Alpine hunters

The Alpine hunters are a unit of elite of the Army French, appeared in its modern form in 1888. They were called the blue Diables .

It is necessary to distinguish:

Alpine hunters, organized in Battalion S (BCA), sometimes gathered in half-brigades.
the alpine infantry, organized in Regiment S (RIA).

However, the two types of units carry the same uniform and were found within same the alpine division S.

History

Before 1888, there did not exist Alpine hunters. The French Army included/understood Chasseurs with horse (pertaining to the Cavalerie) and Chasseurs with foot (pertaining to the Infanterie). The traditions as of these two kinds of hunters are completely different. The Alpine hunters all are simply hunters with foot being specialized in the combat in mountain. Thus, although the traditions hunters are the same ones for all the battalions of hunters to foot having existed, those which became alpine in inherited more the traditions of the troops mountain.

Creation of the Hunters to foot (1837)

In the middle of the 19th century, the army must face the evolution of the methods of war and techniques. New more sophisticated weapons appear. One of it, the Delvigne-Pontcharra rifle (of the name of two generals having created it and having improved) draws the attention of the army.
The king of France, charges his son, the Duc of Orleans Ferdinand-Philippe, to assemble a special troop charged to try out this rifle. Ferdinand-Philippe creates a quite specific troop of elite. Equipped with a material reduced and more functional than the traditional infantry, equipped with a dark and simple behavior, it is adapted for furtive and fast missions. This troop of elite which sees the day in 1837 takes the name of “company of hunters of test”. This company is an immediate success and, on decision of the king, is reinforced and becomes the “provisional battalion of hunters to foot” in 1838. As its name indicates it, this battalion is intended to be dissolved once the finished tests of the Delvigne-Pontcharra rifle. But it is sent in Algérie within the framework of the colonial wars and illustrates itself there particularly. In front of the success of this troop and the insistence of several of his generals who claim several battalions of this type, king Louis-Philippe votes a law creating 10 battalion of hunters to foot. The provisional battalion of hunters to foot becomes 1 {{er}} battalion of hunters to foot. These 10 battalions see the day the September 28th 1840 with the camp of Helfaut, close to Saint-Omer in the Pas-de-Calais. From 10, the battalions of hunters will pass to 20, then to 31.

Beginnings of the Alpine hunters (1888-1914)

The creation of the Alpine hunters

Until 1859, the Italy was not yet a unified state. It consisted of several independent kingdoms and republics (Royaume of Naples, République of Venice, Papal States, etc). Starting from 1859, under the impulse of Garibaldi and Cavour, Italy starts to unify for finally becoming a solid country. A new threat was thus born with the border from the the Alps, the more so as the Italians are the first to equip their army with troops especially formed with the combat in mountain. France must be able to answer a possible Italian invasion of opposing such specialized troops to him they. The December 24th 1888, a law creates the troops of mountain . 12 of the 31 battalions of hunters to foot are selected to ensure this mission. It take the name of “alpine battalions of hunters to foot”, which will become later by convenience “battalions of Alpine hunters” (BCA), trained of 6 companies of 154 men each one.

12 battalions of active of origin

The 12 alpine battalions are attached to both Army corps defending the Alps:

14th body (Lyon): 11 {{E}} BCA (Annecy), 13 {{E}} BCA (Chambéry), 14 {{E}} BCA (Embrun), 22 {{E}} BCA (Albertville), 12 {{E}} BCA, 28 {{E}} BCA and 30 {{E}} BCA (Grenoble for these last three).
15th body (Nice): 6 {{E}} BCA and 7 {{E}} BCA (Nice), 23 {{E}} BCA (Grasse), 24 {{E}} BCA (Villefranche-sur-Mer) and 27 {{E}} BCA (Menton).

Battalions of reserve and territorial

To these battalions of active battalions of reserve are added (for Alpine hunters of 23-35 years) whose numbers are those of active increased figure 40 (ex: 46e BCA is the reserve of the 6th BCA). There thus exist 12 BCA of reserve (46e BCA, 47e BCA, 51e BCA, 52e BCA, 53e BCA, 54e BCA, 62e BCA, 63e BCA, 64e BCA, 67e BCA, 67e BCA, 68e BCA, 70e BCA).

To these battalions the battalions of Alpine hunters of the army Territoriale are added (for the men of 35-45 years). They are 7 battalions, numbered 1e BCAT with the 7th BCAT.

Organization of the troops of mountain

In the Years 1890, the troop of mountain include/understand:

Three regiments of the brigade of Lyon:

157 {{E}} RIA (or 15/7, person in charge of the defense of the Ubaye),
158 {{E}} RIA (or 15/8, person in charge of the defense of the Tarentaise and the Maurienne)
159 {{E}} RIA (or 15/9, person in charge of the defense of the Briançonnais).

the 97 {{E}} RIA of Chambéry,
artillerists of the alpine batteries attached to the two army corps of the Alps (2 {{E}} RA and 19 {{E}} RA).

Let us note that the RIA include/understand each one 4 battalions.

At the time of the two world wars, battalions of reserve will be especially mobilized, temporarily increasing their number to more than one hundred. The 31 battalions will take part in the largest campaigns of the century, gaining many successes.

First World War

In 1914 (operations of Alsace), a 44 {{E}} division of alpine infantry (Silk general) gathers, the 97e RIA, 157e RIA, 159e RIA and 163 {{E}} regiments of infantry (all with three battalions).

In 1915, 9 battalions of walk of Alpine hunters are created (32e, 102e, 106e, 107e, 114e, 115e, 116e, 120e, 121e battalions).

Second world war

In 1940, France counts at least 8 alpine divisions of infantry (DIA) (). Each one includes/understands two in general regiment of infantry (IH or RIA), a half-brigade of Alpine hunters (DBCA), two artillery regiments (artillery regiments of mountain or RAM, regiment of heavy artillery divisional or RALD, etc), a group of recognition of division of infantry (GRDI).

27e DIA (general Senior, built-in the 7th CA, 8th army) : 71e IH, 159e RIA, 7th DBCA, 58e RAD, 258e RALD, 20th GRDI.
28e DIA (general Lestien, in reserve of the GQG): 97e RIA, 99e RIA, 5th DBCA (including/understanding the 13th BCA, 53e BCA, 67e BCA), 25e DBCA (including/understanding the 7th BCA, 27e BCA, 47e BCA), 2nd RAM, 202e RALD, 22e GRDI. (The 5th DBCA leaves the DIA in February 1940).
29e DIA (general Gérodias, in reserve of the GQG): 3rd RIA, 112e RIA, 6th DBCA, 94e RAM, 294e RALD, 34e GRDI.
30e DIA (general Duron, fact part of the 43e CA, 5th army): 49e IH (F), 55e RIA, 22e DBCA, 42e RAC, 242e RALC, 26e GRDI.
31e DIA (general Ihler, fact part of the 87e CA, 5th army): 15th RIA, 81e RIA, 96e RIA, 56e RAD, 256e RALM, 23e GRDI.
64e DIA (general of Saint-Vincent, 14th CA, Armed with the Alps): (to be supplemented).
65e DIA (general of Saint-Julien, 15th CA, Army of the Alps).
66e DIA (general Butcher, 14th CA, Army of the Alps).

Great figures of the Alpine hunters

the general Alain Ray, first military chief of the Maquis of Vercors, chief of FFI of the Isere, ordering alpine Division.
lieutenant Théodose Morel known as Tom Morel (August 1st 1915 - March 10th 1944), first military chief of the Maquis of Glières, old Military cadet, old of 27e BCA.
Etienne Poiteau says the captain Stephan, chief of the famous Stephan company of FFI, pioneer of the Guerilla.
Victor Goybet
Raymond Notches
Joseph Darnand which, before becoming the chief of the French Militia, was named “first soldier of France” and Officer of the Legion of Honor to have been to seek with the hands of the enemy the body of his chief and friend the Agnely captain at the time of the combat of Forbach.

not to forget colonel PUTZ killed with Laveradure (Algeria) ordering in February 1957 of the 1st half brigade of hunter (12.14.25 bca)

Traditions

Behavior of tradition

The behavior of tradition is called “Tenue SOLFERINO”, it is reserved for the units subjected to the traditions of the hunters. For the alpine ones, it includes/understands:

the Beret with its badge of weapon
blue Knickers with braid jonquil
the short-sleeved shirt or the blue wind-breaker according to the season, decorated badges regimental, divisional, decorations, sleeves of gallons as well as Fodder .
white bottoms
climbing boots

The beret, is adopted like caps hunters in 1891 by the Ministry for the War. Its origin is inhabitant of Béarn. The “tart”, as some call it, quickly becomes the emblem of the Alpine hunters, sufficiently large to protect the feet during the long guards in mountains, and in more it protects from the sun. At the time of the First World War the hunters will give up even the lawful helmet to carry their emblem, the tart during the engagements.

Thereafter the Alpine hunters will share their hairstyle with other troops which will dye it with their color (red for the parachutists, green for the legionaries,…)

Badges

The use of the colors money and gold, or white and yellow are reversed compared to the majority of the others weapons; with the result that a Adjudant carries one gallon gold on the shoulder pad, in opposition with its badge of beret money, and a Adjudant-chef one gallon money, harmonizes some with its its badge of beret money. For the privates the gallons of first class, of Caporal are “jonquils” (the yellow is banished language of the hunters) for the first class and two for the corporal, for the Caporal-chef: two gallons “jonquil” and a money. The Sergeant and Sergent-chef have one or three gallons money.

In a generic way, the gallons of Warrant officer S and Officier S are always harmonizes some with the color of the badge just as the buttons of jacket on the walking-out dresses standard (T21-T22). The hunters, from the color of their badge, are regarded as belonging to the knives.

Various traditions

Colors

The use of the “red” word is prohibited and replaced by Blue-cherry except indicating the color of the lips of the loved woman, the Légion of honor, the fodder one of the red legion of honor known as “it”, and the flag. That comes from the time when Napoleon III wanted to impose the port of the pants garance. That caused a blocking within the troops of mountain, from where prohibition to speak about red since this time.

In the same way one does not say:

yellow but Jonquil ,
the uniform but the held ,
the music but the brass band ,
the brass band does not play it sounds ,
the drum but the clear case ,
the barracks but the district .

With regard to the colors, the hunter has green blood because the green blood, it is for France (the blood poured for France).

Refrains and ringing

A hunter is put at the attention when he hears the refrain of his battalion or the battalions where he served during his career, when he hears the Protestation , created in 1873 with the camp of Châlons at the time when the law of the executives blamed the existence of the battalions of hunters. The Alpine hunter is with the GAV also when Al are sounded.

A hunter greets when the Sidi Brahim sounds.

the flag

There is only one flag for all the battalions and groups of hunters to foot and alpine, the guard was entrusted by it to the battalions carrying the fodder red for one year.

Making is done from now on with the Château of Vincennes, cradle of the hunters. This act is simpler owing to the fact that there remains only three battalions. However at present the guard of the flag is distributed between 7th, 13th and 27e BCA and the 16th GC.

Refrains Hunters

Each battalion has a refrain which is clean for him. These refrains are completely different between them as well on the level from the tone as of the text. Indeed, per hour of the combat of infantry without transmission resource, the bugle sounded its refrain with the horn. So the generals supervising the engagements knew the position of their troupes.
Each new hunter must know the 32 refrains preserved to pass its “baptism hunter”. The tradition wants that each number of day corresponds to a refrain hunter. For this reason there are 31 refrains, of the first 31 battalions, and one preserved that of the 42e° battalion which was stationed with Madagascar.
It is habit to sound each morning the refrain of the day before the call of the company.

First battalion

“ If the seventh of line has testicles with the bottom
It is that the First Hunters has foutues to him! ”

Second battalion

“ the Commander has a toothache, my children! ” ((a))

Third battalion

“ V' the third, v' the third, which reapplies with the gallop
V' the third, v' the third, which reapplies bag with the back! ”

Fourth battalion

“ Fourth battalion, Commander Clinchant
Always ahead! ”

Fifth battalion

“ Fifth Battalion belly with ground
Ordered by Certain Canrobert, ahead! ”

Sixth battalion

“ the sixth is there, it is a little there! ”

Seventh battalion

“ Battalion, Battalion, Battalion of iron
Battalion, Battalion, Battalion of steel ”.

Eighth battalion

“ You beautiful ace to run, you will not catch up with me! ” ((a))

Ninth battalion

“ Marie, I saw your very naked bottom
Pig, why do you look at it? ”

Tenth battalion

“ Tenth Battalion, Commander Mac-Mahon
is not afraid of the gun name of name ”

Eleventh battalion

“ Eleventh Battalion of Alpine hunters
Eleventh rabbit Battalion”

Twelfth battalion

“ Ah which he is idiot, which he is idiot the Twelfth
Ah which he is idiot, which he is there idiot it idiot! ”

Thirteenth battalion

“ Without bread, without fricot, with thirteenth one drinks only water! ”

Fourteenth battalion

“ skin of my casters for a cap
skin of my rollers for a shako! ”

Fifteenth battalion

“ I will smoke well a pipe
But I do not have tobacco! ”

Sixteenth battalion

“ Sixteenth Battalion of Hunters to foot
Sixteenth Steel Battalion! ”

Seventeenth battalion

“ Cré name of a dog, here us are well parties
Cré name of a dog, here us are well! ”

Eighteenth battalion

“ Still a biffin of threaded, break,
Still a biffin of threaded! ”

Nineteenth battalion

“ Asshole, asshole full with dirty hairs
Asshole, hairy asshole! ”

Twentieth battalion

“ Twentieth Battalion, Commander Cambriels,
the Hunters with foot have wings! ”

Twenty-and-unième battalion

“ do you want kilometers of Them? In here! ”

Twenty-second battalion

“ Still a biffin of fallen into the shit
Still a biffin of emmerdé! ”

Twenty-third battalion

“ V' it twenty-third, name of God, that will bard! ”

Twenty-fourth battalion

“ All along wood, I kissed sleeve-board,
All along wood, I kissed it three times! ”

Twenty-fifth battalion

“ Pas more idiot that another name of name, But always as much! ” (or content)

Twenty-sixth battalion

“ You me emmerdes and you make me shit, you say that to me it is for blaguer! ”

Twenty-seventh battalion

“ If you have testicles, it will have to be shown! ”

Twenty-eighth battalion

“ Saut' Putten; will have you of sausage,
Saut' Putten, will have you roll! ”

Twenty-ninth battalion

“ It is the Twenty-ninth, which does not have bread
Which bursts hunger, which goes nevertheless! ”

Thirtieth battalion

“ It was a p' tit man, Tout equipped with blue, name of God! ” (or sacrebleu)

Thirty-and-unième battalion

“ Thirty-and-unième, the naked last v', Not most badly foutu! ”

Fortieth battalion

“ Asshole of the queen of Hovas ”

Ranks

Hunter of 2nd class: CH
Hunter of 1st class: 1CL or 1st bottom 1 rafter jonquil
Corporal: CPL or capo 2 rafters jonquil
Senior corporal: CCH or capo chief 2 rafters jonquil and 1 silver plated
Senior corporal of 1st class: C1CL it acts of a senior corporal holder of the certificate technqiue of the 2nd level, it will then carry a rafter jonquil surmounted of two rafters money
Sergent: SGT 1 rafter silver plated (more one silver plated edging if it is about a volunteer)
Sergent-chef: SCH 3 silver plated rafters
Adjudant: Blue ADJ 1 barette jonquil with liseret cherry
Regimental sergeant major: A/C or blue ADC 1 barette silver plated with liseret cherry
Major: MJR 1 barette silver plated with liseret blue cherry and surmounted of small a barette silver plated

And so on for the officers

Sporting patents

The patents all mountain are declined in version be and winter

the Patent of mountaineer and military skier (BASM) composed of:

military Patent of skier or BSM (known as brothel stationed in mountain )
Patent of military mountaineer or BAM (a contrario travelling brothel of mountain )

the Foreman high mountain (CEHM)

the CEHM be
the CEHM winter

on a technical plan, the CEHM is the equivalent of the BQTM but is only intended to the corporals and to senior corporals.

the Patent of qualification of the troops of mountain (BQTM)

the qualification be, 4 weeks training course
the qualification winter, which lasts also 4 weeks

the patents Chef of detachment high mountain (CDHM, for the warrant officers) or Head of unit of high mountain (CUHM, for the officers), these patents correspond to the same formation

an estival training course 6 weeks
a winter training course 6 weeks

the higher Brevet of technician of the Army (BSTAT) option mountain
the patent of Guide of high mountain

There exists then of other patents and qualifications which, without being specific to the troops of mountain, were created and developed within the Military academy of high mountain (EMHM), in particular the patents of piloting of Parapente to the number of the three (patent has, B and C) having each one a qualification level more raised. Example: The patent C corresponds to the flight solo any weather, any site and night flight.

Units of Alpine hunters

Division and brigade

27 {{E}} brigade of infantry of mountain

Regiments (RIA and RAA)

159 {{E}} regiment of alpine infantry (Briançon) (dissolves, become the National center of inurement in mountain).
93 {{E}} regiment of artillery of mountain (Varces).

Battalions of Alpine hunters (BCA)

7 {{E}} battalion of Alpine hunters
13 {{E}} battalion of Alpine hunters
27 {{E}} battalion of Alpine hunters
6 {{E}} battalion of Alpine hunters (Grenoble) (dissolves)
11 {{E}} battalion of Alpine hunters (Barcelonnette) Dissout, become the Center of instruction and drive to the combat in mountain and took the number of 24e Bataillon of Alpine hunters. Today one speaks about the CIECM 24ère BCA.

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