French 2nd March Regiment of Foreign Volunteers + 22nd March Regiment pocket badge

2e Regiment de Marche de Volontaires Etrangeres (2 RMVE) puis 22e Regiment de Marche de Volontaires Etrangeres (22 RMVE)... The 2nd March Regiment of Foreign Volunteers and later 22nd March Regiment of Foreign Volunteers was created on the 24th October 1939, on 25th February 1940 the regiment changed its name to the 22 RMVE, like its sister regiment the 22nd was composed of Republican Spanish refugees and also Jewish immigrants from central Europe, the 22 RMVE fought well on the Somme defending the road to Paris. From the 5th-7th June the regiment was completely surrounded at Villers-Carbonnel and pummeled by artillery and air attacks but managed to hold out for two days. During the regiments retreat, its battalions succumbed one after the other due to heavy casualties and a lack of ammunition, ending the fight around Marchelepot, the regiment was left with less than 800 men out of a 2800 strong Regiment and was finally dissolved in July 1940.... The badge was created in 1940 by Colonel Villiers-Moriame and is made by Arthus Bertrand Paris Depose with poincon on the pastille of the badge.