Performance “But times always return…” — 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (1991) by Emmanuel Di Rossetti on Vimeo .
On August 31, 1991, the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment celebrated its 150th anniversary, the Battle of El Moungar , and its return from Operation Daguet, the first Gulf War, with an exceptional historical reenactment. 30,000 spectators from Nîmes attended this event, which began during the day with legionnaires dressed in authentic costumes placed in settings and environments from different eras, and continued late into the night with the main show performed by François Gamard, Jérôme le Paulmier, and Richard Bohringer Costières stadium (a 180-meter stage!).
Many people have asked me if I have a copy of the play I wrote and directed when I was a lieutenant under Captain Toulin, commander of the 1st Company, whose help and support were unwavering, as well as Michel Filliau, then in charge of the Costières stadium, and under the benevolent guidance of Colonel Derville, the commanding officer. I am making this play available on this blog, a play to which the formidable 1st Company, who remained at the rear base, and then the entire regiment after returning from the Gulf War, dedicated themselves body and soul. I would appreciate it if you would excuse the less-than-stellar quality… Technology has certainly evolved in 25 years!
Ernst Jünger had arrived two days earlier from Wilflingen in the Cessna of one of his doctor friends. I had arranged a meeting with Gustave Thibon for the day after the performance, which unfortunately did not take place, as the participant in charge of guiding us was unavailable. We therefore spent the day at the Museum of Natural Sciences and the Pont du Gard, which was not yet the protected fortress—meaning inaccessible—that it has become. Jünger appeared at the end of the performance to accompany the commanding officer, Colonel Derville, during the flag-passing ceremony of legionnaires in 1831 uniform and the flag-guard in 1991 2.
We have been given the privilege of living in the invisible realm of profound emotions, and this will remain our invaluable honor.
Ernst Jünger
- Richard Bohringer was absent on the date of the show, so we recorded him and used his character as a voice-over to provide rhythm for the performance ↩
- A book by the late Jean-Pierre Biot, a journalist at Paris Match, entitled "Legion, the Legend of the 2nd REI ," will be published by Patrick Mahé's Lincoln Editions, featuring a lengthy interview with Ernst Jünger .
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