See the history and images of the 4th Foreign Infantry Regiment (4e REI), the last Foreign Legion regiment that served in Morocco. Constituted in late 1920 and nicknamed as the Regiment of Morocco, the 4e REI participated in the pacification of that country, as well as in the campaigns in Syria and Lebanon, in Madagascar, in Indochina, and eventually in the Algerian War. It was disbanded in 1964. The current training regiment of the Legion took over the title, history and traditions of the 4e REI.
2e REP: History of the Foreign Legion’s last airborne unit
See history of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2e REP), the last airborne unit of the French Foreign Legion, including more than 70 pictures. Established in Algeria in 1948 as a battalion, it participated in the First Indochina War. Reorganized to a regiment, the 2e REP took part in the Algerian War, Battle of Kolwezi and other military operations. The unit has been based on the island of Corsica since 1967.
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Foreign Legion in a 1978 documentary
An interesting Brazilian documentary on the French Foreign Legion, showing, besides other things, the very rare images of advanced training courses of this legendary unit. It was released 36 years ago, in January 1978 by Globo, the second-largest commercial TV network in the world.
1976: Transfer of Basic Training Units from Corsica to Castelnaudary
Starting in June 1962, training units of the French Foreign Legion were based in Corsica, where they had arrived from Algeria. In October 1976, they left the island and moved to mainland France to be stationed in the town of Castelnaudary, in the southern part of the country.
Read more1976: Transfer of Basic Training Units from Corsica to Castelnaudary
Hélie Denoix de Saint Marc, one of the most famous Foreign Legion figures in the modern history, has died
Aged 91, Hélie Denoix de Saint Marc, the main Foreign Legion figure participating in the Generals’ Putsch against French president Charles de Gaulle in Algeria in 1961, has died on August 26, 2013.
Unique photos: 13e DBLE, 4e RE and 2e REI about 35 years ago
Three videoclips, created and shared on YouTube by a former legionnaire of French nationality, with a large number of nice photos from the French Foreign Legion, made approximately 35 years ago (late 1970s, early 1980s).
Read moreUnique photos: 13e DBLE, 4e RE and 2e REI about 35 years ago
History of the 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment
There is the only cavalry regiment within the today’s French Foreign Legion. But it was not always so. During the years of 1939-40 and 1946-62, the Foreign Legion used also the second cavalry regiment, 2e REC. Nicknamed “Dauphin Étranger”, the 2e REC was the last Foreign Legion unit based in Morocco, which it left in 1956 for participating in the Algerian War. In Algeria, the regiment was serving and fighting for more than five years, till the end of the war in 1962. See history and pictures of the 2e REC.
1st Foreign Parachute Regiment – a rebel of the Foreign Legion
There has not been such a controversial regiment neither within the French Foreign Legion nor within the whole of French Army for decades. The 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment (1er REP). Two times completely destroyed during the heavy fights of the First Indochina War, the 1er REP became the well-respected and feared legendary elite unit. But, it also participated in the Generals’ putsch in Algiers in 1961 and played a lead role of it….
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Heavy mortar units of the Foreign Legion in the First Indochina War
In October 1952, the Foreign Legion made a decision to create an independent heavy mortar unit. In 1954, there were three mortar units within the French Foreign Legion fighting in the First Indochina War. A parachute mortar company and the two infantry mortar companies composed of mixed elements: legionnaires and local anti-communist soldiers. These units used the 120mm heavy mortars. See history and a few images of the units.
Read moreHeavy mortar units of the Foreign Legion in the First Indochina War
French Foreign Legion 1949 documentary
A short French documentary about the Foreign Legion released in 1949. Very nice images of the Foreign Legion main base in Sidi Bel Abbes (Algeria) while celebrating Camerone Day. A lot of legionnaires caught in the film will die during next five years in the First Indochina War. We can also see historical images of a typical legionnaires job of that time: hard-working with “la pioche“, a pickaxe.
French Foreign Legion in Syria – the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment
Syria, Homs, Damascus. Names we are hearing regularly in these days of 2012-13. It is very interesting to discover the French Foreign Legion and its legionnaires were serving at these places for decades. In 1939, the Legion units serving in Syria were transformed into the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment and just based at Homs and Damascus. In 1941, it was the only Foreign Legion regiment which remained loyal to the French Vichy regime (cooperating with Hitler). See the very little known history and some photos of the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment.
Read moreFrench Foreign Legion in Syria – the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment