Since early June 2022, an important part of the 13th Foreign Legion Half Brigade (13e DBLE) has been deployed to West Africa to take part in anti-terrorist Operation Barkhane.
13e DBLE: 2022 Military ceremony to commemorate the Battle of Bir Hakeim
Last Friday, 27 May 2022, the 13th Foreign Legion Half Brigade (13e DBLE) opened its doors to the public, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Bir Hakeim.
Read more13e DBLE: 2022 Military ceremony to commemorate the Battle of Bir Hakeim
Foreign Legion: 2022 Camerone Day
On April 30, 2022, the French Foreign Legion commemorated the 159th anniversary of the Battle of Camerone, a crucial moment in their history. The battle is portrayed as a pure example of bravery and the determination to fight to the finish. Camerone Day is therefore the most important day of the year for all current or former legionnaires. After two years of involuntary banning, the French Foreign Legion was once again allowed to commemorate the event publicly. See 2022 Camerone Day images from several Legion regiments.
13e DBLE: Foreign Legion’s Designated Marksmen Meeting 2022
In mid-March, the 13th Foreign Legion Half Brigade (13e DBLE) organized the very first meeting of Foreign Legion designated marksmen (tireurs de précision).
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1er REC: 5th Squadron train at Camp Larzac
In February 2022, the 5th Squadron cavalrymen of the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC) trained at Camp Larzac, a military training area located in Southern France.
13e DBLE: 2022 Combat Swimmers
In February 2022, new Palmeurs (combat swimmers) were decorated and integrated in the 13th Foreign Legion Half Brigade (13e DBLE). They are the newest elements within the regiment.
Zygmunt Jatczak & Krzysztof Schramm: I Regret Nothing (English version)
February 9, 2022 marks the first anniversary of the death of Zygmunt Jatczak, most likely the last-known Polish survivor of the First Indochina War (1946-54); he passed away at 97. To honor his memory, an English version of the book with his Legion story has been published.
Read moreZygmunt Jatczak & Krzysztof Schramm: I Regret Nothing (English version)
13e DBLE: Exercise Polaris 21
In late November and early December 2021, a large French-led joint maritime exercise Polaris 21 took place in the Mediterranean Sea. This multi-national, combined and inter-theatre exercise involved around 6,000 French troops from the French Army, Navy and Air Force, including legionnaires from the 13th Foreign Legion Half Brigade (13e DBLE), the only infantry elements taking part in the exercise.
13e DBLE: Physical training with Major Gérald
In his new video published by the official French Foreign Legion channel on YouTube, Major Gérald visited the famous 13th Foreign Legion Half Brigade (13e DBLE) at their Camp Larzac. His task was to help increase the physical fitness and agility of the legionnaires, for developing their operational readiness.
Exercise Baccarat 2021
Between October 15 and 21, a full-scale multinational Exercise Baccarat 2021 occurred in Southern France. Besides the Foreign Legion units, U.S. Marines and Spanish soldiers also participated.
Honor and Fidelity motto: 100th Anniversary
On this Saturday, October 16, in memory of Hubert Germain, a former officer of the 13e DBLE and the last “companion of the Liberation” (people awarded the Ordre de la Libération of the Free French during WWII) who has just passed away, the Foreign Legion celebrated the centenary of its motto Honneur et Fidélité.