2024 Bastille Day Military Parade | French Foreign Legion Information

Every year, a large military parade is held in Paris to commemorate the 14th of July, France’s national holiday, known in English-speaking countries as Bastille Day. On that day, the French Foreign Legion also takes part in the parade in the capital. However, due to the upcoming 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, this year’s parade was downsized and did not take place on the famous Champs-Élysées. Read more and see images.

This year the traditional Bastille Day Military Parade moved, for the second time in its history, to the less frequented and shorter Avenue Foch, running from the famous Arc de Triomphe (Triumphal arch) southwest to the Bois de Boulogne city park. The number of participants was 25% fewer than in 2023 (4,000 military personnel in 2024 vs 5,100). In addition, given the impossibility of maneuvering, armored vehicles were excluded from the parade this year.

As for the French Foreign Legion, it was represented during the parade by a detachment of the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC). While the regiment took part in the 2023 Parade with their armored vehicles, the Legion cavalrymen marched on foot this year. The detachment was composed of 115 NCOs and legionnaires from the HQ and 2nd Squadrons, led by their two captains. It was headed by Colonel Bertrand Dias, the 1er REC’s commanding officer, and the color guard.

In front of the 1er REC detachment marched, as usual, a platoon of bearded Foreign Legion Pioneers (39 NCOs and legionnaires), led by an NCO. Among the other French military units that participate in the parade, this is an exception – non-Legion units are led by an officer.

The pioneers were followed by the Foreign Legion Music Band, another traditional element in the parade in Paris. The band consisted of 57 officers, NCOs and musicians who formed two blocs, with chapeau chinois in the middle (Turkish Crescent or Jingling Johnny, it serves as a prominent instrument). The music band itself was also led by an NCO. For the record, the new chief of the Music Band, Captain Vladimir Khourda, once a simple legionnaire (in 1999) with diplomas from Moscow Military Music College and Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory, took part in the parade, too.

Because of the Legion’s traditional marching speed which is much slower than the one of the rest of the French Army (88 steps/minute vs 116 steps/minute), the legionnaires were closing the parade of marching troops. Only the Regimental Guard mounted on horses followed them.

Rehearsal for the 2024 Bastille Day Parade – Foreign Legion:

The entire 2024 Military Parade. The Foreign Legion detachment is seen from 01:26:00.

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