French Foreign Legion information. An online project dedicated to the famous Foreign Legion.
Around 400 legionnaires of the 13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion (13e DBLE) are ready to deploy to Africa to join Operation Barkhane taking place in Mali, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Chad and Niger.
Read more13e DBLE: 400 legionnaires ready to deploy to Africa
See a nice video showing the legionnaires from the 13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion (13e DBLE) during an urban warfare exercise in North Carolina, United States.
Legionnaires from three Foreign Legion regiments are participating in Bold Alligator, a joint multinational warfare exercise organized by the United States. About 14 foreign nations’ forces joined the exercise in North Carolina this year. The exercise starts today, October 18.
Formed in February 1940 and then once again in July of the same year, the 13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion (13e DBLE) remains the only demi-brigade within the current French Army. During WWII in the Middle East, Africa and Europe, the unit gained various awards and decorations. The 13e DBLE continued in fighting for France and in receiving decorations in Indochina and Algeria between 1946-62.
On June 9, 2017, the 13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion (13e DBLE) of the French Foreign Legion received its first 250 HK416F rifles. As stated earlier, the 13e DBLE has been the first French Army regiment equipped with the German Heckler & Koch rifle, which has to replace the French FAMAS.
On May 19, 2017, two legionnaires from the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI) died during a team-building exercise on the Marne River near Cumières, a town in northeastern France. They drowned after being caught in a strong current near a river barrage.
The 13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion (13e DBLE) of the French Foreign Legion will be the first French Army regiment to receive the German Heckler & Koch HK416F rifle. The rifle would replace the outdated FAMAS.
Read more13e DBLE: First French Army regiment to receive Heckler & Koch rifle
On April 30, 2017, the French Foreign Legion commemorated the 154th anniversary of the Battle of Camerone, the well-known and most important event in its history. This day is also the most important day of the year for all current or former legionnaires of the Foreign Legion. See some Camerone Day videos from several Legion regiments.
In March 2017, the 13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion (13e DBLE) of the French Foreign Legion conducted an exercise with Spanish legionnaires (legionarios) from the X Bandera “Millán Astray”, Tercio 4 (10th Battalion, 4th Regiment), Spanish Legion at Camp Larzac, the home to the 13e DBLE in an inhospitable part of southern France.
On October 21, 2016, France’s Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian visited the 13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion (13e DBLE) of the French Foreign Legion at Camp Larzac, Aveyron department, southern France, to make this installation official.
On July 14, France celebrates its National Day, Bastille Day. Every year, a military parade takes place on the Champs-Elysées in Paris. The French troops, including legionnaires from the French Foreign Legion, march down the street. In 2016, the Foreign Legion was represented, as usual, by the Foreign Legion Pioneers, being accompanied by the Foreign Legion Music Band. This year, 109 legionnaires from the 13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion (13e DBLE) also participated in the parade.