Republican Guard (France)

The Republican Guard is a French police organization of the Gendarmerie Nationale, which reports to the Ministry of Defence of the country.

It consists of two regiments of infantry and one cavalry regiment. Additionally, there is an orchestra. The Republican Guard is responsible for both protection functions as well as representative and of protocol tasks.

Tasks

1er Régiment d' infantry

The regiment has a strength of 830 soldiers. It consists of three honor companies with a total of 400 people, a company with 240 people to guard the President, a marching band and a special unit. Furthermore, there is a motorcycle unit, even at the Tour de France is on duty and stunts and shows showing off their motorcycles. The guards can be observed before the Office of the President in the Rue du Faubourg Saint- Honoré.

2e Régiment d' infantry

The regiment has a strength of 1,350 soldiers. Two companies guarding the ministries and four companies of the two chambers of Parliament. A guard of honor has ever service in Parliament, on special occasions will also honor guards at major public events - such as the Académie française, or to the International Film Festival of Cannes - asked. In addition, a department for the protection of important guests of the French state exists.

Le Régiment de cavalerie

The regiment has a strength of 560 soldiers with 500 horses. His duties include escorting the French President and the honor guard walk for state guests. The regiment also leads historicizing shows on front of an audience.

Orchestre de la garde républicaine

It consists of two ensembles of 80 and 40 musicians and interprets music of the 17th century.

History

The Republican Guard was founded on May 5, 1848 one day after the proclamation of the Second French Republic by the newly elected National Assembly. It replaced the Garde Municipale de Paris, which had previously fought against the now victorious insurgents. At that time two regiments with 118 officers, 2,200 foot soldiers and 600 horsemen were drawn up. It was financed equally by the city of Paris and the French Republic. Their task was to maintain the security in Paris and to provide services honor.

During the Second Empire from 1852 to 1870 it was called Garde de Paris. In the Third Republic until 1940 the Guard was called the Republican Guard of Paris.

During the Franco-German War of 1870/ 71 and the Paris Commune of 1871, the Guard suffered some losses in battles. During the Second World War, a part of the Guard of the French government followed by Vichy for the protection of the Vichy regime; the other part remained in Paris. In 1978, President Giscard d' Estaing of the Guard its still valid name and transferred the police tasks of national policy.

For the 2000 year celebrations of the city of Trier on 27 May 1984, the Guard involved with a parade of the train of the mounted Republican Guard (Le Régiment de cavalerie ) at the Porta Nigra.