On May 7, 1954, after 55 days of fierce fighting, the major battle between French troops and Ho Chi Minh’s Viet Minh soldiers was terminated. The battle occurred in the valley of Dien Bien Phu, in northern Vietnam, and signaled the end of French influence in Southeast Asia. Thousands of legionnaires were involved in the struggle and many of them died…
1er RE: Foreign Legion in 1944–1945 – Exhibition
The Foreign Legion Museum is organizing a temporary exhibition titled The Legion during the Victory (La Légion dans la Victoire). The exhibition is dedicated to the legionnaires and Foreign Legion units who took part in the liberation of France in 1944–1945. It opens to the public on April 15 and remains on view through August 30, 2015.
From CRTRLE and 6e REG to 1er REG: History of the Legion’s first engineer regiment
See history and images of the French Foreign Legion’s first engineering regiment, the 6e REG.
Read moreFrom CRTRLE and 6e REG to 1er REG: History of the Legion’s first engineer regiment
1er REC: History of the Legion’s first cavalry regiment
See the history and pictures of the current French Foreign Legion’s only cavalry unit, 1er REC. Established officially in Tunisia in 1922, it remains the only active cavalry unit within the Legion and also its only unit (constituted before 1999) that has never changed its title.
Read more1er REC: History of the Legion’s first cavalry regiment
GPLEA: 21e CPLE, 22e CPLE, 23e CPLE
Units of the French Foreign Legion forgotten by time. Independent, self-governing autonomous motorized infantry companies serving in Algeria, established at the turn of the year 1954/1955 in response to rising rebel activity in French North Africa. The companies were equipped with Jeeps, Dodges WC 6×6, M3 Scout Cars (22e CPLE in 1955) and with AM-M8 Greyhound armored cars. They were often supported or even transported by helicopters and co-operated in several military operations with Foreign Legion paratroopers from 1er REP. In February 1956, the companies were grouped into a motorized group: GPLEA.
Legion’s youngest Saharan motorized company
An almost unknown unit of the French Foreign Legion. An independent, autonomous motorized infantry company formed in 1955 to serve in Algeria during the Algerian War. A few months later, it became the 4th Legion Saharan Motorized Company (4e CSPL). The youngest of the four legendary Saharan motorized companies of the Foreign Legion.
The Foreign Legion only unit ever based in Libya
A hardly known self-governing, autonomous motorized infantry unit of the French Foreign Legion, established in 1949 to guard the Fezzan region of Libya, being under the French administration. The 3rd Legion Saharan Motorized Company (3e CSPL), one of the four legendary Saharan motorized companies of the Legion. In the late 1950s, 3e CSPL left Libya to participate in the Algerian War.
Second Saharan motorized unit of the Legion
Learn about the 2nd Legion Saharan Motorized Company (2e CSPL), an autonomous motorized infantry unit of the French Foreign Legion serving in the Algerian Sahara between the 1940s and 1960s. Very little known today, equipped with Dodges WC 4×4 and 6×6, and also by AMM8 Greyhound armored cars, it became a Saharan rapid reaction force during the Algerian War.
Legion’s first Saharan motorized unit
Though little known today, four autonomous Saharan companies ranked among the most prestigious Foreign Legion’s units in the 1950s – 1960s. They kept the old traditions of the legionnaires riding camels through the North African desert and oasis, serving in the old cool-looking fortresses. Even the official recruiting posters of the Legion in the 1950s and 1960s portrayed Saharan units to attract new volunteers to join in. Today, the Legion’s first Saharan motorized unit will be presented here.
Rare Foreign Legion’s photos from the 1980s & Gulf War
Chad, Djibouti, Mayotte and the Gulf War… See the interesting slideshows created by Ch. R., a former legionnaire and NCO of the French Foreign Legion, who served in the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC) during the 1980s and 1990s. Hundreds of rare, cool photos from places known by almost all legionnaires and from the Gulf War 1990-91.
Read moreRare Foreign Legion’s photos from the 1980s & Gulf War
The legionnaires, who built up the largest military camp in Western Europe
Legionnaires of the French Foreign Legion have kept the long tradition of their Pioneers-Sappers history. The bearded Legion Pioneers are well known, an inseparable part of every larger parade of legionnaires. In the 1970s, the modern Legion Pioneers from the very little-known 61st Engineer Legion Mixed Battalion (61e BMGL) participated in the construction of the largest military camp in Western Europe: Camp Canjuers. See the 61e BMGL’s rare images & history.
Read moreThe legionnaires, who built up the largest military camp in Western Europe