25th Parachute Division (France)

The 25th Parachute Division (French: 25e Division Parachutiste, 25e D.P) was an airborne division of the French Army, part of the French Airborne Units. Consisting mainly of air infantry specialized in airborne combat, air assault and established in 1956; the Parachute Division took principal part only in the Algerian War.

25th Parachute Division
25e Division Parachutiste
25eD.P. Shoulder Arm Insignia featuring
Golden White Winged Spear
Active1956–1961
Country France
BranchFrench army
TypeFrench Parachute Division
AnniversariesSaint Michael, September 29
EngagementsAlgerian War
Insignia
Identification symbol
Abbreviation25e D.P

Creation and different designations

Constitution

On June 1, 1956, the 25th Parachute Division was created in the 5th military region from the 25e DIAP and the Colonial Parachute Brigade.[2] The division included five airborne infantry Regiments, two airborne cavalry regiments and one unit of Parachute Artillery:

Organizational Chart of the 25th Parachute Division in April 1960

During tenure, the Division witnessed changes:

On December 1, 1958, the Colonial Parachute Regiments underwent a designation change to Marine Infantry Parachute Regiments while retaining their numerical designation.

Division Commanders

History

Battle of the Frontiers

Two of the five airborne infantry regiments of the division; mainly, the 8th Colonial Parachute Regiment and the 14th Parachute Chasseur Regiment; participated from January to May 1958 in the Battle of Frontiers. Accordingly, General Raoul Salan, superior commander in Algeria, delegated all five airborne infantry regiments to General Paul Vanuxem; commander of the zone est-constantinois (ZEC). The battle took place at both the Morice Line and Challe Line and lasted for about 5 months.[5]

Traditions
The Archangel Michael featured in Mont Saint-Michel and the Insignia of the 9th Parachute Chasseur Regiment.

Except for the Legionnaires of the 2e REP that conserve the Green Beret; the remainder of the French army metropolitan and marine paratroopers forming the 11th Parachute Brigade wear the Red Beret.

  • Circled Winged Armed Dextrochere of French Army Metropolitan Paratroopers
  • French and Foreign Legion Parachute Brevet.
  • Anchored Winged Armed Dextrochere of French Army Marine Infantry Paratroopers
  • Circled Winged Armed Dextrochere of French Foreign Legion Paratroopers

The Archangel Saint Michael, patron of the French paratroopers is celebrated on September 29.

The prière du Para (Prayer of the Paratrooper) was written by André Zirnheld in 1938.

Insignias

Just like the paratrooper Brevet of the French Army; the Insignia of French Paratroopers was created in 1946. The French Army Insignia of metropolitan Paratroopers represents a closed "winged armed dextrochere", meaning a "right winged arm" armed with a sword pointing upwards. The Insignia makes reference to the Patron of Paratroopers. In fact, the Insignia represents "the right Arm of Saint Michael", the Archangel which according to Liturgy is the "Armed Arm of God". This Insignia is the symbol of righteous combat and fidelity to superior missions. The French Army Insignia of Marine Infantry Paratroopers is backgrounded by a Marine Anchor.

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See also

References
  1. Collectif, Histoire des parachutistes français, Société de Production Littéraire, 1975. In Histoire des parachutistes français (History of French Paratroopers), page 544
  2. Collectif, Histoire des parachutistes français, Société de Production Littéraire, 1975. InHistoire des parachutistes français(History of French Paratroopers), page 449
  3. Collectif, Histoire des parachutistes français, Société de Production Littéraire, 1975. In Histoire des parachutistes français( History of French Paratroopers), pages 512 and 513
  4. Collectif, Histoire des parachutistes français, Société de Production Littéraire, 1975. In Histoire des parachutistes français(History of French Paratroopers), pages 496 and 541
  5. Collectif, Histoire des parachutistes français, Société de Production Littéraire, 1975.In Histoire des parachutistes français(History of French Paratroopers), pages 501 to 508

Sources and bibliography
  • Collectif, Histoire des parachutistes français, Société de Production Littéraire, 1975.
  • J. Baltzer & E. Micheletti, Insignes et brevets parachutistes de l'armée française, Histoires et collections, 2001, ISBN 2-913-903-118.
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