Globusz^® Publishing 

The history of the French Foreign Legion is a story of survival and success. Following the disasters of Indo-China and Algeria, the Legion departed Africa. During the four years between the departure from its home, Sidi-bel-Abbes, Algeria in 1962 and the opening of a new base at Aubagne in the hills of Provence, some regiments were disbanded, while others were posted aboard. It was not until 1967 that a regiment—1er Régiment Etranger Cavalarie (REC)--was posted to Orange in France. Meanwhile, the surviving parachute unit, the 2eme Régiment Etranger Parachutiste (REP), was posted to Camp de Fiume-Secco near Calvi, Corsica in June 1967. The 2eme REP became part of the 11th Airborne Division's Force d'Intervention Rapide (Rapid Action Force, now called the FAR), the other regiments also later became part of the FAR.

The 2eme Bataillon Etranger Parachutiste (BEP) had been formed in October 1948 at Sidi-bel-Abbes. The following year the unit was sent to Indo-China were it played a part in the prolonged and costly war against the Viet Minh (1945-54.) In 1955, the battalion returned to Algeria, where it was upgraded to regimental status, absorbing the 3eme BEP. Under its new title, the 2eme Régiment Etranger Parachutiste, became involved in a prolonged counter-insurgency campaign in Algeria (1956-62). During this campaign the 2eme REP's sister unit, the 1er REP, became involved in a failed putsch against President Charles de Gaulle in 1961, and was disbanded.

The 2eme REP survived, and in 1968 the regiment renamed its new home Camp de Fiume-Secco to Camp Raffalli (a major who died in Indo-China on September 11, 1952, after being mortally wound at Chuyen-My-Troung-Ha on September 1). In 1969, it was committed to the defense of Chad against rebels forces. In February 1976, a company was sent to Djibouti to free hostages from Somali rebels.

The 2eme REP made a name for itself on May 19, 1978, when 650 paras dropped into the copper and diamond-mining town of Kolwezi in southern Zaire's Shaba Province. This operation was known as "Operation Leopard/Bonite". The background of the event derived from the days of Congo's bloody accession to independence from Belgium in 1960. With independence, tribalism endemic to a patriotic black Africa, it led to a unilateral withdrawal by Katanga (the richest province in Zaire) from the newly formed state of Zaire and a war in which hundreds of whites were butchered before they could be rescued by a mercenary army.

As the Cold War progressed to Africa, it had been divided into spheres of influence between the superpowers. Intelligence agents of all kinds crawled about, mercenaries activities had not yet faded from the scene, clandestine arms deals and shipments were commonplace, and the East-West struggle often turned into blood shed, most of it African. Zaire’s strategic position and its mineral wealth made it a particular prize. Especially Shaba Province for it is the richest in natural resources.

Eighteen years later on May 13, 1978, a force of about 2,000 Soviet, Cuban, East German, and Czech supported Katangan irregulars of the Congolese National Liberation Front, led by Lt. Gen. Nathanael M’Bumba, a former police official in the government of Moise Tshombe, stormed across the Zairean border from Angola and seized the mining town of Kolwezi. These exiled rebels were trained by Cuban and East German advisers. As the rebels approached, Zairean soldiers put up some resistance but were slaughtered and the remnants fled, leaving behind five Panhard armored cars and a stockpile of munitions.

The force occupying Kolwezi stemmed from the Katangese gendarmes who had fled the Congo in 1960, after the failure of the Katangese separatist movement led by Moise Tshombe and the establishment of the Mobutu regime. They were known as Katangese Tigers. Unfortunately, this invasion force had very few Katangese men who had actually fought for Tshombe--a large part of them were between ages 15 and 30.

During their exile in Angola the Katangans had participated in the Portuguese colonial war on the Portuguese side, and during the Angolan civil war on the side of the Marxist Movimento Popular Libertaçao de Angola (MPLA). The Katangans supported the MPLA because of Mobutu's support for the FNLA (Frente Nacional de Libertaçao de Angola). After the MPLA's victory, the Katangans were rewarded with training, arms, and training facilities. In March 1977, the Katangans invaded the Shaba Province, and showed that they were more than a match for the ill-disciplined and demoralized Zairian Army. The locals, whom opposed Mobutu's regime, greeted the Katangans with open arms. Although the Katangans had shown discipline and efficiency during the military operation, by the evening of 14 May widespread violence had begun.

With Kolwezi in rebel hands, they began to leisurely sack the town. Shops were looted, women raped, men murdered, tortured, and mutilated, anyone offering resistance was butchered. Some victims were dragged before made up military/civil courts, and falsely accused and shot for collaborating with President Mobutu's government. Some 2,500 Europeans hid in their homes or fled while the Zairian inhabitants caught the worst of the savagery.

During that dreadful day, a radio operator employed by Gecamines Mining Company was able to send a message to the company's office in Kinshasa, from which the directors informed the French Ambassador André Ross, and military attachés, Colonel Larzul, and Colonel Yves Gras. These officers and Zaire's President Mobutu Sese Seko Waza Banga appealed for foreign aid. The call was answered by Belgium, France, and the United States----which provided 8 Lockheed C-141 Starlifters and a C-5A Galaxy, by an agreement with the Carter Administration, to support the operation by carrying the 2eme REP’s heavy equipment. Some Western leaders interpreted the invasion as a Soviet-inspired attempt to control the areas mineral resources, others saw it as a justified revolt against an unacceptable government. Most Western nations expressed doubts as to the advisability of continuing to support Mobutu's regime, which seemed incapable of maintaining political stability, demonstrated economic incompetence, and was comprehensively corrupt. Also, it was initially felt that Belgium, as its former colonial power, should take the initiative in freeing the Europeans.

The debate about who should do what went on, so, in the mean time Mobutu sent a company of the 311th Parachute Battalion of the Zairean Army, to retake Kolwezi. At 10h00 on May 16, Zairian paras launched an airborne assault. As they floated down to earth they were ambushed, for the Katangans anticipated an airborne operation. Many paras were shot down from the sky, and those who touched down were bayoneted before they could free themselves from their chutes. The few who regrouped were too demoralized to put up effective resistance. By evening, the survivors had split up into small groups and tried to escape under the cover of the jungle. Meanwhile, a company from the 311th under a Maj. Mahele parachuted in a few miles away and secured a bridge some miles away from Kolwezi, to stop any further infiltration.

When Ambassador Ross heard of the destruction of the Zairian paratroopers. He contacted France's President Valerie Giscard d'Estaing, urging military intervention, which the United States supported. On May 17, at 04h30, a warning order was issued to send in the 2eme REP. Mobutu welcomed this news. The Belgians also gave their word that they would send para-commandos, but later hesitated to commit them to action due to their foot-dragging and political arguments. In the end the Belgians decided to offer them in a humanitarian role, leaving the Legion to parachute alone. France was not going to wait for its allies, for Zairian military intelligence intercepted radio messages from Lt. Gen. M’Bumba in Angola to Maj. Mufu. The reports revealed that the Katangans were under orders to kill all their hostages, destroy several factories and the forced evacuation of the African population from the area.

At 10h00 on Wednesday, May 17, 1978, Colonel Philippe Erulin, commander of the 2eme REP, based at Camp Raffalli, on the French island of Corsica, received a telephone call from General Liron of 2eme Brigade de Parachutiste, saying that the regiment was to be on stand-by at 18h00. Erulin immediately put the 2eme REP on alert, and a strident siren sounded from the camp calling all the Legionnaires that were on normal duties, training, and on leave (the 2eme REP’s island location means that many of its Legionnaires hesitate to travel to the mainland on their infrequent leaves and also it is regimental policy that Legionnaires take leave on the island due to it six hour Guepard (cheetah) alert) were recalled. Once the men had collected and checked their battle gear, Col. Erulin reported that evening that his regiment was ready.

Many western leaders were doubtful if an airborne operation would be able to get under way so rapidly with little logistical support. With thousands of lives at stake, haste was legitimate. The 2eme REP was allotted the task because it was the spearhead unit of the 11th Parachute Division, and it was in a high state of readiness. Speed was vital and it is the Legion's speed and capacity for improvisation that remains to this day the most impressive feature.

By 20h00 the regiment had assembled. At 01h30 on the 18th the movement order arrived. At 05h00 the paras climbed into trucks and headed for Solenzara airport, which is on the other side of the island. By 08h00 2eme REP had assembled at Solenzara ready to board their planes. On reaching Solenzara, the reason for urgency was revealed to the men: Hostage rescue operation into the mining town of Kolwezi, Zaire.

At 11h30, the Legion paras flew out and headed for Kinshasa, the capital of Zaire, on four-requisitioned Air France Douglas DC-8s and one Boeing 707. The reason they did not use the French Air Force Nord Aviation C-160 Transall transport aircraft was because it could not make the trip all the way to Kinshasa (4,500 miles) with a full pay load with its 634-mile range. The unit contained 650 men organized in a headquarters detachment, four rifle companies, mortar and reconnaissance platoons. The legionnaires were packed into these planes leaving their parachutes behind; they would draw chutes from the Zairian Army upon arrival in Kinshasa. The second echelon with the regiment’s vehicles was to be flown on U.S. Lockheed C-5A and C-141 transports into Shaba's provincial capital, Lubumbashi, then on to Kolwezi.

In secrecy at Kinshasa, riggers worked around the clock to prepare five Lockheed C-130 Hercules and two French Air Force Nord Aviation C-160 Transall transport aircraft of the Zairian Air Force for a parachute lift. After a flight of 4,500 miles from Calvi, Corsica, the first three aircraft touched down at Kinshasa airport at 23h00 on May 18. The legionnaires disembarked and Erulin’s staff went straight into a briefing. It was their second sleepless night. At the briefing, local intelligence reports suggested that the opposition had no ground-to-air missiles to threaten the aircraft. Also, failure to surprise the Katangans would cost the lives of the hostages. While the legionnaires prepared, Erulin’s staff planned to utilize the site of the former aeroclub in the town itself as the drop zone. The men of the 2eme REP would descend directly on top of enemy positions. It was to be a dangerous drop into the unknown, which would be justified only by the urgency of the situation and the absence of another route into the combat zone. During this briefing, American military representatives were invited to attend the planning phase to elaborate details of U.S. assistance in the form of aircraft and equipment.

Once detailed maps were received, Erulin and his staff change the airdrop plan and marked two drop zones. They assumed that if the paras landed in the town they would be slaughtered, and it was useless to put them far away, because by the time they fought their way into Kolwezi the hostages would be massacred. The only solution was to drop the paras close to the outskirts of the town. Two drop zones were picked, DZ Alpha, which laid north of the Old Town, and DZ Bravo, east of the New Town. The legionnaires were to be inserted in two waves with a two-hour interval between each jump. The first wave would go directly to DZ Alpha, the second would go to DZ Bravo. From these drop zones they could fan out, occupy blocking positions along the main road connecting the old and new parts of the town, then begin searching for hostages and destroy enemy positions.

When Colonel Erulin, emerged from the briefing he learn that two out of the five aircraft had not yet arrived; one was inoperable, and the other would not be fit to fly before 09h00. At the same time, the legionnaires drew their equipment and parachutes and began fitting them, only to discover that the American T-10 Charlie parachutes were incompatible with French equipment. The Legionnaires had never seen nor used a T-10C. So, former U.S. troopers within the 2eme REP’s ranks and French military advisers serving the Zairean Army performed a quick familiarization course on the chutes. The legionnaires, sweltering in the heat and high humidity, and bleary-eye from lack of sleep, soon began to improvise the chutes by fitting pieces of wire, parachute cord, and a prayer that they were not building malfunctions into the system. From an exit height of 600 feet there would be no chance of recovering from a parachute malfunction. For anyone facing the stress of a combat jump, this is a nightmare.

Col. Eurlin still faced one more problem, where is the 4th Company, the SER (Section d'eclairage et de reconnaissance), 81mm mortar platoon, and the rest of HQ Company. Colonel Eurlin, did not hesitate, reports were coming in of the worsening situation in Kolwezi. He decided that he would not wait for the second echelon.

By 08h40 on May 19, waiting for the fog to lift, the Legionnaires were settled in their aircraft, ready to go. Red-eyed with exhaustion, they carried the basic combat kit, ready to face an unknown number of enemy soldiers on an unreconnoitred DZ and knowing that they would not receive any support for at least three days. Suddenly, a message came down to stop the operation. Colonel Yves Gras, who was part of the French Military Mission in Zaire, had to drive 15 miles to the French embassy in Kinshasa, only to be told of the change in plan. By the time Gras returned to the airfield, Erulin was informed that one of the C-130s was not yet airworthy. So 65 legionnaires were taken off, redistributed, and crammed into the other aircrafts that were meant for 65 men. Some Legionnaires were packed into a Zairian C-160 Transall that was going to be used as a airborne command post which was also laden with ammunition destined for a Zairean army unit near Kolwezi. The legionnaires who were pushed on to this aircraft hoped that a stray bullet would not detonate this flying pipe bomb.

Technical and human problems were also proliferating. Aircrews manning the C-130s had gone home when they heard that the operation was aborted, and had to be rounded up. As for the aircraft, one had a flat tire. The tire was hastily reinflated and six overloaded aircraft clawed their way to the runway.

At 10h40 the six overcrowded transports took to the air for a two-and-a-half hour bumpy flight to Kolwezi. The flight was sheer misery for the exhausted men who were packed in like sardines. The lead aircraft made a navigational error and was brought back on course, after being pursued by the command ship. At 15h40, the first wave of 405 (HQ and three rifle companies) approached the drop zone.

After making a pass over Kolwezi to identify the drop zone, the transports lowered their rear cargo ramps, as jump commands were being yelled, the paras gasped in relief, men's hearts pounded, men checked their equipment, adrenaline flowed through their veins, the jumpmaster screamed, "GO! GO! GO!” and bodies hurtled from the ramp clasping their equipment, and into the void they went, where the next second could be their last. Some pilots, had trouble on the fly-by, they were now flying twice the 600 feet altitude specified at the briefing. But they still discharged their human cargo all the same, unworried that the legionnaires now descended their slow-moving parachutes into the path of the other C-130s, traveling at the correct altitude.

One legionnaire paid for the incompatibility of the American equipment, and became a tow-jumper, (which is when one is hung up under the aircraft by the static line of the chute still attached to the aircraft). A jumpmaster cut him loose after ensuring he was ready to deploy his chest mounted reserve chute. He landed safely and went into battle with the rest.

By 16h00, this airborne assault, had landed (50% had landed outside the DZ). The drop zone itself was an expanse of elephant grass and tall termite hills at the north-east corner of the Ancienne Ville (Old Town). The drop had surprised and alerted the enemy, and there was some sporadic ground fire, but instead of fighting, most Katangans went into hiding. This was just as well, for the Legionnaires that were suspended in trees and sprawled on roofs, would have made easy targets. Luck was with the 2eme REP on this day, for the Katangans were not expecting another airborne drop in broad daylight. The only casualties resulted from the jump were four fractures and two sprains. Colonel Eurlin, himself, landed on an ant hill, receiving a bad cut on his cheek.

Even though the Legionnaires had landed, visibility on the DZ was difficult due to the 10ft high elephant grass, so, it delayed the paras in regrouping. The few surprised Katangans in the vicinity of the DZ began to open fire on the Legionnaires, which resulted in six men being wounded. The regiment’s first fatality was Corporal Richard Arnold, a Briton, who had gone off in search of his LRAC-89mm antitank weapon, his body was located the next day on the edge of the DZ, dead from a head wound, his body mutilated. Opposition soon dispersed, the companies then began to form up and a command post was set up.

After the firefight on the DZ, the Legionnaires reached their first objective, the outskirts of the old town. The companies pressed into the old sector and were immediately involved in bitter house to house fighting. Slowly advancing from house to house against dispersed rebel groups who were putting up stronger resistance against the legionnaires. Once the area was cleared of defenders they began setting free the hostages who were among the buildings. During the clearing operation each company maintained radio contact with the other.

Once the outskirt of the old town was secured each company split up and moved out to their main objectives: 1st Company, the Lycee Jean XXIII, a school in the southern sector of the Ancienne Ville; 2nd Company, the town's western sector, to free hostages locked up in the hospital and seize the Gecamines complex and its vehicles, which Col. Eurlin would use until the regiment's vehicles arrived; 3rd Company; secure the Impala Hotel, the post office, and the train station, and hold the bridge connecting the Ancienne Ville (old town) with the Ville Nouvelle (new town).

The 1st Company, under Capt. Michel Poulet headed south towards the Jean XXIII School. The company encountered no enemy fire, but were greeted by dogs and half-eaten corpses who laid about the streets. As the legionnaires patrolled the street stepping over corpses, the odor of death began to overtake many Legionnaires, even the veterans. On reaching the school, they found it abandoned by the enemy and liberated more than 100 hostages. One of the newly freed hostages directed Capt. Poulet to the convent of Notre Dame de Lumière, which was being used as the Katangan HQ. He then sent 2nd Platoon/1st Company under Adjudant Pou to charge and sweep the building. The rest of the company with a barrage of grenades, launchers, and automatic fire supported them. When 2nd platoon reached its objective they found it vacant but the Legionnaires found maps and documents that were being used by Maj. Mufu for offensive actions throughout the country. Once the area was secured a section stayed at the school to await for the Legion’s Headquarters Company, while the rest of the company cleared the surrounding area of enemy.

Meanwhile, the 2nd Company, under a Capt. Dubos, pushed west towards the hospital and Gecamines mining complex, conducting a search and destroy and hostage rescue missions. As they proceeded towards the hospital, they soon came upon a rebel bivouac, the company launched an attacked only to find it abandoned. The company regrouped and continued on its way, the lead section, commanded by a Adjudant Schyns was ambushed. As men from the other sections ran up to reinforce the section, the Katangas withdrew. The way was now clear. On reaching the hospital the company found it unusable for the rebels had destroyed everything. The Legionnaires then headed towards the Gecamines complex unopposed where they acquired Gecamines' vehicles, which they would use the next day in patrolling the outskirts of town and the next few towns over.

As for the 3rd Company under a Capt. Gausseres, it headed east to secure the train station, the hotel, a bridge, the police station and post office. He ordered the companies to spilt into their respective platoons and take the objectives. 1st platoon, under a Lt. Bourgain was sent to check out the Hotel Impala. 2nd Platoon under a Lt. Wilhelm was sent to secure the bridge and the technical school. 3rd Platoon commanded by a Adjudant Ivanov and the HQ section under Capt. Gausseres headed towards the Gendarmerie HQ. But, before the company spilt up, on approaching the train station, the company came under fire from three Katangan machine guns. The Legionnaires fought back and destroyed two machine gun positions; the third machine gun team pulled back and vanished. Once the objected was secured the company made two discoveries: An ammunition train was found and moved not to cause any damage. The company now split into its platoons. As the company split up a section (squad) was taken from 2nd platoon and was sent to guard the railway bridge, on approaching that key point, the section ran into enemy troops. To their surprise and displeasure, they observed two armored cars emerging from the town. Corporals Morin and Laroche, on seeing the two armored cars ran across the bridge under fire and took cover to get a better shot. Morin was armed with an 89mm LRAC anti-tank rocket launcher, Laroche was armed with a FSA. 49/56 semiautomatic rifle with an integral grenade launcher that fires a 40mm anti-tank grenade. To be certain that they would hit the armored cars they waited until the vehicles stopped firing and came closer. The targets were about 30 yards away, Morin's launcher thundered hitting one of the vehicles. A few seconds later, Laroche stopped the second vehicle in its tracks at close range. The rest of the section began to come across the bridge, when a truck drove up behind the armored vehicles and the rebels in it began firing at the legionnaires. Morin and Laroche began firing at the truck while the legionnaires took whatever cover they could find and opened up with automatic rifle fire before the truck drove out of sight into a side street. They then secured the area and noticed that the railway bridge was found to be a valuable commanding height overlooking the Old Town and the New Town.

While 1st Platoon/3rd Company, made its way towards the Hotel Impala, it met some enemy fire once they closed in on the hotel, they fired back and the shooting stopped. On securing the building, a search of the bloodstained hotel revealed a number of dead civilians. They were all blacks who the Katanga considered to be Mobuto's collaborators, killed before or during the enemy's retreat. The platoon also found many weapons. Once the area was secured, 1st platoon began house to house clearing operations in the surrounding area until they were able to link up with 2nd Platoon/3rd Company later on during the day.

The rest of 2nd Platoon/3rd Company, headed towards Devant l'Ecole, a technical school, held by the Katangans, who were about to execute 30 hostages. On reaching their new objective, the lead section under a Sergeant Sableg, suddenly began taking fire from rebels posted around the school. Supporting Sgt. Sableg’s section, a section under a Sergeant Moreau flanked the enemy from the north taking the school; killing 17 rebels and captured several weapons. During the building clearance 15 more rebels were killed. Once the building was secured the Legionnaires freed the hostages and found more weapons. The enemy began pulling out from the area, but still fighting hard.

At the same time, 3rd Platoon/3rd Company moved south towards the Gendarmerie. On reaching the Gendarmerie HQ, a section heard screaming from the building, they rushed in and killed five rebels, freeing 35 hostages who had been forced to live in their own excrement. They then linked up with the 1st and 2nd platoon and continued on with securing the area.

All three individual companies had confusing, scrambling, and fierce firefights against small groups of rebels as they pushed through a maze of alleys, shanties, and patches of scrub. As each company advanced, the legionnaires saw why their presence was urgently needed. Though the legionnaires were outnumbered, they showed their determination to uphold Legion tradition, which gave them 'superhuman effort' to release the hostages that was fueled by the ghastly sight of mutilated, fly-infested corpses lying everywhere in the streets, yards, gardens, and the stink of sun baked corpses just made the legionnaires even more determined to get the job done. The legionnaires were not discriminating who they shot. Any blacks they encountered were likely to be shot, no questions asked. There was little time to sort out who was the enemy. Even though they were fighting against a much larger unit, they made rapid progress.

Street fighting lasted all day. By late afternoon, Colonel Eurlin had completed setting up his HQ at the Jean XXIII School and began taking control of the confused and half-coordinated searches and firefights, the main objectives had been taken and many hostages where now being escorted to Jean XXIII School. He also began to wonder what had become of the second wave of 233 legionnaires who were supposed to jump in and join the fighting.

Dusk was approaching, radio contact was established and Col. Erulin learned of the logistical problems, and another transferring the men from one aircraft to another at the Kamina staging area. By 17h55, the C-130s carrying the second echelon appeared over the town, but by then Col. Eurlin was satisfied with the results of the day's operation, and did not think it was necessary to risk a nightdrop into the realm of anarchy and choas of Kolwezi. The drop was postponed until the following morning. The second echelon would land in the town of Lubumbashi until the next morning.

By nightfall the legionnaires huddled in defensive positions wherever night found them, facing a third night without sleep, counting on adrenaline and a diet of dexadrine to keep going. With the night came a sudden drop in temperature that brought on a sudden chill, the paras who were not on patrol used parachutes as blankets to warm themselves, for they had only jumped in with combat equipment and American MREs ( Meals Ready to Eat). At 20h00, a double operations order came down to the companies. The first, was to prevent infiltration by rebel forces from the outside; the second, to deal with Katangans who had shut themselves in deserted houses and would try to break through French posts and patrols during the night. Fighting flared up; the paras beat off scattered counterattacks by wandering groups of Katangans. The moonlight helped the paras to inflict more casualties. By dawn the toll of Katangan dead were many, while the legionnaires suffered six wounded.

At first light on May 20, the second echelon jumped in, the 4th Company, under a Capt. Grail, dropped onto DZ Bravo, which was east of Ville Nouvelle. But, on arrival at Kolwezi he gave command of the 4th to a Capt. Coevoet. The SER Company under a Capt. Halbert, equipped with mortars, together with the reconnaissance platoon dropped in on Alpha DZ. Once on the ground, the fresh legionnaires regrouped and moved into action along side the other companies, which were about to move into Phase II of the operation. The 4th Company’s main objective was the former headquarters of the Zairian Army, upon reaching their objective they found over 40 Europeans bodies in a one room. A sole female survivor was found hidden under the dead.

By noontime, after some fighting during the morning hours, the Legionnaires had secured the town and received new orders, which, concentrated on hunting the Katangans in the surrounding bush and towns around Kolwezi. 1st Company, was ordered to clear the last Katangans from the Ancienne Ville from south to east, while 2nd Company cleared south to west. The SER moved north of DZ Alpha to occupy the Gendarmerie and Camp Forrest, while the 3rd Company moved north to mop up the north sector of the town prior to moving on to the small suburb of Manika. 4th Company would take up positions to the east of DZ Bravo to seal off any escaping Katangans who escaped the 3rd Company's sweep.

A few hours later, Belgian paras-commandos landed at the Kolwezi airport and drove into town like tourists. The Zairean paras had occupied the airport, which was four miles from Kolwezi, since May 17, 36 hours before the French drop. Also a Transall landed loaded with munitions and supply for the legionnaires. Once in Kolwezi, the Belgians swept up the Europeans and sent them to the airport for evacuation from Kolwezi.

Once the sweep was complete, 3rd Company moved along the edge of the Ancienne Ville, preparing to take the small suburb of Manika, shots were heard, they responded. The 3rd Company moved cautiously in open order across open ground to reach the town on time to save the hostages. To go through the bush would take to long, by the time they would have reached the houses the hostages might be dead. Speed was of the essence. On reaching the townhouses the Legionnaires began to take fire. They fired back and began an assault. The house to house fighting had a sense of urgency because the rebels were beginning to kill the hostages. One section stormed the police station killing all the Katangan soldiers and saving 36 hostages.

Meanwhile at around 15h00, as the 4th Company was combing the suburb of Metal Shaba, 4 miles north, they ran into heavy fighting. A platoon ran into a company plus size ambush in one of the metal factory complexes. Their sergent-chef (platoon sergeant) Norbert Daniel was killed, Corporal Prudence and Legionnaire Jajovic were wounded, and the platoon became pinned down. A call for support was made to all the companies, the SER Company answered the call. Moving in confiscated vehicles with a section of the 81mm mortars, they opened up a mortar barrage on the enemy positions.

After the barrage, the 4th Company launched an assault on the place. The Katangans began to fight harder when 15 truck-borne Katangese arrived, supported by two Soviet light tanks and tried to counter-attack. Engaged by the 89mm LRAC's of the SER, mortars, and small arms fire, the counter-attack was broken up before it got under way, the tanks received direct hits, and trucks were set ablaze. The survivors fled leaving over 80 dead, while the paratroopers lost one.

After this engagement, the situation in Kolwezi was under control. But the 2eme REP still had the task of clearing the remnants of the Katangans from the surrounding area. By evening, inspite of some sporadic fighting against small wandering rebels units and patrolling legionnaires, many legionnaires were at last able to snatch some sleep, though the sights they had seen did not make for sweet dreams.

On the morning of May 21, the U.S. Air Force had flown in the regiment’s vehicle from Lubumbashi. As for the Legionnaires, the day saw much patrolling and evacuation of the last remnants of the European civilians. By evening the Belgians had departed.

Mobile at last, three companies were dispatched on the 22nd to the town of Kapata, to the southwest of Kolwezi, where scattered Katangese rebels were rounded up without the loss of a legionnaire. Returning from Kapata, a platoon from 3rd Company was ambushed. The Katangans were so determined to stop the legionnaires that two rebels leaped out in front of the lead truck and began firing into the windshield. The driver accelerated and ran the men down. Another platoon was fired upon from the bush, wounding Corporal Courson and Legionnaire Svoboda. The Legionnaires fired back, resulting in three more dead Katangese.

On the 23rd, a mobile column was sent to Luilu to the northeast. On the way to Luilu, a group of Europeans were picked up, mostly women and children who had seen their men hacked to death before their eyes. They had been wandering in the bush for eight days, starving and thirsty. Luilu was found deserted. At 16h30, Kantangans hidden in the elephant grass west of the town ambushed 3rd Platoon/1st Company. Legionnaire Jules Clement and Corporal Jules Harte were killed. The ambushing party consisted of only five men who were prepared to die, after inflicting maximum casualties. They failed though, for the enemy was cornered and killed. On those two days the 2eme REP had driven 200 miles.

On May 24, Mobutu announced that the second Shaba War had been won, thanks to foreign intervention, and that the Katangan troops were withdrawing to Angola. The last major action took place on the May 25, when a large group of retreating Katangans were surprised, surrounded and wiped out in one sweep. Though Belgian and Zairians troops began to arrive again, Mobutu wanted to retain the 2eme REP in Zaire. France's President Giscard d'Estaing refused his request, not wishing France to be accused of neo-colonialism. The Legionnaires of the 2eme REP spread their influence throughout Shaba province, in an effort to reassure the people that stability had returned. Until May 27, the regiment carried out wide-range patrols over a 200-mile area. There were some more small but sharp clashes. On May 28, intelligence reported that the FLNC recrossed the Angolan border, Col. Erulin regrouped his regiment and moved into camp for some hard-earned rest in Lubumbashi. The Legion was replaced by the arrival of a multi-national African peacekeeping force of 3,000 men, which was brought into the region to restore peace. While Belgian and fresh French troops were brought in to improve the quality of the Zairean Army, which had further disgraced itself by acts of vengeance against the local population on reoccupying the area.

On June 7, after a triumphant parade attended by President Mobutu, the first batch of the regiment boarded C-141 Starlifters and returned to Corsica. The Katangans were now weakened and defeated due to the 1977 and 1978 invasions. Also, at the end of 1978, Angola signed a treaty with Zaire, under which each country agreed to withdraw support from armed hostile to each other, which deprived the Katangans exiles the backing they needed.

The 2eme REP lost a total of five dead and 20 wounded; the regiment killed about 250 rebels or more and captured 163; saved over 2,000 lives; captured more than 500 different kinds of weapons; civilian losses were 664. This campaign earned the Legion worldwide admiration and brought credit to the regiment. About 90 percent of the men engaged had been inexperienced, yet, as Col. Eurlin stated later, "As soon as the first shot was fired, all acted like veterans." They suffered extremely low casualties, in a situation were they where outnumbered. This was tribute to their excellent training and fighting skills.

The operation was a complete success and it showed what a small, motivated and highly trained quick reaction unit can accomplish in spite of unfavorable circumstances and a numerically superior enemy. France realized it had a weapon, which could strike anywhere in the world with ruthless violence and speed. The Kolwezi operation brought the 2eme REP its seventh citation, "à l'ordre de armée" to its battle honors; the legionnaires received the Republic of Zaire's Croix de Bravoure Militaire avec Palme which Mobutu presented to the 2eme REP for what he was pleased to call the Second Shaba War of 1978 and France’s Médaille d’Outre-Mer (overseas campaign medal) with the ‘Zaire’ agrafe (bar). Despite the problems faced by the 2eme Regiment Etranger de Parachutistes, they achieved a stunning victory.

Since the Kolwezi operation in 1978, the 2eme REP has seen combat in Chad (1969-1996) and the Persian Gulf War, and has participated in multinational peacekeeping operations in Lebanon, Djibouti, Central African Republic, Gabon, Zaire (1991), Bosnia, Somalia, Rwanda, and Brazzaville in the Congo region and recently in Kosovo.

Further reading: Pierre Sergent, La Legion Saute sur Kolwezi, Presses de la Cite, Paris, 1978.
-------------------, 2eme R.E.P. :Algerie, Tchad, Djibouti, Kolwezi, Beyrouth, Presses de la Cite, Paris, 1984.
Howard R. Simpson, The Paratrooper of the French Foreign Legion: From Vietnam to Bosnia, Brassey’s, Virginia, 1997.
Raymond Guyader, La Legion Etrangere: 1831 a nos jours, 2 vols., Gazette des Uniformes, Paris, 1998.