Watch absolutely unique, very rare amateur footages depicting Foreign Legion ceremonies in Laghouat, Algeria in the 1950s and 1960s. At that time, the town was home to one of the Legion’s Saharan companies: 2nd Legion Saharan Motorized Company (2e CSPL). Two of the rare films are in color.
120 years ago: A violent battle in Algeria
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.
Hélie Denoix de Saint Marc (1922-2013)
Hélie Denoix de Saint Marc was a French Foreign Legion officer, mainly serving with airborne units. Best known for his active participation in the 1961 Generals’ Putsch, he died ten years ago, on August 26, 2013. The following article was written in his memory.
115 years ago: A fierce battle took place in the Algerian-Moroccan borderlands
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
PHOTOS: Lieutenant Mafteiu and Algerian Mounted Company in the early 1930s
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
PHOTOS: 2nd Foreign Regiment’s Color Guard in the early 1900s
Another part of the PHOTOS series. Today, the article is dedicated to the color guard of the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI) in Algeria, North Africa, in the early 1900s; back then, the unit was still known as the 2nd Foreign Regiment (2e Etranger, 2e RE).
Read morePHOTOS: 2nd Foreign Regiment’s Color Guard in the early 1900s
90 years ago: The deadliest accident ever experienced by the Foreign Legion
90 years ago, on September 14, 1932, a disaster occurred in North Africa’s Algeria, home to the French Foreign Legion at the time. A train carrying a detachment of the 1st Foreign Regiment derailed and crashed into a ravine. Dozens of legionnaires were killed in the accident, more than two hundred legionnaires were wounded. Yet, the sad event has almost been forgotten.
Read more90 years ago: The deadliest accident ever experienced by the Foreign Legion
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.
65 years ago: Two little-known motorized groups of the Foreign Legion were disbanded
In North Africa in late 1956, two little-known motorized groups of the Foreign Legion were disbanded, and their five companies helped to double the ranks of the two freshly established “motorized regiments”, first among Foreign Legion units. Learn more about these units that patrolled not only Algeria or Morocco, but also Northern Mauritania.
Read more65 years ago: Two little-known motorized groups of the Foreign Legion were disbanded