8th regiment of transmissions

The 8th regiment of transmissions is a unit of the French Army.

It is one of the two only regiments of the weapon of the transmissions (with the 41 {{E}} regiment of transmissions) not to belong to BTAC or the Brigade of information. it does not have any tactical transmission resource, it is entirely dedicated to the implementation of systems concerned with EMAT or DIRISI. It is located at Suresnes, on the Mont Valérien.

Currently, it is subordinated to the general ordering the regional management of the Télécommunications and data processing in Région ground Île-de-France (RTIDF).

Badge of the 8th regiment of transmissions

Heraldic

ECU of imagination of azure to the vivrés gold blanks charged with a Tau of turquin summoned figure " 8" the first metal, stitched of a sand escutcheon to an issuant eagle spitting three gold flashes.

Significance

The badge represents the spitting eagle of the flashes in the dark night of the Occupation. It symbolizes the French resistance to the enemy and the heroism of those which, clandestinely continued to transmit the messages of the action groups and the members of the networks to the command of the French Armies in shift fixed out of the territory of the metropolis. The " T" dark blue on light blue is the mark of the weapon of the transmissions. The " V" with setback color gold which frames the bottom of the badge is the " V" victory in the shape of a ray of sparks whose hearth is the base of the " V".

Currency of the 8th Regiment of Transmissions

“You are the old one, would be the best”
Indeed, the 8th RT is the oldest regiment of French transmissions. As such, it was the regiment of tradition of the weapon before this function does not fall to the University and of application of the transmissions.

Flag of the regiment

It is decorated with the Military Cross 1939-1945, with quotation with the order of the Army corps and carries the inscriptions:

MOROCCO 1907-1913
FLANDRES 1915
VERDUN 1916
THE SUM 1916
THE MALMAISON 1917
RESISTANCE 1940-1944 : it is the only emblem of the Army to carry this inscription.

History

Until the First World War

In 1875, the administration of the stations and telegraphs is in charge of the setting-up, with the Mobilization, of the units of military Télégraphe. But the personnel is not sufficiently qualified. It is necessary to exempt the instruction in a military medium. For this reason, a military school of Télégraphie is installed with the Mont Valérien, site chosen for the capacities offered in Signalling. The future Général Ferrié will be instructor in this school then will become director in about it 1897. By a law of the July 24th 1900, the school is transformed into a battalion of sappers telegraphists to three companies, which concerns the 5 {{E}} Régiment of the Genius of Versailles. By a decree of the June 21st 1901, the new battalion takes the denomination of 24 {{E}} Bataillon of the Genius. In 1910, this battalion becomes a " unit forming corps" with nine companies, stationed with the Mount-Valérien and Rueil. Detachments of this battalion take part, inter alia, with the Campagne of Morocco.

By a law of the March 30th 1912, the units of military telegraphy of Métropole are gathered within one only regiment, created on January 1st 1913 with the Mount-Valérien, and which takes the name of 8th Regiment of the Genius . Its first Chief of police, the Colonel Linder receives are flag of the hands of the president of the Republic, Raymond Poincaré, at the time of the review of Longchamp of the July 14th 1913.

The First World War

The main mission of the 8th regiment of the genius is to prepare the mobilization. In 1914, it is charged to set up a manpower of approximately 7000 men which is divided into 73 detachments. The regiment is transformed then into a deposit of war articulated in 6 companies then it is transferred to Angouleme on September 1st 1914. In 1918, the manpower of the regiment reaches 55.000 men, including 1000 Officier S. The action of the sappers telegraphists is heroic. They pay out their cables under the Mitraille and the Obus, advance at the speed of the waves of assault until in First line, crawl to repair cut wire, recover the material at the time of the folds and exploit the Centraux campaign under the worst conditions, sometimes in the presence of pollutant Gas S.

The detachment of the 38 {{E}} division of infantry, under the orders of the lieutenants Merlin, Pichery, Pauwels and Sambuc, is illustrated particularly and obtained the Military Cross with palm the November 13rd 1917. Two new quotations, with star of vermeil and palm are added the April 19th 1918 and the January 12th 1919. By a decision of the January 12th 1919, this detachment is authorized to carry the Fourragère to the colors of the Military Cross. A decision of the February 13rd 1978 perennializes this decoration by authorizing the company of command and the services (or of logistics) of the 8th regiment of transmissions to carry this same fodder. The sacrifices authorized by the regiment are enormous. The losses of 1.500 are killed and 6.000 wounded. The number of those which have at least a individual Citation is of 15.000. 84 Unités were the subject of a collective Citation. With the Inscription " MOROCCO 1907-1913" , the flag adds the inscriptions " " FLANDRES 1915" , " VERDUN 1916" , " The SUM 1916" and " The MALMAISON 1917".

The Inter-war period

In July 1919, the regiment is transferred from Angouleme to Tours. After the Démobilisation it is articulated in four battalions and two companies:

1st battalion with the Armed with the Rhine;
2nd battalion with Tours;
3rd battalion with the Armed with the East;
4ebataillon with Toul;
company radio operator SR 3 with Paris, of which the station of the Eiffel Tower;
company radio operator SR 4 with Lyon.

The 8th Regiment of the Genius gives rise to new trainings of telegraphists.

on April 1st, 1919, the units of the Morocco are gathered to form the 33e battalion which becomes the 41 {{E}} Bataillon of the Genius the 1erjanvier 1921.

on May 1st, 1921, the companies of the army of the East give rise to the 43 {{E}} Bataillon of the Genius whose staff is with Beyouth.

on October 1st, 1921, the 1st battalion becomes the 42 {{E}} Bataillon of the Genius to Mainz and the 4th battalion of Toul becomes the 48 {{E}} Bataillon of the Genius.

This bursting of the 8th regiment of the genius is compensated in Tours, on January 1st, 1922, by the creation of two new battalions.

The regiment is again reorganized on October 1st, 1923:

staff of the regiment and 1st battalion (six companies) with Tours;
2nd battalion (6 companies) with the Mount-Valérien;
3rd battalion (4 companies) with Toulouse.

By DM (Ministerial Decision) of September 25th, 1928, the detachments of Turns and Toulouse are gathered in Versailles.

The Second world war

At the beginning of the war of 1939-1945, the 8th Regiment of the Genius is transformed into deposit of war. In front of the German advance, the Deposit of war of the 8th Regiment of the Genius, with the orders of colonel Chancenotte, folds up with Châtre, starting from June 13rd, 1940. the transfer is carried out with foot, including for the officers, under very difficult conditions. But the deposit of war remains little of time with Châtre and gains Cubjac (the Dordogne). A detachment succeeds in gaining Montpellier. The Center of breeding pigeon fancier 501 (which belongs to the deposit), ordered by the lieutenant Secuwsmarins, is Dissous on August 6th, 1940 with Montauban and the remainder of the deposit is dissolved on August 7th, 1940 with Cubjac.

It will have to be waited until 1946 so that the number “8” reappears.

June 1st, 1942, the Arme of the transmissions is created. The ''' 9 {{E}} Groupe of Transmissions ''' receives the guard of the flag of the 8th Regiment of the Genius. Stationed with Chateauroux, it is dissolved by the Germans on November 29th, 1942 after the invasion of the “free Zone”. December 1st, 1942, its Chief of police, the Lieutenant-colonel Michaud, succeeds in saving the flag. It gives it to the 2nd group of the guard ordered by the Major Daniel, during a discrete Prise of weapons, chaired by the Général Blasselle, associated with the general ordering the the 9th division military.

September 16th, 1944, the general ordering the 19 {{E}} Army corps created the 818 {{E}} Battalion of listenings and radiogoniometry, attached to the Center of organization of transmissions (COT) n° 40 and depend on the offices of Algiers. The commander of the battalion has attributions of chief of police.

At the beginning of January 1945, this battalion settles with the Mount-Valérien, under the command of the major Bodin. It is reorganized on August 16th, 1945, is attached to COT n° 622 and depends on the offices of Paris. It includes/understands then:

a state major of battalion;
a company Gonio;
3 companies of listenings;
a section except row.

April 11th, 1945, with the approach of IIIe Armed with the general Patton, the Concentration camp of Buchenwald is raised and released thanks to the intervention from the French Brigade from action liberator (clandestine unit) from colonel Frederic Manhès. An officer of the regiment, the Captain Masson, orders the detachment of the genius there.

Theworld one

April 1st, 1946, the 818e battalion of listenings and Radiogoniométrie becomes the ''' 8 {{E}} Bataillon of Transmissions '''. It is indicated like Unité of traditions and receives the guard of the flag of the 8th Regiment of the Genius.

However, it is not 8th Battalion of Transmissions which will result the 8th Regiment from Transmissions , but of the COT n° 612 , stationed in 1945 with the Camp of Ruchard, close to Turns, and ordered by the Miard lieutenant-colonel.

November 1st, 1945, the COT n° 612 is dissolved and takes the name of 38 {{E}} Régiment of Transmissions. It receives its flag on December 17th, 1945 of the hands of the Merlin general. The Desfemmes lieutenant-colonel takes the command of it on October 5th, 1946.

April 1st, 1947, the 38e Régiment of Transmissions is dissolved to give rise to the 8th Regiment of Transmissions whose composition is the following one:

staff of the regiment stationed in Paris (Hotel of the Invalids);
1st battalion with the Extremely of Bicêtre;
2nd battalion with Pontoise;
3rd battalion with the Mount Valérien.

The 8th Regiment of Transmissions takes again the traditions of the 8th Regiment of the Genius . He adds to his flag the inscription “RESISTANCE 1940-1944”, claim to fame which he is the only one to hold in all the Army and the Military Cross 1939-1945 with the following quotation with the order of the Army corps (decision of December 9th, 1947):

“Unit of fastening of all the sappers telegraphists of the war of 1914-1918, cradle of military telegraphy, was acquired exceptional titles for its participation in the Résistance since 1940. With succeeded in withdrawing from the enemy an important radio operator material of which a part was sent to the Troupes of Africa French of North, or delivered to the organizations of the French Forces of the interior. Since 1943, set up and ensured the operation of radio operator apparatuses in several clandestine PC. During achieved actions, many officers, warrant officers and troops paid of their death or the Déportation the activity deployed with the profit of Resistance. With finally assured the instruction many specialists and thus allowed replacement in the data transmission units in the I {{Re}} French Army as of the Release with the Territory. ”

The 1ermars 1948, the state major of the regiment settles with the Mont Valérien.

In May 1948, the 2nd battalion is transferred from Pontoise in Versailles.

Colonel Hubert Delestrée, chief of police since June 21st, 1948, give on foot the music of the regiment in 1949. The pioneers of this music will become then, for the majority, of the chiefs and brilliant assistant managers of music intended for the framing of the other formation musical of the Army, within the framework of the rebuilding according to war. By DM of January 21st, 1957, its manpower is fixed at 38 executants. It becomes regional Musique with 62 executants per DM of September 11th, 1964. Its reputation increases year by year and prestigious musicians, like Maurice André, which will give his name to the room of honor, are useful in his rows. The most important services, like the arrival of the Tour de France on the Fields-Élysées, are entrusted to him.

June 1st, 1952, the 8th Regiments of Transmissions is reorganized by removal of the battalion of Versailles and creation:

of a Deposit pigeon fancier with Montoire;
of the 815e group of exploitation of general reserve in Versailles (Limoges barracks);
of the 819e company of general reserve and experimentation to Satory.

August 1st, 1956, the 8th Regiment of Transmissions becomes the ''' 8 {{E}} Régiment of Instruction of the Transmissions '''. The battalions of the Mount-Valérien and Bicêtre are transformed into battalions of instruction. With regard to the other units, only the detachment pigeon fancier of Montoire is preserved. This last is dissolved on May 31st, 1961.

The regiment becomes again the 8th Regiment of Transmissions on April 1st, 1969. It includes the structures of the Groupe of exploitation of the transmissions n° 800, stationed with Saint-Denis, which is dissolved at the same date, and becomes the regiment of transmissions of the central administration. It also ensures the rise to power of the Réseau integrated of the transmissions of the Army (RITTER), in particular by piling up different the primary education Centres at the time from their creation.

Since this major reorganization, the structures of the regiment continue to evolve/move to adapt to the evolution of technologies and the needs for the command. In addition to its national dimension, it receives a regional mission by taking again the missions of the 49 {{E}} Bataillon of Transmissions of dissolved Pontoise on July 31st, 1994.

Since February 1997, the regiment with a company of reserve operational but it shaped truly in September of the same year, at the time of Saint-Gabriel, with the creation of the Unit of Reserve of Professional Regiment (URRP) of the 8th regiment of Transmissions, become Unité of intervention holds (UIR), the 10th company and, more recently, of a Grouping of instruction of reserves (GIR).

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