GIGN was formed in , near Paris , in 1973 in the wake of the Munich massacre and other less well known events in France . Initially named ECRI ( or Regional Commando Intervention Team ) , it became operational in March 1974 , under the command of then-lieutenant and performed its first mission ten days later . Another unit , named GIGN , was created simultaneously within the Gendarmerie parachute squadron in in southwest France but the two units were merged under 's command in 1976 and adopted the GIGN designation . GIGNs initial complement was 15 , later increased to 32 in 1976 , 78 by 1986 , and 120 by 2005 . GIGN moved to in 1982
Munich massacre
Munich massacre
GIGN