Good evening, I would like to give some general comments to the Serbian nationalists or pro-Serbia Frenchmen or other nationals who are repeatedly commenting on this video. 1) This video is not political. I am not here to discuss about the collapse of Yugoslavia, the French-Serbian alliance in WW1, the Serbian Partisans in WW2, the Croatian Ustashe, the Bosnian SS. I am not here to discuss the role of the USA, of NATO, of Germany, of global jihad supporting the Albanian-Bosnian-Kosovo cause or even the islamisation of Europe. These soldiers did not choose their mission. The French politicians (Presidents Mitterrand and Chirac, first of all) decided the role that France should play in the UN and NATO interventions in Former Yuguslavia. So all the comments about the topics mentionned above must be redirected to videos regarding the French politicians. Consequently, you shall just get the fuck out of my video. 2) This video is about French Blue Helmets (Peacekeepers) who had a clear mission to protect civilians. They were not supposed to fight and were not authorized to open fire except if fired upon under strict UN conditions which make almost impossible to return fire. Moreover, they had limited equipments to appease all warrying parties. The Serbian forces knew it and shamelessly attacked Blue Helmets as they were easy prey to use them as human shields so NATO aircrafts could no longer bomb Serbian positions. The most famous event is in May 1995 with the French Blue Helmets guarding a Serbian casern and keeping watch over the heavy weapons in there. The Serbian colonel requested the Blue Helmets to surrender and as they refused, he ordered his men to surround the casern and shoot with machine guns and anti-tank weapons against the French. These latter were not equipped or allowed to do anything, they were surrounded by numerically superior forces and were logically compelled to surrender, which is very humiliating for anyone. The Serbians captured hundreds of Blue Helmets like that and keep them as hostages. Does anybody believe that the French and the others were to accept this humiliation ? The Serbians attacked men who were not allowed to fight, I see dishonour in such attitude. The Serbians called the following reaction upon themselves. 3) Finally, when the Serbians used another shameful act (arriving disguised as Blue Helmets) to capture the strategic Vrbanja bridge, the French decided to fuck up the Serbians. They did not wait for authorization from NATO in Naples or from the French government in Paris, they retook this bridge by a bayonet assault to teach the Serbians some respect, to protect all civilians and eventually to be able to carry on their mission, which is the key objective of any military force. After that, the Serbians never attacked the French Blue Helmets anymore. This video tells this story. And this video tells only this, a military action that anybody can admire, regardless of their opinion on this siege of Sarajevo, the Bosnian War or the larger Yuguslavia crisis. This is a military video and I don't want you to piss me off with the politics of the time. Thanks for reading, Nettempereur

Wow, a bayonet charge in modern times. That requires some serious guts and training to pull off. My biggest respect to these French soldiers. Greetings from Germany

I lived in Sarajevo during the war. Being one of the few kids in my neighborhood who spoke English I was a de facto translator for my group of friends. The first UN soldiers we met were French. The kindest, nicest people one could have asked for! We had three over to our house for lunches a number of times. They gave me all the candy an 11 year old could have ever wanted. They even emptied their gun magazines of bullets and let me my younger brother run around our house with their guns. VIVA LA 🇫🇷!

Hommage aux 17 soldats français qui ont été blessés durant l’action, et à nos deux tués : les marsouins Marcel Amaru et Jacky Humblot. Honneur à nos Hommes !

Whenever someone makes a joke about french surrendering I sent them this.

Disgusting atrocities in this war if it was not for the bravery of these French soldiers we would have been mourning the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians in Sarajevo. They sacrificed their own lives for others. Thankyou for sharing. 🇨🇵🇬🇧

A real officer. He could not restrain his pains he has to live and deal with, Honor.

For all the jokes about French retreats and all that garbage...the French are highly trained soldiers and some of the most professional in the world! What the French were hampered by in the past were bad politics and mediocre leadership!! Tributes given to France from a very grateful American...Viva le France!!!!

..visited the French lines in Sarajevo when they allowed finally allowed access to the city. My limited schoolboy French was invaluable, and I think they appreciated the fact that some soldiers from Nouvelle Zealande, made the effort to visit them. I was aware that they had suffered losses, and I appreciated their no nonsense approach and demeanour.

Being Serbian of French origin, this matter is very close to me. I thank everyone who tried at stopping the unnecessary bloodshed.

Thank you soldiers of France for acting like Men and doing what needed to be done without hesitation and permission from the international community. That I'm sure would have hesitated and told you to stand down, stand by, and watch! You did the hard thing, the right thing, and took back your dignity!! Thank you!🤙🇺🇸

Encore une superbe vidéo ! Je rêverai de voir la même à propos de l'Opération Oryx en Somalie, pendant laquelle une QRF Française formée de Marsouins et de jeunes Paras VSL du 9e RCP ont eu à secourir une colonne de casque bleus marocains sérieusement accrochée et privée de ses cadres après être tombée dans une lourde embuscade. Pour cela la QRF a repoussé et causé de lourdes pertes aux forces du général Aideed, (la milice que les Rangers US et la Delta Force avaient eu à affronter lors de la "chute du faucon noir"), sans pertes humaines chez nous, (3 blessés) et sans pertes chez les civils, (ce qui relevait presque du miracle vu l'usage qu'Aideed faisait de la foule...). J'ai personnellement participé à cette action et je ne comprends vraiment pas pourquoi en France nous ne valorisons jamais les victoires de nos soldats ? Les américains quelques mois auparavant ont subi un grave revers face au même ennemi, ils en ont tout de même tiré un film à la gloire de leurs hommes. De notre coté nous avons "botté le cul" à cette milice et même de nos jours la plupart des Français ignorent que leurs soldats se sont battus en leur nom en Somalie... (C'était d'ailleurs la dernière fois que des VSL participaient à une action de guerre). Le patriotisme n'est pas génétique, il se cultive...

The French armed forces have been much maligned in the recent past, people forget the terrible terrible losses sustained by France in ww1 yet they held out. They fought bravely and helped British forces escape through Dunkirk in 1940. I did not know about this episode in their long and illustrious military history but it does not surprise me in the least. Finally who was braver over the second gulf war? France who stuck to her principles or Blair and Bush who embarked on a fools errand.

Respect from an Bosnian to all French troops and gigantic THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HELP. Your scrifice ro protect freedom and stop blodshed is not nor will ever be forgotten. THANK YOU

Respect from serbian, regardless of politics. This is bravery not american/dutch bombing of civilians in Serbia, also respect for french for preventing US from bombing bridge in Serbia in 1999 while hundreds of civilians were on it. Only France stoped it, from all countries, that says alot.

As a Croat l thank you brave French men you have done such deeds throughout our lands, holding up the ideals of humanity ,fraternity and liberty Viva La France.

Honeur et respect! After all the humiliations forced on the troops of the united nations, this stands out as a time when respect was restored.

Mon Colonel (Lecointre), je ne sais pas si vous lirez ceci mais je tenais à vous dire que votre explication des ressentis côté militaire et les possibles "non-ressentis" côté civil sont les plus limpides que j'ai entendu depuis maintenant 21 ans que je suis revenu de là-bas. Mes respects !

Respect aux Marsouins du 3eme RIMa, d'un ancien caporal eclaireur de l'armee americain.

The French commanders on the ground should be commended for NOT waiting for approval from a political UN with no teeth.My hat is off to the brave men who retook the bridge.God bless all involved

As a Bosnian I Thank and Salute these brave Frenchmen!

je ne suis pas français et je n'ai aucune raison de soutenir ou d'idolatrer l'armée française bien au contraire pour des questions historiques bref .... en etant neutre et objectif, on constate que l'armée française d ' aujourdh'ui est l'une ou voir la meme la meilleure armée du monde car elle a quelques choses de plus que les autres, c'est son coté humaniste, bienveillant et cultivé tout le contraire de certains pays avec leur esprit guerrier va en guerre et leurs concours de celui qui a la plus grossse.

All the time i sadly hear my fellow Americans and Canadian kin shit on the french military. Today outside the usa military the french have the most capable and sophisticated modern military in the world. The french are one of the few nations outside of the usa that can wage, defend, protect her interests and win a high intensity war by themselves. They are a very capable, highly trained and experienced fighting force. Id be proud to have a soldier of their armed forces defend me. I only wish more people would research the topic they talk about before they past judgment. Vive la france god bless the french republic. From a greatful American.

This guy is now the new general chef of french armies ! since the begin of the month .

As someone who lives a few minutes away from that bridge, that passage of roads and the bridge means so much to me, so many good moments were shared walking along that road, to know, 35 years ago, French troops fought hand-to-hand combat to preserve that position of the city... It's insane... VRS tried the bully tactic and the French didn't budge, if they did budge, the city could've fallen. As the position exposed the center...

I was unaware of this noble mission carried out by brave men. It chilled my blood just thinking about that order "fix bayonets". I take no sides in the Bosnian war.

Congratulations to these brave blue helmets, as their general said, they saved a lot of lives by recapturing this bridge, for loosing 2 of their own and 10 wounded, you have bled to save a foreign people, I salute you.

Le capitaine Lecointre, aujourd'hui générale, vient d'être nommé chef des armées françaises.

Respect for those French marines who had participated that charge and consequently saved thousands of civilians from a slaughter in Serbs' hands...There would have been no Bosnian genocide If only there were more brave UN troops in the field like you.

Brave and selfless actions by the French infantry. As the general said, 'Modern democracy's are built by those who die for honor, peace etc.' Obviously tyrants rule if ordinary people do not stand up to them.

Thanks for sharing this video on French soldiers who took the initiative to save lives.

A salute to the valor and courage of the French Marines who assaulted the Serbs on that bridge...!! Vive la France !!

Avec son interprète, le colonel Sandahl prend alors les négociations à sa charge puis, très vite, fait relever la section Héluin par la section Provendier de la 3e compagnie du capitaine Labuze, qui a également rejoint le site. Le succès était total mais son bilan était lourd, 2 marsouins tués et 17 blessés dont 3 grièvement. Mais dans cette aventure l'armée française avait été la seule à refuser l'humiliation faite à ses soldats et à recouvrer sa dignité bafouée par l'adversaire.

Respect à tous ceux qui sont morts, à tous ceux qui ont été blessés. Respect à tous ceux qui sont montés au front ce jour là.

Where he says how scared he was, i was reminded of Clostermann's memoir - he was very open & clear about the effect of stress. Commendable.

And after that, there's still teenagers making fun of French surrendering...kids, open books and learn, France is the country with the greatest history since the Vth century! With warrior and honour values, its soldiers and people are amazingly tough, and don't misunderstand, yes USA helped France to fight back Nazi Germany, but UK and USA would have lost the same way if there weren't oceans between their borders! Remember that Netherland, Poland, Belgium, etc, lost in a few days, nevertheless french defended their land toughly, especially in Dunkerque, giving their lives to save the remaining British army, in terrible conditions without support, facing an incredibly strong blitzkrieg!

Full respects are due for the action of these brave marines.

Who was weeping like girls to have their asses saved by the UN? lOl Twenty years later, behind your screen, what a courageous defender you are! Such a warrior ^^

Respect to anyone that partakes in a bayonet charge.

Merci beaucoup! Ce fut très intéressant, je ne connaissais pas tous ces détails de l'assaut.

Il y a des moments ou l'on peut etre fiers de notre force armée. Ce type est extremement emouvant,son humanisme force le respect.Chapeau bas.

Vive la France. Salute from the USA.

pour un officier, çà n'est pas rien d'ordonner à ses hommes de mettre bayonette au canon et charger… pour défendre des civils et reprendre un pont. bravo, honneur à nos braves soldats

It is very important to say that most of the french soldiers, which were serving in Bosnia under the UNO flag as peackeeper, were CONSCRIPTS... volunteers tos erve there but conscripts. It was young French aged 18 to 22... France is the european country which suffered the biggest number of losses during ex-yougoslavia civil war between Crotatians, serbians and Bosnians. The conscript were doing a national service during 10 to 12 months. They were accepting to serve more to go there. They were NOT professional soldiers. They were not fighting for their country, they were trying to impose peace and to protect civilians there. I ask a little bit of respect for those men.

que dire après cela ...rien ...que du respect pour ces hommes ..morts , blessés pour la liberté ..le colonel, l'explique très bien avec émotion , la peur , prendre le dessus , le corps à corps avec ses hommes face aux Serbes ...mémoires pour ces hommes tombés aux combats pour une noble cause RIP..ne jamais oublier !

la compagnie qui a fait l'assault vient d'être décorée

French officer and writer Michel Goya wrote "Under Fire - the death as work contingency", the book start with a military assault on Serbian position in Bosnia. It is a reflection about the feelings and motivation of modern soldier.

Je comprend mieux pourquoi Lecointre a été chef d'Etat-Major des armées. Très émouvant.

As they use to say, people fight for what they lack the most, the French fight for liberty and love, the British fight for honor

Very impressive snd actual words, modern democracies need people who fight for them. Respect from Albania 🌹

Thanks for the info.

Thank You for everything you did for my country! It wont be forgotten.

E troop 17th Cav 2/503 Abn Inf. 173rd Airborne Brigade we salute you.

Rip for the french soldier🕊🙏 Paix a votre âme 🕊🙏 🇨🇵

Thank you for your service and willingness to do right in the face of impossible odds

Hat off for the french. Great job done at this bridge and every survived one is a hero! They stoped a huge possible massacre. Just heros!

Yet another story of true hero's erased from the history books. Thanks for sharing this amazing story.

Honneur et respect profond à ces preux ! Que leur sacrifice et leur bravoure ne soient jamais oubliés !

And this man is now general, and commands the whole French armed forces

Avenge, honour... From Sarajevo. Vive la France! And the Spaniards in Mostar....

Rispetto per i Nostri cugini 🇮🇹❤️🇨🇵

Un immense respect les gars et que nos valeureux soldats repose en paix, sicut aquila

the captain talks in a very slow and thinking manner as if he couldnt believe he had particapated in such action against the enemy

That man's closing speech is prophetic.

Fix...bayonets! I remember my old man fighting in Anzio telling me a story that the order was given when they were in the slit trenches. His heart must of sank straight to the bottom. Thank god they didn't go through with it. It was a precautionary measure while they were in the frontline. It was mainly keeping your head down and defending your position. The germans must of been just as scared like any mortal man would be.

Il y eu aussi, une grande mission de bravoure des militaires français en Indochine; alors que l'on savait Dien-Ben-Phu perdu, plus de 600 volontaires ont été parachutés de nuit puis de jours, dont certains malencontreusement directement sur les lignes ennemis et ont du se battrent en ayant encore leur parachute accroché. Certains de ces courageux avaient tout juste 20ans...

Merci pour ce partage camarade... la sincérité de ce colonel est vraiment de taille...Merci à ceux qui y était... les gars du 3 de marine ont été remarquable.... Honneur à eux...

En effet, comme précisé dans l'introduction. Merci pour votre soutien.

Despite the fact the French politicians screwed us over in Bosnia (and not just them), one has to respect this officer and his men. They knew what was right. They knew it would come with a cost. In a foreign land, for no benefit except for ideals and humanity. And they did it. My respect you have forever.

Bayonet charge are obsolete French army : " hold my onion "

Pourriez-vous m'indiquer le titre du film documentaire dont ce video fait la partie? C'est un sujet tres interessant, je voudrais le chercher sur l'Internet. Could you please kind enough to tell me the name of the documentary movie whose part this video makes? This is a very interesting topic, and I would like to find it on the Internet.

Salut Nettempereur. Video superbe comme le sont toutes les vôtres. Je suis ancien marsouin moi - même et j'ai été fier quand j'ai entendu parler de cet incident. Je n'ai jamais été dans le 3° RIMa, mais la section dans laquelle j'étais, la SER du 1° RIMa a servi en renfort à la CEA du 3 entre décembre 1982 et mai 1983 à Beirut quand la France a participé à la FMSB. Une chose pourtant à laquelle il faut que j'attire votre attention. En anglais, on ne dit pas, "Beyond the duty", mais "Beyond the call of duty."

Well done guys, fighting for civilians is better than US fighting for oil barons.

Requiescat in pace (RIP) à tout les camarades tombaient en Yougo . et pour le reste ,les commentaires à la con ben on s'en tape car ils se sont tous comporté de manière violente entre "eux " les yougos toute ethnie confondue ... et nous autres ont devaient arrêté cette "folie humaine" .ils ont prit le pont et ensuite nos gars ont reprit se pont à la pointe de leur baïonnette .on a fait un choix de conscience et sorti grandi ,grâce à la bravoure de nos Marsouins ,soldat de France .

Bravo! I salute all these soldiers, who took part in the attack.

Incroyable d'intelligence et de pudeur de cet officier alors que cette action est clairement un "fait" de guerre historique. J'espère qu'un jour nos compatriote rendrons hommage avec fraca à nos armées qui le méritent 100 fois..

'All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing' well done to you and your good men for doing something💜❤️💙

Merci beacoup France 🇫🇷🇵🇲🇪🇦🇺🇳🇪🇺

C'est à la section du lieutenant Héluin « des Forbans du 3 » (surnom de la compagnie) qu'échoit la mission principale. Elle a été relevée la veille, précisément sur le site de Vrbanja, où elle venait de passer dix jours et qu'elle connaît parfaitement. L'assaut devra être simultané sur les trois éléments du site : poste est, zone vie, poste ouest. L'opération commence à 8 h 00 et à 8 h 45 le capitaine Lecointre donne le signal de l'assaut.

Bonjour, Merci pour ce reportage, "Devoir de Mémoire Oblige". J'ai expliqué (copier coller sur le site des TDM) en quelques commentaires le déroulement de l'opération de la reprise du pont de Vrbanja. Honneur à nos Marsouins blessés et tombés.

Everything has a reason. First of all "bayonet" is a French word.🇨🇵

I hope all of those men got recognised for their bravery! Vive la France.

Dear sir... do you know or aware of the roles played by the Malaysian Armed Forces there? Im just curious since there are no official statement ever released by the Malaysian government and scarce resource on this matter by the UN. Ive heard stories but never a confirmed reports. And my respect to those brave Frenchmen.

les soldats sont ils entrainés au combat au corps à corps baïonnette au canon ?

Thank you for taking a moral side instead of political. Viva!

C'est Ça, si j'ose dire, un véritable officier. Compliments.

Vive la France 🇨🇵 Vive l'Armée 🪖

Good on the French,they actually used their brains and knowledge,to fight evil

The best soldiers of the world

Is this guy the main boss of the whole French military today?? Saw a video recently of a very very high ranking chief of staff in the French military that... , a bit old, look an old "copy" of this guy I think it is him.

Fun fact: the capitain Lecointre is now the General of all french armed forces

Le Caporal Emeric Catta devenu Capitaine, marsouin qui a participé à l'assaut, plus jeune caporal à 20 ans décoré de la Légion d'honneur militaire et de 3 croix est décédé le 1 er aout. Si vous l'avez connu en Yougoslavie ou dans ces années, envoyez-moi un message.

Baïonnette au canon sur un FAMAS, l'ennemi est très proche...

Respect to the French Army. ❤️Good job. Good bless you general

A big respect

I dont know about others. But Im completely fine with anyone telling me about killing for honor peace and liberty and most importantly for the men next to them. Killing should not be demonized when its for right reasons. And the reason cannot be more right than saving thousands of civilians. Thats the exact purpouse of armies.

quoi dire ?... sinon un GRAND respect à tous ces hommes. Merci pour votre sacrifice pour sauver tous ces civils. what to say?... otherwise a GREAT respect to all these men. Thank you for your sacrifice to save all these civilians.

Well done to the French. I did read there was a lot of frustration from a lot of people serving in the UN forces,that they were restrained from doing the right thing because of political interference.

Vraiment respect à ses hommes. Un grand respect . Vive la France. A la gloire de nos armées.

Thank you for the video. I hope to serve with my countrymen in L'Armée de Terre. It's stunning to hear his testimony. It's much more real than drones. Tough situation. I will document this battle on Wikipedia.