8th regiment of dragons

The 8th regiment of dragons (or 8th RD) is a unit of cavalry of the French Army created under the Ancien Mode, in 1674 by the marquis d' Heudicourt

Creation and various denominations

  • 1674 : ''' of Heudicourt '''

  • 1688: ''' of Choiseul-Praslin '''
  • 1693: ''' Toulouse '''
  • 1737: '''Penthièvre'''
  • 1776 : ''' Penthièvre-Dragons '''
  • 1791: 8th Regiment of Dragons
  • June 18th, 1811: with six other regiments of dragons, 8th is transformed into Régiment of Light horsemen Lancers . It takes the N° ''' 3 '''.
  • 1814: famous ''' Regiment Dolphin, 3 {{E}} Lancers '''. The 22 {{E}} Régiment of Hunters with Horse and the 7th squadron of the 2 {{E}} Chevau-légers of the Guard (red Lancers) are versed in this unit.
  • 1815: after the Hundred Days, the regiment is definitively laid off.

  • 1816 : creation of the regiment of the Dragons of the Rhone

  • 1825: dissolved, tranformé in 8th regiment of cuirassiers and under the name of 8th regiment of dragons
  • 1942 recreates: dissolved (maintained in the maquis)
  • 1944: re-creation of the 8th regiment of dragons
  • 1964: dissolved
  • 1964: recreate with the elements of the 4th regiment of hussards
  • 1977: dissolution

Colonels

  • 1791 : François of Bouzet de Montjoye

  • 1792: Jean-Thomas Seal of Mothe
  • 1793: Charles-Hubert de Gaignieres
  • 1794: Jean-Louis Falque
  • 1797: Jacques-Louis-François Millet
  • 1800: Louis Beckler
  • 1806: Alexandre-Louis-Robert Girardin d' Ermenonville
  • 1811: Alexandre-Louis-Jules Lebrun
  • 1813: Charles-Joseph Hatry
  • 1814: Eugene-Gabriel-Louis-Texier d' Hautefeuille
  • 1815: Colonel Charles-François Martique

Second world war

In May 1940, at the time of the German attack the 8th regiment of dragons belongs to the brigade of Cavalry of the 4 {{E}} Light Division of Cavalry, which is it even, ratachée with the IX {{E}} Armée with the Corap general. It is then composed of four squadrons of riders and a horse-drawn squadron of heavy weapons, for a total staff complement of 900 men and 1200 Horses. It is cut in parts between the 10 and on May 24th, it fights in Belgium then in France, 15% of its personnel being put out of combat, 50% being made prisoners.

From the May 24th, the 8th Dragons is reconstituted on tanks Hotchkiss H35 and Hotchkiss H39, it is integrated into the 7 {{E}} light division mechanical, which is born from the reorganization of the 4th DLC.

The 42 tanks of the regiment disappear during the hard combat from the month from June 1940, on June 16th, fault of material and of personnel, the 8th Regiment of Dragons completely ceased existing.

Last half of the XX° century

Standard

  • Rivoli, 1797

  • Marengo, 1800
  • Austerlitz, 1805
  • Heilsberg, 1807
  • Mortagne, 1914
  • Flandres, 1918
  • Aisne, 1918

  • Decorated with the Military Cross 1914-1918 with 2 palms and a star of vermeil
  • Decorated with the Military Cross 1939-1945 with a money star

Note

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