165 years ago: Another French Foreign Legion organized

See the history of another Foreign Legion organized in France, this time in early 1855, to take part in the Crimean War against the Russian Empire. The second Legion was composed of the Swiss exclusively and distinguished from the first one by their green uniform. It eventually became the 1st Foreign Regiment and was sent to Algeria. The unit lost its Swiss character in 1859.

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70 years ago: The last mounted company disappeared

See a complete history of the legendary Foreign Legion companies mounted on mules. The last of them disappeared 70 years ago in Morocco, in late December 1949. Elite high-mobile units, consisting of hard men loving the autonomous life far from the civilization, they played crucial role in the successful conquest of Algeria’s South Oran between the 1880s and 1900s. Shortly afterwards, they took part in the Pacification of Morocco and were fighting there until the mid-1930s.

Read more70 years ago: The last mounted company disappeared