Every year, the 4th Foreign Regiment (4e RE) organizes an exceptional bycycle touring race. This unique event brings together passionate cyclists and supporters from different Foreign Legion regiments, united by a common goal: to support the veterans and wounded of the Legion. See a video.
80 years ago: Foreign Legion’s last artillery batteries were disbanded
With the conflict in Ukraine, a long-neglected component of Western armies, artillery, has once again stepped to the fore. It might come as a surprise to many Foreign Legion enthusiasts that a 1920 law allowed the Foreign Legion to establish, along with a cavalry regiment, also a separate artillery regiment. Equally surprising might be the fact that, in 1941, the legionnaires probably served in as many as 11 artillery batteries at the same time. The last of these units were disbanded 80 years ago, in 1944.
Read more80 years ago: Foreign Legion’s last artillery batteries were disbanded
4e RE: 2024 Exercise Fierbois
See some images from the military exercise which was organized by the 4th Foreign Regiment (4e RE) in southern France in late May 2024.
60 years ago: Foreign Legion’s Regiment of Morocco was disbanded
60 years ago, deep in the Algerian Sahara in late April 1964, an entire Foreign Legion regiment was disbanded, victim of the reorganization of the French army after the end of the Algerian War (1956-62). Activated in French North Africa in late 1920 and given the nickname the “Regiment of Morocco,” its units fought in Morocco, Tunisia, Madagascar, Indochina, Mauritania, Spanish Sahara, and Algeria. In 1980, its number, history, and traditions were taken over by the training regiment of the Legion in Castelnaudary.
Read more60 years ago: Foreign Legion’s Regiment of Morocco was disbanded
Foreign Legion: 2024 Camerone Day
On April 30, 2024, the French Foreign Legion celebrated the 161st anniversary of the 1863 Battle of Camerone, an epic moment in its history. The celebrations were held across the regiments in France and abroad. See images.
4e RE: 2024 Remise de Kepi blanc in Monaco
In early April 2024, a platoon of enlisted volunteers from the French Foreign Legion’s 4th Foreign Regiment (4e RE) completed the initial four-week instruction and were allowed to take the oath. The ceremony took place exceptionally on April 4 in Monaco, a sovereign city-state and constitutional monarchy located on the French Riviera. It was presided over by Prince Albert II, head of state, and General Youchtchenko, head of the Foreign Legion.
4e RE: A 2023 short documentary on the Foreign Legion’s method of integration
Watch a short documentary film produced by VA+, the online media branch of the Valeurs Actuelles (“Current Values”), a French conservative weekly magazine. The reporter, Antoine You, visited the 4th Foreign Regiment (4e RE) in Castelnaudary and tried to understand how the Foreign Legion integrates members of dozens of different nationalities coming from all over the world.
Read more4e RE: A 2023 short documentary on the Foreign Legion’s method of integration
Foreign Legion: 2023 Armistice Day
In most English-speaking countries, November 11 is known as Veterans Day or Remembrance Day, honoring military veterans and those who have died in the line of duty. In France, this day is still known as Armistice Day, in memory of the 1918 armistice signed between the Allies and Germany that ended World War I. Since 2012, all those who died for France have also been commemorated during Armistice Day. The French Foreign Legion participates annually in those ceremonies. See images.
4e RE: 2023 Foreign Legion Half Marathon
In Castelnaudary (Southern France) on October 7, 2023, the 45th Foreign Legion Half Marathon took place. The annual race is organized by the 4th Foreign Regiment (4e RE) in this Foreign Legion training regiment’s garrison town, and held on the first Saturday in October. The event includes a half marathon (13 miles / 21 km) and 10K race. Its first edition took place in 1977.
2023 Bastille Day Military Parade
Annually, a large military parade takes place in Paris to commemorate the 14th of July, the French national day, known in English-speaking countries as Bastille Day. On that most important French holiday, also the French Foreign Legion units participate in the parade in the capital. Learn more and see images.
Rehearsal for the 2023 Bastille Day parade
As every year in July, members of the French Foreign Legion are preparing dutifully for the Bastille Day Military Parade that takes place annually in Paris on July 14. See a nice video showing the legionnaires’ rehearsal for the parade.