This Wednesday marked Bastille Day, the French National Day of the 14th July. As usually, a military parade occurred in Paris that day. While the previous year was the parade significantly reduced, due to the COVID-19 restrictions, the popular event was back to normal this year. As always, the French Foreign Legion was represented.
110 years ago: A fierce battle in Morocco
110 years ago, on 15 May 1911, during a French campaign to liberate the besieged ruler of Morocco, two platoons of the French Foreign Legion were involved in a fierce battle with numerous Moroccan rebels. Determined never to surrender to the enemy, only an officer and six legionnaires left alive after six hours of fighting. Although this battle is considered as the second Camerone, it has been almost forgotten over the years.
180 years ago: Motherhouse of the French Foreign Legion was born
180 years ago, in April 1841, the Foreign Legion in Algeria was split by order into two regiments. Thus, the current Motherhouse of the Legion was born. See an article dedicated to its history, supplemented by 80+ pictures and documents, some of them never published before.
Read more180 years ago: Motherhouse of the French Foreign Legion was born
113 years ago: Foreign Legion’s company decimated by a severe snowstorm
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 more113 years ago: Foreign Legion’s company decimated by a severe snowstorm
Foreign Legion: Hand-to-hand combat training with Major Gérald
See another interesting video published by the official French Foreign Legion channel on YouTube starring Major Gérald, the head of the Sports Office of the 1st Foreign Regiment (1er RE).
Read moreForeign Legion: Hand-to-hand combat training with Major Gérald
Foreign Legion: 2020 Armistice Day
As every year since 1918, even on this 11 November the different regiments of the French Foreign Legion were commemorating the end of World War I and paying honor to the veterans and the dead. Known as Remembrance Day (or Veterans Day) in mostly English-speaking countries, the Armistice Day is highly regarded in France.
Lt Colonel Zlatko Sabljic has passed away
On September 29, 2020, Lieutenant Colonel Zlatko Sabljic, director of the Home of Legionnaire (a veteran retirement home in Auriol, southern France) has passed away. A famous figure, he spent 38 years in the French Foreign Legion and 8 years with legionnaires-veterans.
Foreign Legion: Old documentaries – 1er RE, 13e DBLE, 1er REC, 2e REI
If you are interested in the French Foreign Legion, you can watch some rare and interesting French documentaries from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, recently posted on YT, showing the then Legion and legionnaires.
Read moreForeign Legion: Old documentaries – 1er RE, 13e DBLE, 1er REC, 2e REI
2020 Bastille Day Military Parade
This Tuesday marks the French National Day of the 14th July, called Bastille Day in the English-speaking world. As usually, a military parade occurred in Paris. This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bastille Day military parade was significantly reduced. Nevertheless, the Foreign Legion was still represented. See videos.
Foreign Legion: Useful back exercises with Major Gérald
In his another great video published by the official French Foreign Legion channel on YouTube, Major Gérald, the head of the Sports Office of the 1st Foreign Regiment (1er RE), presents very useful basic workouts for strengthening your postural muscles. This very important training prevents you from several types of injuries of your back and help you to maintain a good posture.
Read moreForeign Legion: Useful back exercises with Major Gérald
Foreign Legion: 2020 Camerone Day
On April 30, as every year since 1931, the French Foreign Legion celebrated their most important holiday, Camerone Day. That day, all officers and legionnaires of the Foreign Legion commemorate the Battle of Camerone, an action which occurred in Mexico 157 years ago, in 1863.