Bastille Day Military Parade 2018 | French Foreign Legion Information

This Saturday, the French commemorated their National Day of the 14th July, called Bastille Day in the English-speaking world. As always since 1880, a large military parade in Paris occurred. Traditionally, the Bastille Day military parade took place on the Champs-Elysées, a well-known avenue in the 8th arrondissement. The Foreign Legion participated.

The French national day originated in the 14th July of 1790, when the unity of the French was commemorated for the first time. Since 1980, the event has been organized continuously on the famous avenue.

This year, as usually, the Legion was represented by Foreign Legion Pioneers, alongside the Foreign Legion Music Band. The 1st Company of the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI) supplemented them. The legionnaires are closing the parade of marching troops. It’s due to the Legion’s much slower marching speed than the rest of the French Army (88 steps/minute vs 116 steps/minute).

Between motorized units, vehicles of the 1st Company, 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment (2e REG) were involved in the parade.

Soldiers from Japan, Singapore, Spain and Belgium were among almost 4,300 troops marching down the Champs-Elysées.

Prime Minister of Singapore, Hsien Loong, was attending the parade alongside French President Emmanuel Macron.

The final training at Camp of Satory (close to Paris):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGnSR9ubLjI

Last preparations on the Champs-Elysées (a nice video):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJe7xbGoUck

Bastille Day Military Parade 2018. The marching Legion between 1:35:35 – 1:40:00.
The 2e REG vehicles between 1:49:15 – 1:50:05.

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