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The11e régiment parachutiste de choc ("11th shock parachute regiment), often called11e choc, was an eliteparachute regiment of theFrench Army. It used to serve as the armed branch of theSDECE. Its insignia, designed by lieutenant Dupas, featuresBagheera in the moonlight and a golden wing. The motto isQui ose gagne ("who dares wins"), in continuation of the tradition of the BritishSpecial Air Service.
The11e choc was meant from the start to constitute a reserve of soldiers available to the French special services. The11e choc was initially composed of one single battalion, the11e bataillon parachutiste de choc. From 1 September 1946, it was stationed inMont-Louis.
In the aftermath of theSecond World War, an "action service" of theSDECE was created byJacques Morlane. It grouped veterans of the Second World War having served in theBataillon de Choc of 1936, in the1er bataillon de choc (founded in 1943), or asSOE agents, as well as veterans of Indochina.[1]
In spring of 1947, Morlane sent R. Mautaint inMont-Louis to train the new unit. Mautaint had authored numerous reports on SOE training that inspired that of the French services.[2]
In July 1947, as the complement of the11e choc grew, Morlane nominatedPaul Aussaresses to replace Mautaint. Aussaresses described his mission as "perform what was by then called 'psychological warfare', wherever it was necessary, notably in Indochina (...) I trained my men for clandestine operations, airborne or otherwise, that could range from building demolition to sabotage or elimination of enemies".[3] From 1952, elements of the11e choc were sent to Indochina to lead and train theGroupement de commandos mixtes aéroportés (GCMA), though the 11e Choc did not take part in the conflict as a unit.
Back from Indochina in 1952, Aussaresses was tasked to assassinate supporters of theFLN. Morlane "was convinced that a Soviet invasion was imminent, and had been busy constituting secret weapon caches all over the territory so that, when time would come, a resistance could be organised".[4]
On 1 October 1955, a12e bataillon parachutiste de choc was created. It was stationed inCalvi andCorte, in Corsica. Together, the 11th and 12th Battalions were the11e demi-brigade parachutiste de choc (11e DBPC),[5] also formed on 1 October. The insignia of the12e BPC featured an eagle and a star on a parachute background.
In late October 1956, elements of both battalions took part in theSuez Crisis.
The12e BPC was disbanded on 30 April 1957 and immediately re-created as the1er bataillon parachutiste de choc. Its insignia featured a dagger with a map of France as background, and its motto wasEn pointe toujours ("at the tip, always"). From 1 May 1957, the11e DBPC was thus constituted of the 11th BPC, the 1st BPC and thebataillon d'instruction spécialisé (BIS, "training special battalion"), based in Calvi, Corté, Collioure, and Mont-Louis.
During theAlgerian War, the 11e Choc at first deployed agroupement léger d'intervention (GLI, "light intervention group"), and later agroupement de marche (GM 11.DBPC), as well as local antennas of the "action service", and a specialised detachment called DS 111.
The11e Choc did not take part in theAlgiers putsch of 1961, but some officers did sympathise towards the putschists. The unit was disbanded on 31 December 1963 and its standard handed over to theNational Commando Training Center atMont-Louis.
In 1985, generalRené Imbot, director of theDGSE, re-created the11e Choc as the11e régiment parachutiste de choc (11e RPC). In 1988, elements took part in theOuvéa cave assault.
The restructuring of the French Intelligence and Special Operations organs following theGulf War entailed the disbanding of the 11e RPC on 31 December 1993.