Marching regiment

A marching regiment is a regiment created provisionary, in light of military operations, on the basis of unconventional recruitment.

These recruitments can be operated in three different ways:
 * By the levies of regular military units, when the latter are not disorganized;
 * In the contrary, from disorganized units, remaining soldiers from the depot in the garrisons or discharged from hospitals, from contingents of new recruits not formed or reservists;
 * The enrollment of foreign contingents, and in the case of the French Armed Forces, from Troupes coloniales (troupes colonials).

Also in existence, are marching battalions (Bataillons de Marche) or Marching Squadrons (Escadrons de Marche), and often marching brigades regrouping several regiments.

History
The marching units were used throughout the 19th century and 20th century in the armies (les armées) of France, Austria-Hungary (Austro-Hongroises), Germany (Allemandes) and Russia (Russes).

In France, in the XIXth century and principally under the First French Empire, the domination of Provisionary Regiment was utilized to designate a regiment created by levies of different regular units or from soldiers remaining the garrisons; in the 20th century however, only the denomination of Marching Regiment was continued to be adopted.

In Germany and in the former German states, as well as in Russia, the denomination utilized was Combined Regiment to designate a regiment created by the levies of different regular units.

Napoleonic Wars
The first marching regiments appeared during the Napoleonic Wars (guerres napoléoniennes). The Spanish War (guerre d'Espagne), particularly was a significant cost in human life, in contrast Napoleon I constituted as of 1808 Marching Regiments destined to compensate these losses.

In his correspondence, Napoleon I distinguished "provisionary regiments", by waiting assignment tasks, and the Marching Regiments were put in March towards the exterior theatres of operations or, in the opposite sense, placed to regain the garrison of origin in metropolis.

It was mainly starting 1812 and during the Russian Campaign (campagne de Russie) that the use of marching regiments was generalized. Accordingly:
 * On 29 February 1812, a provisionary regiment (then marching regiment) of Hussards (Hussards) was formed in Toulouse and at Foix from the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 10th Hussar Regiment ;
 * On 8 May 1812 the 1st Marching Regiment of Paris was created which made way towards Erfurt (Erfurt) and joined later Berlin (Berlin) where the regiment was dissolved on 16 June ;
 * On 28 May 1812, was created a Cavalry Marching Regiment of 1000 men, recruited from the depot of Spanish Army, and united at Bayonne (Bayonne) to make way towards Russia ;
 * On 2 September 1812, Napoleon gave the order to form a column with the Infantry Marching Regiment of the 3rd Corps, and the Cavalry Marching Regiment', the 5th Marching Cavalry, and the 6th Marching Cavalry in forecast of the Battle of Borodino (bataille de la Moskova).

During the retreat of Russia, Marching Regiments were constituted to lead back the men hailing from different corps, back to their respective units of origin, amalgamated tentatively and accordingly united for the route. .

Spanish expedition and siege of Algiers
During the Spanish Expedition (expédition d'Espagne) in April 1832, a series of corps depot made way to Spain under the designation of Provisionary Regiments

Later, during the expedition of 1830 and the siege of Algiers (prise d'Alger), Marching Regiments were placed in motion. Général Étienne Alexandre Bardin (Étienne Alexandre Bardin) explained in his Dictionary of the French Army that the Marching Regiments were used because the light infantry units could only include two formed battalions of battle hardened men.

During this époque, the opinions differed in regards to the utilization of the Marching Regiments. The administrator Pierre Agathange Audier recommended the usage in his "Study course of military administration" published in 1824, however, général Étienne Alexandre Bardin expressed a contrary advise to the writer, still in his dictionary which would be published after his death in 1841, that "If in the movements of a grand war and during far away operations, we are forced to revert to this mean to nourish the army, this usage is detestable administratively and gives birth to all embarrassment of an inextricable compatibility".

Exterior conflicts of the Second French Empire


Expeditions led in exterior during the Second French Empire had usage of marching regiments.

Crimean War
Marching regiments issued from the armée d'Afrique (armée d'Afrique) were engaged from 1854 to 1856 during the Crimean War (Guerre de Crimée).

French intervention in Mexico
The French expeditionary corps which disembarked in Mexico (Mexique) on 8 January 1862 was essentially constituted of the 1st Marching Regiment strong with 2000 men of the 1st Marine Infantry Regiment 1erRIMa and the 2nd Marine Infantry Regiment 2e RIMa.

The same year, reinforcement were received from the 2nd Marching Cavalry Regiment (Lieutenant-colonel Margueritte (Margueritte)) composed of two squadrons issued from the 12e Chasseur à Cheval Regiment (12e Régiment de Chasseurs à Cheval) and two squadrons issued from the 3rd African Chasseur Regiment (3e Régiment de Chasseurs d'Afrique).

Franco-German war of 1870
The disaster of the Franco-Prussian War (Guerre franco-allemande de 1870) led the French to create in urgency numerous marching regiments.

End of the Second French Empire
The 13th Army Corps (13e Corps d'Armée) (général Vinoy (général Vinoy) was formed on August 1870 at Paris. The Marching Regiments of this corps were constituted of three depot battalions belonging to different regiments with recruits or recalled veteran soldiers.


 * The 5th Marching Regiment (5e de Marche) (colonel Hanrion) and the 6th Marching Regiment (6e de Marche) (lieutenant-colonel du Guiny) with two marching chasseurs companies formed the 1st Brigade of général Mattat. The 7th Marching Regiment (7e de Marche) (lieutenant-colonel Tarayre) and the 8th Marching Regiment (8e de Marche) (lieutenant-colonel Drouet) formed the 2nd Brigade of général Daudel. With three batteries de 4 and engineer company, these two brigades constituted the 1st Infantry Division of général d'Exéa (général d'Exéa).


 * The 9th Marching Regiment (9e de Marche) (lieutenant-colonel Miquel de Riu) and the 10th Marching Regiment  (10e de Marche) (lieutenant-colonel Damedor de Molans) formed the 1st Brigade of général Guerin. The 11th Marching Regiment (11e de Marche) (lieutenant-colonel Née-Devaux) and the 12th Marching Regiment (12e de Marche) (lieutenant-colonel de Labaume) formed the 2nd Brigade of général Blaise. With three batteries de 4 and one engineer company, these two brigades constituted the 2nd Infantry Division of général de Maud'Huy.


 * The 13th Marching Regiment (13e de Marche) (lieutenant-colonel Morin) and the (14e de Marche) (lieutenant-colonel Vanche) with two marching chasseurs companies formed the 1st Brigade of général de Susbielle. The 35th Infantry Regiment (35e Régiment d'Infanterie) (colonel de la Mariouse) and the 42nd Infantry Regiment (42e Régiment d'Infanterie) (colonel Avril de Lenclos) formed the 2nd Brigade of général Guilhem. With three batteries de 4 and one engineer company, these two brigades constituted the 3rd Infantry Division of général Blanchard (général Blanchard).

Siege of Paris
Following the disaster of Sedan (désastre de Sedan), a national defense government (gouvernement de la Défense nationale) proclaimed on 4 September 1870 the Third French Republic and the decline of Emperor Napoleon III (Napoléon III). The 14th Army Corps (général Renault (général Renault)) was formed accordingly in the entrenched camp of Paris. The battalions in depot had already deployed, and the only available units left were a company of each deployed regiment, in charge of receiving soldiers recalled for service. Accordingly, the available companies were doubled. These demi-companies were supposed to form the regiment of the 14th Corps. Each new regiment accordingly consisted of eighteen different company corps.


 * The 15th Marching Regiment (15e de Marche) (lieutenant-colonel Benedetti) and the 16th Marching Regiment (16e de Marche) (lieutenant-colonel Guadel) with two chasseurs companies à pied formed the 1st Marching Brigade of général Ladreit de la Charrière (général Ladreit de la Charrière) which was killed on 2 December 1870 during the defense of Paris.


 * The 17th Marching Regiment (17e de Marche) (lieutenant-colonel Sermensan) and the 18th Marching Regiment (18e de Marche) formed the 2nd Brigade of général Lecomte (général Lecomte). With two batteries de 4 and one engineer section, these two brigades constituted the 1st Division of général Béchon de Caussade (Béchon de Caussade) which was killed on 9 November 1870 during the siege of Paris.


 * The 19th Marching Regiment (19e de Marche) (lieutenant-colonel Collasseau) and the 20th Marching Regiment (20e de Marche) (lieutenant-colonel Niel) with two chasseurs companies à pied formed the 1st Brigade of général Bocher.


 * The 21st Marching Regiment (21e de Marche) (lieutenant-colonel de Vandeuil) and the 22nd Marching Regiment (22e de Marche) (lieutenant-colonel Barbe) formed the 2nd Brigade of général Paturel. With two batteries de 4 and one engineer section, these two brigades constituted the 2nd Division of général d'Hugues.


 * The 23rd Marching Regiment (23e de Marche) of (lieutenant-colonel Dupuy de Podio) and the 24th Marching Regiment (24e de Marche) (lieutenant-colonel Sanguinetti) with two chasseur companies formed the 1st Brigade of général Benoît.


 * The 25th Marching Regiment (25e de Marche) (lieutenant-colonel Jourdain) and 26th Marching Regiment (26e de Marche) (lieutenant-colonel Lecerf) formed the 2nd Brigade of général Courty. With batteries de 4 and one engineer section, these two brigades constituted the 3rd Division of général de brigade de Maussion (général de brigade de Maussion).

Excluding these two army corps, a Zouaves Marching Regiment was formed from divers units, the 28th Marching Regiment (28e de Marche) with the depot of the Imperial Guard of the Second Empire (Garde Impériale), the 36th Marching Regiment (28e de Marche), the 37th Marching Regiment (37e de Marche), the 38th Marching Regiment (38e de Marche), and the 39th Marching Regiment (39e de Marche) with the depots which remained in Paris.

Army of the East
In December 1870, the different army corps of the Army of the east (Armée de l'Est) of général de division Bourbaki were reinforced by marching regiments.

The 15th Army Corps of général de division Martineau des Chenez received :


 * The 1st Zouaves Marching Regiment (1er Zouaves de marche) (lieutenant-colonel Parran) and the 4th Marching Chasseur Battalion à Pied (4ebataillon de marche de chasseurs à pied) in the 1st Division of général D'Astugue.


 * The 2nd Zouaves Marching Regiment (2e Zouaves de marche) (lieutenant-colonel Chevalier), 5th Marching Chasseur Battalion à Pied (5ebataillon de marche de chasseurs à pied) (Commandant Boudet) and the 30th Marching Regiment (30e de Marche) (lieutenant-colonel Godin) in the 2nd Division of général Rebillard.


 * The 6th Marching Chasseur Battalion à Pied (6ebataillon de marche de chasseurs à pied) (Commandant Regain), the 27th de Marche (27e de marche) (lieutenant-colonel Péragallo), the 34th Marching Regiment (34e de Marche) (lieutenant-colonel Audouard) and a battalion of the 33rd Marching Regiment (33e de Marche) in the 3rd Division of général Peytavin.


 * The 1st Marching Chasseur Battalion à Pied (1ebataillon de marche de chasseurs à pied) (colonel Rouher) and the 1st Cuirassiers Marching Battalion (colonel de Renusson d'Hauteville) in the Cavalry Division of général de Longuerue.

The 18th Army Corps of général de division Billot received :


 * The 9th Marching Chasseur Battalion à Pied (9ebataillon de marche de chasseurs à pied) (Commandant N...), the 42nd Marching Regiment (42e de Marche) (lieutenant-colonel Couston) and the 44th Marching Regiment (44e de Marche) (lieutenant-colonel Achilli) in the 1st Division of général Feillet-Pilatrie.
 * The 12th Marching Chasseur Battalion à Pied (12ebataillon de marche de chasseurs à pied) (Commandant Villeneuve), the 52nd Marching Regiment (52e de Marche) (lieutenant-colonel Quénot) in the 2nd Division of French Navy Contre-Amiral (Counter admiral) Jérôme-Hyacinthe Penhoat (Contre-Amiral Penhoat).


 * The 4th Zouaves Marching Regiment (4e Zouaves de marche) (Colonel de Boisfleury), the 14th Marching Chasseur Battalion à Pied (14ebataillon de marche de chasseurs à pied) (Commandant Bonnet) and the 53rd Marching Regiment (52e de Marche) (lieutenant-colonel Brenières) in the 3rd Division of général Bonnet.
 * The 2nd Hussard Marching Regiment (2e Hussards de marche) (lieutenant-colonel de Pointis), the 3rd Light Horse Lancers Regiment (3elanciers de marche) (Lieutenant-colonel Renaudot), the 5th Marching Dragoons (5e dragons de marche) (lieutenant-colonel d'Ussel) and the 5th Marching Cuirassiers Regiment (5e cuirassiers de marche) (lieutenant-colonel De Brécourt) in the Cavalry Division of général de Brémond d'Ars.

The 20th Army Corps of général de division Clinchant received :


 * The 25th Marching Chasseur Battalion à Pied (25ebataillon de marche de chasseurs à pied) (Commandant Bailly) and the 3rd Zouaves Marching Regiment (3e Zouaves de marche) (lieutenant-Colonel Bernard) in the 2nd Division of général de brigade Thornton.
 * The 47th Marching Regiment (47e de Marche) (Colonel N...) in the 3rd Division of général Ségard.

The 24th Army Corps of général de division Bressolles received :


 * The 15th Marching Chasseur Battalion à Pied (15ebataillon de marche de chasseurs à pied) and the 63rd Marching Regiment (63e de Marche) (Colonel N...) in the 1st Division général d'Ariès.


 * The 21st Marching Chasseur Battalion à Pied (21ebataillon de marche de chasseurs à pied) (lieutenant-colonel Jouneau) and the 61st Marching Regiment (61e de Marche) (lieutenant-colonel Dauriac) in the 2nd Division of général Comagny-Thibaudin.

The General Reserve of French Navy Capitaine de frigate Pallu de la Barrière (Pallu de la Barrière) received :


 * The 29th Marching Regiment (29e de Marche) (lieutenant-colonel Carré) and the Marching Regiment of Marine Infantry (Régiment de Marche d'Infanterie de Marine) (lieutenant-colonel Coquet) in the Infantry Brigade.


 * The 1st Marching Regiment of African Chasseur (1er Chasseurs d'Afrique de marche) (lieutenant-colonel Gaume) and the 3rd Marching Dragoon (3e dragons de marche) (lieutenant-colonel Durdily) in the Cavalry Brigade of général de Boério.

World War I


Less than a year from the beginning of first world war, the government decided on 25 January 1912, to constitute 40 Marching Battalions, as in 2 Marching Battalion by military region. They were formed of new recruits, reserve soldiers in the depot of garrisons and the wounded medically refit for service.

Marching Regiments were equally created from the troupes d'Afrique (troupes d'Afrique), such as the 4th Marching Tirailleurs Regiment. The 1st Foreign Regiment 1er RE of Sidi Bel-Abbès and the 2nd Foreign Regiment 2e RE of Saida, garrisoned in Algeria, mounted four demi-battalions destined constitute the principal formations of the future regiments:
 * The 2nd Marching Regiment of the 2nd Foreign Regiment, (2e Régiment de Marche du 2e Régiment Etranger), 2eR.M.2eR.E (1914 – 1915).
 * The 2nd Marching Regiment of the 1st Foreign Regiment, (2e Régiment de Marche du 1er Régiment Etranger), 2eR.M.1erR.E (1914 – 1915).
 * The 3rd Marching Regiment of the 1st Foreign Regiment, (3e Régiment de Marche du 1er Régiment Etranger), 3eR.M.1erR.E (1914 – 1915).
 * The 4th Marching Regiment of the 1st Foreign Regiment, (4e Régiment de Marche du 1er Régiment Etranger), 4eR.M.1erR.E (1914–1915).

The Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion (RMLE) was created on 11 November 1915 by fusion of the 2nd Marching Regiment of the 1st Foreign Regiment (2eRM 1erRE) and the 2nd Marching Regiment of the 2nd Foreign Regiment (2eRM 2e RE). The Marching Regiment participated to Battle of the Somme (bataille de la Somme) in 1916 and to Second Battle of the Marne (seconde bataille de la Marne) in 1918.

World War II
At the break of dawn of Second World War, during the declaration of war on September 1939, a Marching Regiment was constituted from the three battalions of the Fortress Infantry Regiments, the 146th Fortress Infantry Regiment (146e Régiment d'Infanterie de Forteresse), the 156th Fortress Infantry Regiment (156e Régiment d'Infanterie de Forteresse), and the 160th Fortress Infantry Regiment (160e Régiment d'Infanterie de Forteresse), under the orders of lieutenant-colonel Vogel to participate to the Saar Offensive (offensive de la Sarre). The Marching Regiment penetrated in Germany in the woods of Warndt, then received the order to retrieve following the capitulation of Poland.

During the same époque, Marching Regiments of the French Foreign Legion were constituted to gather foreigners wishing to battle for the French flag. Accordingly, 5000 Ukrainian volunteers whom did not want to endorse the Polish uniform, nor the Soviet uniform, integrated and filled the ranks of the 21st, 22nd and 23rd Marching Regiments of Foreign Volunteers (RMVE).

Following the Armistice of 22 June 1940 (armistice du 22 juin 1940), the African units which rallied to Free France (France Libre) were organized by général de Gaulle in Marching Battalions principally in the 1st Free French Division (1re Division Française Libre). The 1st Marching Regiment of Moroccan Saphis (1er Régiment de Marche de Spahis Marocains), created on 24 September 1942, was the first Marching Regiment of Free France. The Marching Regiment of Tchad, created in July 1943 from the Senegalese Tirailleurs of Tchad, was the first Regiment of Free France, and illustrated capability at Kufra (Koufra) until Germany. Due to these Faits d'armes, this regiment was the only marching regiment which was not dissolved after the Liberation and which still is active under the respective designation.

From 1 July 1943 until 1 July 1945, the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment 3e REI had been designated as Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion (RMLE) which was the original designation for the latter from 15 November 1915 until 15 November 1920.

Bavarian Corps
During the Battle of Hohenlinden (bataille de Hohenlinden), in December 1800, the Bavarian (bavarois) Corps which was combat engaged against France and alongside the Austro-Hungarian Army was composed of a Combined Light Horse Regiment consisting of six squadrons. Such was one of the first appearances of this type of regiment.

Austro-Hungarian Army
The Austro-Hungarian Army (armée austro-hongroise) made use of marching units during the first world war. The Marching Battalions were regrouped in Marching Regiments, and two marching regiments formed the Marching Brigade.

Grand Duchy of Baden
The Grand Duchy of Baden (Grand-duché de Bade), created in 1806, under the impulsion of Napoleon I (Napoléon), contributed in 1808 for the Peninsular War (campagne d'Espagne) a combined infantry regiment which fought along side the French and became in 1809, the Linien Infantry Regiment N°4 (Linien Infanterie Regiment N°4) (4th Line Infantry Regiment).

Kingdom of Prussia


In 1812, the auxiliary corps of the Kingdom of Prussia was essentially formed of combined regiments composed of battalions or squadrons issued from the different regiments.

Ounce peace prevailed again, Prussia kept on putting in place combined regiments during grand manoeuvers. Accordingly, during the grand maneuvers of Kalisch, which united during the summer of 1835 the Russian and Prussian Army, the latter having contributed two combined cavalry regiment and a combined infantry regiment.

German Empire
During first world war, the German Army consisted of Combined Regiments, as the 79.R/85.L, formed from the four companies of the 79thy Infantry Reserve Regiment and two battalions of the 85th Infantry Regiment of Landwehr (Landwehr).

Second World War
The Wehrmacht has enacted Marching Battalions in the infantry and in the cavalry throughout the course of World War II, from 1943 to 1945.

Russia
In October 1813, during the Battle of Leipzig (bataille de Leipzig), the Russian reserve Army of Poland commanded by Levin August von Bennigsen (Bennigsen) consisted of 2nd Combined Regiments of Uhlan (Uhlans) comprising four squadrons.

In the years of 1830, the Imperial Russian Army had taken the habit of creating Combined Regiments, formed of various regular units, to participate to grand-maneuvers. During the Grand-Maneuvers of Kalisch (Kalisch), which united in 1835 the Prussian Army and Russia Army, Russian Imperial Guard (garde impériale russe) placed in lieu a combined cavalry regiment and a combined infantry regiment.