Home of Legionnaire in Auriol in 1934 | French Foreign Legion Information

A few days ago, the French Foreign Legion published a video with rare images from 1934, showing the newly opened Home of Legionnaire, a retirement home for Legion veterans. The home is located in Auriol, some 6 miles (10 km) northeast of Aubagne, the Foreign Legion headquarters situated close to Marseille, in Southern France.

The Home of Legionnaire is a complex of buildings with a total area of six acres (25,000 m2). It was opened on July 8, 1934, with the great help of General Rollet, the Father of the Legion. The home was able to accommodate 60 veterans. Currently, it offers 80 apartments. Approximately 70 of these are currently occupied by former legionnaires who are unmarried, physically fit, and able to pay for the accommodation. The residents are between 40 and 90+ years old.

From the beginning, the home hasn’t been officially connected with the Legion. Apart from rents, it lives on voluntary contributions and donations. Some of them come from the Foreign Legion Mutual Aid Foyer (FELE), a public institution run by the Foreign Legion Command. Private donors provide the remaining financial aid.

Between mid-2012 and late 2020, the home was managed by Lieutenant Colonel Zlatko Sabljic.

Besides the Home of Legionnaire, another retirement home accommodates Foreign Legion veterans: the Foreign Legion Disabled Veterans Institution (IILE), based at Puyloubier. Opened in May 1955 and located about 10 miles (16 km) north of Auriol, this home is much larger and is officially run by the Legion.

Home of Legionnaire in 1934:

Home of Legionnaire in 2018, with almost the same narration:

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