66 years ago: A major confrontation with the Viet Minh began

March 13, 2020 · Posted in dien bien phu, history, indochina

66 years ago, on 13 March 1954, a major confrontation between French troops and the Viet Minh movement began in then French Indochina. The confrontation transformed into a two-month bloody battle that occurred in a remote valley of Dien Bien Phu, situated in northeastern Vietnam. The battle started by a furious assault on a defensive position held by a Foreign Legion battalion. After several hours of severe fighting, the position is overrun… For those interested in this famous battle, see the well-ordered article supplemented with many images and additional information.

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70 years ago: The very first Foreign Legion airborne unit was disbanded

May 31, 2019 · Posted in 3rei, history, indochina

70 years ago today, on the 31st May of 1949, the very first airborne unit of the French Foreign Legion was disbanded. Organized and stationed in Hanoi (the then capital of French Indochina) in 1948, the company of no more than 150 legionnaires-paratroopers supported French troops during the first stage of the Indochina War (1946-54). If you are interested in the lesser-known history of the Foreign Legion, see our fully reworked article dedicated to this exceptional unit (une version française incluse).

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65 years ago: A decisive battle started in then French Indochina

March 13, 2019 · Posted in dien bien phu, history, indochina

65 years ago, a decisive battle started in then French Indochina between French troops, including legionnaires, and the Viet Minh. The two-month battle occurred in a remote valley of Dien Bien Phu in northeastern Vietnam. On 13 March 1954, the Viet Minh launched a bloody assault on a defensive position held by a Foreign Legion battalion. After several hours of severe fighting, the position would be overrun…

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2e BEP: 70th anniversary of the predecessor to the 2e REP

September 29, 2018 · Posted in 2rep, history, indochina

70 years ago, on October 1, 1948, the 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion (2e BEP) of the Foreign Legion was established in North Africa. The unit would be shipped to Southeast Asia a few months later, to became the most awarded French battalion of the First Indochina War (1946-54). After having returned back to North Africa in late 1955, its men helped to constitute its famous successor, the 2e REP (Regiment).

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Foreign Legion’s Engineering Companies in the First Indochina War

June 22, 2018 · Posted in history, indochina, legion

Learn about engineering companies of the French Foreign Legion serving in then French Indochina during the First Indochina War (1946-54). Although very little-known units, even in France, these companies were among first Foreign Legion elements joining the military operations in Indochina and provided an important combat support in the following war.

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64 years ago: Major confrontation with the Viet Minh started

March 13, 2018 · Posted in dien bien phu, history, indochina

64 years ago, a major confrontation between the French and the Viet Minh started. It took place in northeastern Vietnam, in then French Indochina. On March 13, 1954, the French garrison of Dien Bien Phu was attacked. After several hours of bloody assaults, the enemy would overrun one of the important French strongpoints…

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