French Foreign Legion information. An online project dedicated to the famous Foreign Legion.
A new part of the DOCUMENTS series. A very rare document is presented here; it is the oldest French Foreign Legion-related document currently available on our website. It was issued as early as 1847 to a Belgian legionnaire at the conclusion of his honest and faithful service in North Africa.
Read moreDOCUMENTS: 1847 1st Foreign Legion Regiment honorable discharge certificate
In early September 1903, a violent battle was fought in Algeria between men of a Foreign Legion mounted company and a Moroccan war party. The battle that lasted more than seven hours resulted in heavy casualties on the Legion side.
On September 2, 2023, the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI) commemorated the 120th anniversary of the 1903 Battle of El Moungar, a crucial moment in their history. See the images.
As we informed earlier, three regiments of the French Foreign Legion have deployed their men to New Caledonia in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia, since June 2023. The legionnaires should stay in this special overseas collectivity of France for four months, as is common practice for the so-called short duration mission (MCD). See some new images from taken during their deployment in August.
On August 5, 1933, Lieutenant Colonel Jean Pierre Bissey, a little-known officer of the French Foreign Legion, was killed in a battle with local rebels during the French pacification of Morocco. Almost forgotten today, he remains the highest-ranking Foreign Legion officer killed not only between the two world wars but also during the long Moroccan campaign. The following article has been written in his memory.
Since June 2023, the 1st Company of the French Foreign Legion’s 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI) has been deployed to New Caledonia, a special overseas collectivity of France in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia.
Last week, on May 16, 2023, the 5th Company of the Foreign Legion’s 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI) was disbanded during an emotional ceremony, as a result of the planned French infantry reorganization. Its men would be dispersed among remaining companies or join other regiments.
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
In the second half of March 2023, legionnaires from three Foreign Legion regiments are deployed to the Combat Training Center (Centre d’Entraînement au Combat, CENTAC) at the Mailly Camp, in the Aube Department of Northeastern France.
Read more1er REC, 2e REI, 1er REG: 2023 Training at the CENTAC Combat Training Center