back on the history of the 27th battalion of alpine hunters, which celebrates its centenary in Annecy
This weekend, the alpine hunters celebrate the hundredth anniversary of their battalion in Annecy. Still engaged on all fronts, the 27th BCA has distinguished itself many times over the past century. Back in five dates on the history of these men who distinguished themselves in France and abroad.
The Interceltic Festival of Lorient 2022
On the Annecy side, everyone recognizes the blue uniform which befits alpine hunters for a century. On these Haut-Savoyard lands, the 27th battalion is respected, and even honored.
Evidenced by the thousands of spectators who came to the Paquier Annecy this Saturday, October 15 to attend the centenary ceremony of the battalion.
“This link with the Annecy people is strong and afterwards, I think we look alikeanalyzes Colonel Vincent Minguethead of the body 27th ACC. There is a mirror phenomenon, because we love the mountains, beautiful landscapes. We share the same values of freedom and love of nature. I believe that there is an alchemy that has taken well“.
The men of the 27th Battalion arrived in Annecy in 1922, but their story is even older. For more than a century, they have shown bravery, in France and abroad.
France 3 Alpes has selected five major dates in their history.
The 27th marching battalion of foot hunters was created in Rochefort on January 30, 1871. It takes the name of the 27th Alpine Battalion of Foot Hunters (BACP) in 1889.
In 1930, Marshal Lyautey will say: “The hunter spirit? It’s first and foremost about team spirit… The speed in the exercise of people who “get it” and who “gallop”. This is goingit’s the look, it’s the chic, it’s serving with a smile, the discipline that comes from the heart, it’s the absolute dedication that knows how to go, when necessary, to the point of total sacrifice.”
During the clashes, the 27th Battalion paid a heavy price. Engaged in the most difficult sectors, in the Vosges and in the Somme, he lost 1822 officers, non-commissioned officers and hunters. “At During the conflict, he received eight citations, including six at the order of the army, which earned him the award of the fourragère in the colors of the Legion of Honor. He is the first battalion of hunters to obtain this award supreme” accurate the Army on its website.
Georges Clémenceau has just personally congratulated the battalion. He leaves, as testimony of his passage, his nickname, “the tiger”, which becomes the animal represented on the badge in addition to the traditional hunting horn with its number.
The 27th ACC take garrison in Annecy in 1922. He belongs to the 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade (27th BIM). It is this date that marked the centenary of the Annecy battalion, awarded this weekend.
In the video below, you can relive the anniversary ceremony that took place this Saturday, October 15.
video length: 02min 03
This Saturday, October 15, the centenary ceremony of the battalion took place.
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©F3Alps
When the armistice army was dissolved, many hunters took to the maquis. They constitute the backbone of the Resistance in Haute-Savoie. At the beginning of 1944, on the set of Glieresthere are 500 fighters under the command of Lieutenant Tom Morel to stand up to a German mountain infantry division and 1,200 militiamen. 129 of them will leave their lives, faithful to their invention which is still today that of the battalion: “Live Free or Die”.
The 27th ACC“the battalion of Glières”liberated only the department in August of the same year.
From November 2008 to June 2009, the battalion was deployed in Afghanistan in the province of Kapisa. “He particularly distinguished himself in March 2009 in the valley ofalasai by inflicting a crushing defeat on the Taliban and receives a citation at the order of the army“adds the Army on its website.
In November 2011, the 27th ACC return to the valley of Kapisa. As a reward for fighting during this mission, the battalion receives a 2nd quote to the order of the army which earned him the rare privilege of obtaining a second fourragère, in the colors of military valor.
Today, the 27th ACC is still installed at Cran-Gevrier, near Annecy. Composed of 1100 women and men, it continues to participate in external missions
In February 2022 for example, a few days after the start of the war in Ukraine, alpine hunters were esent to Romania to watch over the eastern flank of Europe.