded by Belgian presidential decree and NATO commendations; decorations mirror links to Vliegbasis Kleine-Brogel ceremonies and wartime campaign badges connected to Order of Leopold and Croix de guerre (Belgium) precedence.
Notable Personnel and Honors
Notable figures in the regiment's history include wartime leaders who served in the Special Air Service and postwar commanders who integrated airborne doctrine into the Belgian Land Component. The regiment and its members have received Belgian and international honors such as the Order of Leopold, Croix de guerre (Belgium), NATO citations, and unit commendations tied to operations in Afghanistan and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Veterans maintain associations linked with memorials at sites including Arnhem and commemorative events alongside Royal Family of Belgium representatives.
Cultural Impact and Legacy
The Red Devils feature in Belgian military historiography, museums, and media portrayals alongside WWII narratives involving the Free Belgian Forces, cinematic works referencing airborne operations, and literature on Special Air Service exploits. Their maroon beret and insignia appear in public ceremonies, national remembrance events, and recruitment imagery tied to the Belgian Armed Forces heritage. The regiment's legacy influences modern Belgian doctrine, joint training programs with NATO partners, and civic commemorations observed at historical battle sites such as Normandy landings memorials and Market Garden anniversaries.
Category:Airborne units and formations of Belgium Category:Military units and formations established in 1940s