French Foreign Legion information. An online project dedicated to the famous Foreign Legion.
See a nice, 15-minute-long official video dedicated to the recent 160th Anniversary of the Battle of Camerone in Aubagne. The video was published by the French Foreign Legion on their YouTube channel.
Read moreVIDEO: 160th Anniversary of the Battle of Camerone in Aubagne
A new part of the PHOTOS series. Enjoy rare photographies which present the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Camerone that was commemorated in Aubagne in 1963, within the new HQ of the Foreign Legion and the 1st Foreign Regiment (1er RE). In fact, it was also the very first Camerone Day celebrated in France and not in Algeria’s Sidi Bel Abbes.
Read morePHOTOS: 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Camerone in Aubagne in 1963
On May 8, 2023, the French Foreign Legion units commemorated the 78th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, which came after the definitive overall surrender of Nazi Germany to the Allies, signed in Berlin. During the final battles in Europe in May 1945, three Legion units participated: the RMLE (3e REI now), 1er REC, and the 13e DBLE. See some images from the 2023 Victory in Europe Day celebrations.
The 30th of April 2023 marked the 160th anniversary of the 1863 Battle of Camerone, an epic moment in the history of the French Foreign Legion in which its 65 men faced some 2,000 Mexican adversaries. The famous battle is portrayed as a pure example of bravery and the determination to fight to the finish, and gave the Legion its character and esprit de corps. Therefore, Camerone Day became the most important holiday for all current or former members of this exceptional military unit. See 2023 Camerone Day pictures from several Legion regiments.
In mid-April 1908, a fierce battle took place in the Algerian-Moroccan borderlands, during one of the first stages of France’s conquest of Morocco. Men from two Foreign Legion companies contributed significantly to the success of the battle.
Read more115 years ago: A fierce battle took place in the Algerian-Moroccan borderlands
Why a physical training when you are a musician? Because you are a musician in the French Foreign Legion! See a new video with Major Gérald, recently published by the Legion’s official YouTube channel. This time, the highest-ranking NCO serving as the head of the Sports Office, 1st Foreign Regiment (1er RE) presents a workout for a member of the famous Foreign Legion Music Band (MLE), called “Iron lungs,” aimed at correct breathing.
PHOTOS series. See a set of rare pictures showing a peloton of the Algerian Mounted Company, the last mule-mounted company that served in France’s Algeria. The rare pictures belonged to Lieutenant Georges Mafteiu, the peloton leader, and were taken in the Algeria-Morocco borderlands in the early 1930s.
Read morePHOTOS: Lieutenant Mafteiu and Algerian Mounted Company in the early 1930s
In late February 1933, a violent battle took place in what was then the French protectorate in Morocco, during one of the last stages of France’s pacification of the country. Men from four mounted companies of the Foreign Legion actively participated in the battle.
Read more90 years ago: A violent battle took place in the mountains of Morocco
Another part of the PHOTOS series. Enjoy beautiful photographies which show legionnaires in Syria. The rare pictures were taken mostly in 1930. At the time, the men served there with the 8th Battalion, 1st Foreign Infantry Regiment (1er REI, now 1er RE).
In early February 1908, an unexpected severe snowstorm surprised a Foreign Legion company on the edge of the Sahara, during their march to a remote military post at the Algeria-Morocco border. Within hours, the unmerciful element decimated the unit. Many legionnaires died, others had to undergo amputation of their frozen extremities.
Read more115 years ago: Foreign Legion’s company decimated by a severe snowstorm
Today, we present another part of the DOCUMENTS series. It’s a rare military service certificate, issued more than a hundred years earlier than the previous certificate, in mid-1856, shortly after the end of the Crimean War.
Read moreDOCUMENTS: 1856 1er RLE 1st Foreign Legion Military service certificate