The division is heir to the
Blue Division which fought during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, in particular during the
Battle of Bazeilles and the
9th Colonial Infantry Division, part of the
Free French Forces, which distinguished themselves in the apprehending of
Elba in June 1944 and the
disembarking in Provence on 15 August of the same year. The Division then made way to
Indochina, where it was placed dormant (without being dissolved) in December 1947. The unit was reactivated in July 1963 in
Brittany under the designation of 9th Brigade. On 1 January 1976, the division was baptized as 9th Marine Infantry Division 9e DIMa. Accordingly, the division was attached to the terrestrial intervention force, then the
Rapid Action Force (FAR) since 1983. On 1 July 1999, the unit was restructured in a brigade and was designated as 9th Light Armoured Marine Brigade (BLBMa). On 1 January 2013, the brigade was named to the current designation as the
9th Marine Infantry Brigade (9e BIMa). The headquarter staff is stationed in
Poitiers since 1 July 2010. The motto of the brigade is "Semper et Ulbique",
Latin for "Always and All over". The "9th" illustrated capability on all exterior theatres of operations where
France has been engaged since
World War II:
Indochina,
Lebanon,
Kuwait, Macedonia,
Kosovo,
Bosnia,
Congo,
Tchad,
Ivory Coast. From October 2010 to May 2011, the Brigade armed essentially
Brigade La Fayette in
Afghanistan by projecting a headquarter staff ( composed 50% of Marines, Bigors, Marine sapeurs of the 9e BIMa) and the tactical interam groupment of Richelieu armed by the
2nd Marine Infantry Regiment 2e RIMa. In January 2013, elements of the Brigade took part in
Operation Serval. In all
combat engagement theatres around the globe, the 9e BIMa illustrated worth of the oldest traditions of the
French Troop de Marine. == Missions ==