In late 2022, a joint military exercise took place in Ivory Coast, a country on the southern coast of West Africa that maintains close ties with France. Legionnaires from the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2e REP) participated.
70 years ago: A successful battle in an entrenched valley in French Indochina
In late 1952, an important confrontation between the French and the communist Viet Minh took place in then French Indochina, in a valley transformed into a well-fortified camp. A direct predecessor to the sad 1954 battle of Dien Bien Phu, the confrontation ended with a clear French victory, thanks to a significant role of the French Foreign Legion men.
Read more70 years ago: A successful battle in an entrenched valley in French Indochina
Foreign Legion: 2022 Armistice Day
In France, the 11th of November marks Armistice Day. That day – known as Remembrance Day (or Veterans Day) in mostly English-speaking countries – the entire nation in France and abroad commemorates the end of hostilities of World War I. Thus, yesterday, on November 11, even the French Foreign Legion – as well as the rest of the French Armed Forces – commemorated the 104th Armistice Day, and remembered the 36,000 legionnaires and foreign volunteers who were killed or wounded during WWI. See the photos.
2e REP: 5th Company left New Caledonia
After their prescribed deployment that lasted four months, the men of the 5th Company, 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2e REP), left New Caledonia. They had served in this special overseas collectivity of France located east of Australia, in the Pacific Ocean, since early June.
2e REP: 2022 Exercise Manticore
Between September 12 and October 10, 2022, the French Army is conducting a large-scale military exercise, called Manticore. It takes place in several departments of south-central France, including Aveyron and Puy-de-Dôme. Among the more than 3,000 soldiers participating in the exercise are legionnaires from the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2e REP), the only airborne unit of the current French Foreign Legion.
2e REP: 5th Company men visited a local tribe in New Caledonia
The 5th Company of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2e REP), the only airborne unit of the current French Foreign Legion, has been deployed to New Caledonia since June 2022. In this special overseas collectivity of France located east of Australia, in the Pacific Ocean, the Legion paratroopers carry out several tasks.
Read more2e REP: 5th Company men visited a local tribe in New Caledonia
2e REP: 5th Company in New Caledonia 2022
Since June 2022, the 5th Company of the French Foreign Legion’s 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2e REP) has been deployed to New Caledonia, a special overseas collectivity of France in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia.
2e REP: 1st Company to return from Djibouti
This week, the 1st Company of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2e REP) is to return to Corsica from Djibouti, a small country in the Horn of Africa, where the airborne legionnaires have spent four months.
PHOTOS: 1963 2e REP training at Bou Sfer
Here is a small set of photos taken at Bou Sfer, Algeria, in late 1963. They present legionnaires of the prestigious 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2e REP), stationed there at the time, during their advanced training.
Foreign Legion: 2022 Camerone Day
On April 30, 2022, the French Foreign Legion commemorated the 159th anniversary of the Battle of Camerone, a crucial moment in their history. The battle is portrayed as a pure example of bravery and the determination to fight to the finish. Camerone Day is therefore the most important day of the year for all current or former legionnaires. After two years of involuntary banning, the French Foreign Legion was once again allowed to commemorate the event publicly. See 2022 Camerone Day images from several Legion regiments.
40 years ago: 1982 Mont Garbi Accident
40 years ago, in early February 1982, a common French military exercise was planned in Djibouti, a country in the Horn of Africa. A French Foreign Legion airborne platoon was to participate. The Legion paratroopers were ordered to carry out a routine training jump over a drop zone located nord-west of the capital. They boarded their aircraft and took off…