French Foreign Legion information. An online project dedicated to the famous Foreign Legion.
Between late May and early June 2021, legionnaires with the 13th Foreign Legion Half Brigade (13e DBLE) participated in an amphibious exercise, Skrenvil 2021, to strengthen enhanced interoperability between the French Army, the Navy, and U.S. Marines.
Read more13e DBLE: Exercise Skrenvil 2021 alongside U.S. Marines, with new Griffon vehicles
Between May 11 and 16, 2021, the French Foreign Legionnaires participated in a joint exercise Jeanne D’Arc 21, alongside their allies from the Japan Self Defense Force, Australian Defence Force, and U.S. Armed Forces. The exercise took place at Camp Ainoura (Naval Base Sasebo), and at Kirishima Maneuver Area, both located on the island of Kyushu, in the south of Japan. It was for the very first time when French troops took part in such exercise in Japan.
On April 30, as every year since 1931, the French Foreign Legion celebrated their most important holiday, Camerone Day. This day marks the anniversary of the Battle of Camerone, the famed action which occurred in Mexico 158 years ago, in 1863.
Between March 10 and 12, 2021, the 13th Foreign Legion Half Brigade (13e DBLE) was receiving its first Multi-Role Armored Vehicles (VBMR), nicknamed Griffon. Part of the 2019-2025 modernization of the French Army, these armored personnel carriers are designed to replace the outdated Armored Frontline Vehicles (VAB), in service since 1976.
This week, between 22 and 25 February 2021, an important exercise to maintain operational readiness of the 13th Foreign Legion Half Brigade (13e DBLE) in open terrain took place in Lozère, a department in the Occitanie region in southern France.
It is with deep sadness that the Foreign Legion Veteran association in Poland (A.A.A.L.E.P.) announces the death of their comrade and honorary member Zygmunt Jatczak. He served in the Foreign Legion in 1947-1952 and was one of the last few survivors of the First Indochina War (1946-1954). Zygmunt Jatczak died last week, on 9 February 2021, in Olsztynek, Poland. He was 97 years old. R.I.P.
In early February 1976, two French Foreign Legion units participated in their very first anti-terrorist mission to rescue 31 French children kidnapped by Pan-Somali militants in the Horn of Africa. Although it was such an exceptional operation for them, the legionnaires did well.
Read more45 years ago: The very first anti-terrorist mission for the Foreign Legion
See a new, well-rendered documentary covering young legionnaires of the 13th Foreign Legion Half Brigade (13e DBLE) at Camp Larzac, their military base nearby La Cavalerie, a small commune in southern France. The documentary was released in late November 2020. English subtitles included.
In late September 2020, reunited again after having returned from different deployments, the officers and legionnaires of the 13th Foreign Legion Half Brigade (13e DBLE) commemorated together the 80th anniversary of their unit constituted in 1940 in North Africa. See photos.
Read more13e DBLE: Commemoration of the 80th anniversary at Camp Larzac