Five years ago: Six legionnaires killed by an avalanche in the French Alps

On January 18, 2016, fifty members from the Foreign Legion’s 3rd Company, 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment (2e REG) were going through a mountain warfare basic training in the French Alps while an avalanche caught them. Five legionnaires had been killed immediatelly; the sixth legionnaire died a week later.

2e REG - 2 REG - Foreign Legion Etrangere - 2016 - Petit Argentier - Saint Christol - 6 killed legionnaires

2e REG - 2 REG - Foreign Legion Etrangere - 2016 - Petit Argentier - Saint Christol - Homage

The tragedy occurred near the well-known Valfréjus ski resort situated in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, at the France–Italy border. Along with the 1976 Djibouti helicopter crash (when six legionnaires perished too), both accidents have remained the second deadliest events the Foreign Legion has sufferred since the end of the Algerian War (1962).

See more information to commemorate the sad event and to pay homage to the six brave men:

2e REG: Five legionnaires killed in the Alps

2e REG: The sixth legionnaire caught by avalanche died

2e REG: Paying homage to the six killed legionnaires

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