13e DBLE: 2023 Commemoration of the Battle of Bir Hakeim

Last weekend, between June 9 and 11, 2023, the 13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade (13e DBLE) opened Camp Larzac – its military base – to the public, on the occasion of the 81st anniversary of the Battle of Bir Hakeim.

Every year, the 13e DBLE organizes its open house during the commemorations of the Battle of Bir Hakeim, the first major military contribution of the Free French Forces in the Second World War. The battle was fought during the Western Desert Campaign and took place west of the port of Tobruk in Libya, North Africa, from May 26 to June 11, 1942. The 13e DBLE, then part of the British Army’s Free French Forces, participated. The unit successfully resisted 32,000 German and Italian soldiers under General Rommel.

This year, a new, denser format in terms of activities and shows was proposed. The celebrations started on Friday, June 9, in the late evening, by a military ceremony with the following parade of the whole regiment. The ceremony was presided by General Lardet, commander-in-chief of the Foreign Legion.

On Saturday, the base opened to the public at 10:30 a.m. In the afternoon, visitors could watch a show performed by the gymnastics group of the Paris firefighters and, in the evening, a boxing gala, followed by the legionnaire’s ball and a DJ party until early morning.

On Sunday, the camp opened its doors again from 10.30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Both weekend days offered to the visitors a variety of cultural and sporting activities, including a stone-cutting workshop, an exhibition of vintage military outfits, an army painters’ workshop, a display of combat equipment, inflatable structures, rifle shooting, punching machines, boxing, a night course, a combat course, a piano concert, béhourd (medieval combat) and Airsoft.

A rich catering was also available on site at multiple points with local producers (farm produce, Polish and Asian cuisine, grills, burgers, ice creams, etc…).

Foreign Legion - 2023 - Camp Larzac - 13e DBLE - 13th DBLE - Commemoration - Battle of Bir Hakeim - General Lardet — General *Lardet*, chief of the Foreign Legion, and the 13e DBLE’s color guard on June 9, 2023.

Foreign Legion - 2023 - Camp Larzac - 13e DBLE - 13th DBLE - Commemoration - Battle of Bir Hakeim - pioneers — Pioneers leading the 13e DBLE during the military parade on June 9, 2023.

Foreign Legion - 2023 - Camp Larzac - 13e DBLE - 13th DBLE - Commemoration - Battle of Bir Hakeim - gymnasts — Paris Firefighters’ gymnastic group performs a show during the Battle of Bir Hakeim commemorations on June 10, 2023.

Foreign Legion - 2023 - Camp Larzac - 13e DBLE - 13th DBLE - Commemoration - Battle of Bir Hakeim - combat course

Foreign Legion - 2023 - Camp Larzac - 13e DBLE - 13th DBLE - Commemoration - Battle of Bir Hakeim - boxing

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