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General of the Army Bernard Saint-Hillier, 6th Commander of the 13th DBLE
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The son of an infantry colonel, Bernard Saint-Hillier was born on December 29, 1911, in Dole, Jura. He left his civilian secondary studies early, after being given an opportunity to enter the Saint-Cyr Military Academy in 1931. Comissioned as a "sous-lieutenant", 2nd lieutenant, in 1933, he was posted to the 11th Alpine Mountain Battalion. A lieutenant in 1935, he transfers to the Foreign Legion in 1938, serving in the 1st REI. In 1940, he joins the 13th DBLE and serves with distinction at Narvi, where is wounded by an artillery explosion. In England in July, he joins the French Forces, under the name Jean of Vienna, in order to protect his family in France from possible reprisals from Axis sympathizers.
Made a captain in August, he serves with the 13th in its subsequent campaigns. On March 26, 1941, he is credited with personally taking 80 enemy prisoners. On April 8, 1941, at Massaoua, he is commended for valor again, by capturing a further 150 prisoners. He is made 1st Battalion commander during the operations in Syria. He serves with valor in Libya and at Bir Hakeim. At the Second Battle of El Alamein, on October 23-34, 1942, he is credited for bravery during the capture of Himeimat. On November 4, 1942, he is wounded by a mine, and due to his injuries is relieved of his command of the Battalion, and instead placed in charge of directing anti-tank guns.
After the victory in North Africa, Saint-Hillier is promoted to major. He is made chief of staff of the 1st Free French Division under the command of General Brosset, in September 1943. He follows the division into Italy and the into France. He is wounded again by an artillery shell near Belfrot on October 4, 1944, and is temporarly given command of the 1st Free French Division after the death of Brosset and before the nomination of General Garbay. He is promoted to lieutenant colonel on December 5, 1944, and is given command of the 13th DBLE on March 25, 1945, a position he retains until December 31 of that same year. In 1946 he is temporarily made the Secretary General of the Army Ministry, before entering into futher higher officer military education, from 1947-48. Placed on the General Staff of the Armed Forces in 1949, he was promoted to the rank of full colonel in 1951. He was posted in the College of Defense of Nato in 1952, before being given command of the 18th Parachutist Regiment.
From 1954-55, Saint-Hillier commanded the 1st Airborne Group in Indochina. He was made chief of staff to the General Inspector of Infantry in 1956, and is placed on staff in London as part of preparations of the realignment of Suez. In 1957, he is posted at the Center For Military Studies, and then at the Insitute of Studies of National Defense. In 1958, he is made Chief of Staff to the Army Corps of Constantine, Algiers, before being promoted to Brigadier General in 1959. Chief private secretary of the Minister of the Army, he receives orders in May of 1960 to command the 10th Parachutist Division in Algeria. He is held captive by the mutineers at the time of the revolt in April of 1961, but is later released. He continued as representative for the Supreme Combined Supreme Command in Europe, 1962-68, promoted to Divisonal General in 1965. He also serves as Inspector to the Reserves from 1966-68. Made a General of the Army in 1968, he is given command of the 3rd Military Region in Rennes until 1971. He also served as a regular member of the Council of War from 1969-71. He was also president of the association of the 1st Free French Division of World War Two. He died on July 28, 2004, in Paris, and was buried in Vanves at the Top of Seine.
During his military service, Bernard Saint-Hillier received the following awards/decorations:
・Grand Croix de la Legion d'Honneur ・Compagnon de la Liberation - decret du 27 mai 1943 ・Croix de Guerre 39/45 (9 citations) ・Croix de la Valeur Militaire (2 citations) ・Medaille de la Resistance ・Medaille Coloniale avec agrafes «Erythree», «Libye», «Bir-Hakeim», «Tunisie» ・Medaille de l'Aeronautique ・Distinguished Service Order (GB) ・Croix de Guerre Norvegienne ・Grand Officier de l'Etoile d'Anjouan ・Commandeur du Nicham Iftikar ・Croix de Guerre du Bresil