First published in SFOR Informer #4, February 19, 1997
Rajlovac
- The 10th of February, 1997, an official ceremony marked the transfer
of authority to General Hans-Otto Budde of the Multinational Central Brigade,
(The Franco-German Brigade) in Multinational Division South East (MND-SE).
The ceremony took place in Camp Captain Carreau, in Rajlovac (near Sarajevo)
and brought the Franco-German Brigade (FGB) into the history of the Stabilisation
Force (SFOR) in Bosnia and Hercegovina.
The FGB is, as its name indicates, a mixed group composed essentially
of elements from the Franco-German Brigade. The FGB was created in October 1989 and has
5,200 soldiers; 50 percent each from France and Germany.
The first elements from the FGB arrived in Rajlovac Dec. 17, 1996, and
were joined in successive waves throughout January, 1997, by the entire Headquarters, the
Command and Support Company and the Armoured Engineering Company. This structure which
mainly originates from Mllheim, has a total strength of 730 soldiers.
Following this, the Light Armoured Battalion (Gepanzerter
Einsatzverband) and the French Battalion, composed of three companies from the 2nd
Infantry Foreign Regiment and one squadron from the 1st Spahis regiment, arrived in
Rajlovac.
The Light Armoured Battalion has 600 soldiers and is equipped with 30
Fuchs Armoured Personnel Carriers and 36 Luchs Armoured Vehicles for reconnaissance.
The French Battalion has the same strength but with 24 VAB Armoured
Personnel Carriers, 12 AMX 10 RC Light Tanks and 38 VBL Armoured Vehicles for
reconnaissance.
The FGAs mission in the Sarajevo area is to continue to ensure
freedom of movement for people and goods, to control military installations and to support
Non-Governmental Organisations.
Referring to these troops, German Minister of Defence Volker Rhe
remarked, "The political symbolism of this first common commitment is strong. The
French and German soldiers are in the spotlight of international public opinion."