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57th Infantry Regiment (France)
French Army regiment From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The 57th Infantry Regiment or (57e Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne) was a regiment of the French Army, and heir of the Beauvaisis Regiment after having been named Sainte-Maure in 1677 then became part of the Beauvaisis region in 1685.
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The Regiment was in an almost continuous existence since its establishment under the Kingdom of France, the First French Republic, the First French Empire and during the course of both World Wars.
57e régiment d'infanterie colour 1791.
1667-1792
The regiment came from a tradition carried since 1667 after being named Régiment de Sainte-Maure. It was later became part of Beauvaisis region, and named Régiment de Beauvoisis in 1685 prior to revolution.[1] In 1791 the regiment was renumbered or renamed to 57e Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne. The word regiment was abolished for few periods, and replaced by "Demi-Brigades" Before being restored again by Napoleon.[2]
1792-1814
Colour of 57e régiment d'infanterie, showing battles they participated.
At Napoleonic Wars, during the First Coalition the regiment participated in the Italian campaigns. They participated in Battle of Arcole, Battle of Rivoli, and Siege of Mantua (1796–1797).[2]
This regiment also participated in almost all Napoleon's Campaign, and Coalition Wars, especially in Battle of Austerlitz. During Austerlitz they're signed in Marshal Nicolas Soult's IV Corps, on Colonel Jean-Pierre-Antoine Rey's Brigade with 10e règiment d'infanterie de Léger.[3] Later on the battle, Napoleon gave Soult order to charge the Pratzen Heights. Then Marshal Soult gave the order to Vandamme's Division that included Rey's brigade to strom at Pratzen Heights where they engage the Russian infantry from Dmitry Dokhturov’s columns.[4][3]
At the French Invasion of Russia, the regiment was resigned again in Louis-Nicolas Davout's I Corps.[5] The 57th Infantry Regiment achieve its nickname "Les Terribles" In the Grande Armée after Battle of Borodino when they captured a Bagration flèches stronghold during Davout's Corps attack against Bagration's army position around 6 A.M.[6][2] Some believe that Pyotr Bagration after seeing 57e bravery, and captured his flèches, he was impressed by the regiment bravery, and shouts, "Bravo, Bravo!"[7] Not longer after, he was fatally wounded by a French shell struck him in the leg.[6] Napoleon also quoted during the battle, “The Terrible 57th which nothing can stop.”
57e régiment d'infanterie colour 1812-1814.
1815-1848
After Napoleon second abdication, the Bourbon Government reorganize the French Imperial Army. 57e was disbanded, and its men was placed into another royal regiments. But it was later reformed with the battalions of the Tarn Legion in 1820.[8]
Later at 1827-1828, France joined Greek War of Independence on Greece's side. When this happened, on May 1830, the 57th Regiment was garrisoned in Briançon, they sent two battalions to sail towards the west coast of the Peloponnese. Both of the battalions deport from Toulon with the French frigate ship Galathée.They arrived at Navarino Bay or Pylos on July 15. The first Battalion, and few elite companies of the second Battalion were put up at Methoni. Meanwhile the remains of the 2nd Battalion stayed at Pylos.[2]
World War I
During World War I 1914-1918 the 57th regiment participate in few major battles on the Western Front such as Battle of Charleroi, Battle of Guise, Battle of Verdun, and the other battles happened on the Western Front against Germany in their 1914-1918 campaign.[9]
At the beginning of the war, the 57th regiment was mobilized then garrisoned in Rochefort, and Libourne before deployed to Belgium, and Northern France. Its first battle was on 23 August 1914 in Battle of Charleroi. They later participate First Battle of the Marne in 7 September 1914 as well with other subsequent engagements along the Aisne front, Battle of Verdun in 1916, Plateau de Vauclerc in 1917, and the Hurtebise area during the Nivelle Offensive's assault on the Chemin des Dames ridge in April-May 1917.[9][10] The 57th regiment also adopted the new Horizon Blue uniforms, and Adrian steel helmets like the other french regiment as the war progressed.
WW2
In early outbreak of the World War 2, the regiment was reconstituted on September 4, 1939 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Sinais. They're later asssigned to the 36th Infantry Division.[2] In 1940, during the German invasion, the 57th regiment fought in the Ardennes/Rethel region. On 9–10 June 1940, they engaged the German's forces near Voncq. Their actions reportedly earned the regiment an army-level citation before the French retreated.[11]
After the Liberation in 1944, 57th Regiment was reorganized again with former members of Forces françaises de l'intérieur (FFI) from several southwestern départements in 16 December 1944.[12] After Post-WW2 this regiment was dissolved in 1946 following with FFI serving in occupation duties in the 1945. The regiment was disbanded again as part of post-war army restructuring.
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