Commandos de Provence

Organisational History

The Commandos de Provence, are formed on September 4^th, 1944, under Commander de Courson de Villeneuve, with the assistance of the Forces Françaises de l’Intérieur (F.F.I.) The Commando Group is created from volunteers from various Resistance groups in from the Aix-en-Provence area. They come to bolster the Commandos d’Afrique in Marseille, where they are stationed from the September 16^th, 1944 to October 6^th, 1944.

On October 10^th, 1944, the Commandos de Provence advance towards the the Jura, establishing their encampment at Salins-les-Bains, Marnoz, and then Authoison. From October 16^th, 1944 to October 26^th, 1944, they engage in the battles within the Vosges, particularly in the forest of Cornimont, tackling La Grosse Pierre, Le Brûleux, and Le Haut de Tomteux.

Following another period of training at Salins-les-Bains, the Commandos of Provence, alongside the Commandos d’Afrique, are actively engaged from the November 18^th, 1944 to November 22^nd, 1944 in the battles for the liberation of Belfort. From the November 17^th, 1945 they fight in the Chagey – Chalonvillars region, capturing Fort Salbert on November 20^th ,1945 before engaging in battles at Cravanche, Belfort, Valdoie. One day later November 21^st, 1945. They fight at the Martinet crossroads which are situated at the entrance to Offemont and the town of Offemont. After which they fight at Bois d’Arsot on November 22^nd, 1944.

In December 1944, the unit takes up quarters in Giromagny.

At the start of 1945, the integration of the Commandos of Provence and the Parisian Forces Françaises de l’Intérieur and the Bataillon Désiré starts.

On January 5^th, 1945, several units are reorganised into six Bataillons de Choc. The Commandos d’Afrique is reorganised into the 5^e Bataillon de Choc, 5^e Choc under Commander Ducournau, while the Groupement de Commandos de Provence and the Commandos de Paris/Bataillon Désiré become the 6^e Bataillon de Choc, 6^e Choc.

On 18^th January 1945, these two Bataillons de Choc form a Groupement de Commandos de Choc known as the 3^e Groupement de Commandos de Choc, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Bouvet.

From the January 19^th, 1945 to February 6^th, 1945, the Bataillons de Choc are engaged in Alsace in the battles to reduce the Colmar pocket. On January 21^st, 1945, they attack Cernay and from January 25^th, 1945 to February 6^th, 1945, they liberate of Guebwiller and Buhl.

Returning to Giromagny on February 14^th, 1945, a detachment trains on the Doubs and then on the Rhône from the February 28^th, 1945 to March 16^th, 1945, in preparation for crossing the Rhine. During the night of the March 17^th, 1945 and March 18^th, 1945 the unit conducts a commando raid in the Kembs sector, crossing back and forth over the Rhine, and once more on the April 8^th, 1945, in Nambsheim and Kembs.

The Commandos enter Germany and cross the Rhine at Kehl and Neuf-Brisach on the April 23^rd, 1945. Sixty men of the Bataillon engage in a new raid on the April 24^th, 1945 opposite to Istein, then, on the April 25^th, 1945, the men fight at Eisenbach and at the Wieden Eck pass. On the April 27^th, 1945 and April 30^th, 1945, the unit is involved in clearing operations in the Belchen and Feldberg regions, and on the May 8^th, 1945, in the Schushsen region. Here they end the war.

On the September 6^th, 1945, Commander Ducournau takes command of the 3^e Groupement de Commandos de Choc and begins demobilisation operations. On the November 1^st, 1945, the 3^e Groupement de Commandos de Choc is dissolved and becomes the 2^e Bataillon of the 1^er Régiment d’Infanterie de Choc AéroPorté or 1^er RICAP, which in turn becomes the 2^e Bataillion of the 1^er Régiment de Choc.