2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion

2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion (2e Bataillon Étranger de Parachutistes)
Battalion Insignia
Active	2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion October 1, 1948 – December 1, 1955 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment December 1, 1955 – 2e REP
Country	France
Branch	French Foreign Legion
Type	Foreign Airborne Battalion
Part of	2e B.E.P I Formation, 1949 2e B.E.P II Formation, 1951 2e B.E.P III Formation, 1953 2e B.E.P IV Formation with 3e B.E.P, 1954 3e B.E.P redesignated 2e B.E.P, 1954 2e B.E.P V Formation, 1955 2e R.E.P in 1955
Garrison/HQ	Setif Philippeville
Colors	Green and Red
Anniversaries	Camerone Day
Engagements	First Indochina War
Commanders
Notable commanders	Rémy Raffalli
Abbreviation	2e B.E.P

The 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion (French: 2^e Bataillon Étranger de Parachutistes, 2^e B.E.P) was a foreign parachute battalion of the French Foreign Legion initially composed of volunteers of the 4th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion (4^e D.B.L.E).

2^e Bataillon Etranger de Parachutistes, 2^e BEP

The 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion was created on October 1, 1948 by execution of a ministerial prescription dating to March 27, 1948. The combat companies of the 2^e BEP were constituted by the 4th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion (4^e D.B.L.E) in Morocco and the depot of the foreign regiments in Sidi-bel-Abbès, were assigned by the 25th Airborne Division Element (French: 25^e Elément Divisionnaire Aéroporté, EDAP/25). Composed of one command company and three combat companies type fusiliers-voltigeurs, the battalion makes and clears way to Oran on January 19, 1949, destined for Indochina. Disembarked in Saïgon on February 9, the battalion is directed to Kep (Cambodia) by land route. In November 1949, the battalion takes base in Quan Thé.

The first combat engagements of the 2^e BEP have for theatre of operations, Cambodia, Cochinchine and Annam. In October 1950, the 2^e BEP is summoned to Tonkin. Reinforced by a heavy mortars company, the battalion engages in all military operations in the Delta, in Thaï lands, Mékong and the plains of Jarres. The impressive series of combat engagements are earned at the battle of Nghia Lo, colonial route N°6 (RC6), Hoa Binh and the defense of the camp by an airborne operation on Langson. Crowned of a magnificent epoque, the 2^e BEP makes and clears way to Dien Bien Phu on April 9 and 10 of 1954 in the middle of the furnace. Following the couter-attack of supporting point "Huguet", lead by a rare determination during the night of the 22 and 23 of April; the 2^e BEP and the 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion (1^er B.E.P) merge to form a single foreign marching battalion. On May 7, the foreign marching battalion is dissolved and the 2^e BEP is recreated by members of the 3rd Foreign Parachute Battalion. On June 1, 1954, the 2^e BEP leaves Asia on November 1, 1955. The colors of the battalion are decorated with 6 citations at the orders of the armed forces and the fourragère of the colors of the Legion of Honor. The losses of the 2^e BEP rises to 1500 Legion officers, warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and Legionnaires killed along with their "chef de corps", Legion commandant Barthélémy Rémy Raffali leading and heading a traditional Foreign Legion battlefield. Returned to Algeria, the 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion (2^e BEP) becomes the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment on December 1, 1955.