Since 1880, a large military parade occurs in Paris each 14 July, the French national day, called Bastille Day in English-speaking countries. Traditionally, the Bastille Day military parade takes place on the Champs-Elysées, a well-known avenue in the 8th arrondissement. The Foreign Legion participated in the parade for the very first time with their white kepis in 1939. Even last Sunday, the legionnaires showed up in the ceremony.
2e REG: 20 years ago, the youngest regiment of the Foreign Legion was born
On the 1st of July 1999, the 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment (2e REG), the youngest regiment of the French Foreign Legion, was born. Nevertheless, the embryo of the future unit came into existence as far back as in March 1998. Discover the interesting history between September 1997 and July 1999, which preceded the official establishment of the current 2e REG.
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Foreign Legion: 2019 Wounded Soldier Day
Between June 21-22, 2019, the Foreign Legion participated in the French Army’s Journée des Blessés (Wounded Soldier Day). The Legion’s HQ arranged a meeting with a concert + several cohesion activities for its wounded legionnaires.
New Documentary 2019: Creation of a legionnaire – an American in the Legion
Yesterday, June 16, the French public TV channel France 2 released a new interesting documentary about the recruiting and selection process of the French Foreign Legion, entitled Creation of a legionnaire (Fabrique d’un légionnaire). For the English-speaking world, this documentary would be more interesting thanks to an American volunteer being a main protagonist of the film.
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VIDEO: 2019 Camerone Day in Aubagne + Fourragère for 1st Foreign Regiment
See a very nice video created and published by the 1er RE to return to the most important annual event of the French Foreign Legion, Camerone Day (April 30), marking the anniversary of the famous Battle of Camerone.
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Foreign Legion: 2019 Camerone Day
On April 30, 2019, the French Foreign Legion commemorated the 156th anniversary of the Battle of Camerone, the legendary and most important event in its history. Camerone Day is the most important day of the year for all current or former legionnaires of the Foreign Legion. See 2019 Camerone Day videos and images from several Legion regiments.
1er RE: Regimental Exercise Kamencei
In late February 2019, legionnaires of the 1st Foreign Regiment (1er RE), the HQ of the Foreign Legion, participated in a regimental exercise taking place close to Aubagne (southern France), their garrison town. See the video.
111th anniversary: Foreign Legion’s company overtook by a severe snowstorm
March or Die… In Algeria on February 1, 1908, a blinding snowstorm overtook a company of the Foreign Legion during their march to a remote military post at the Algeria-Morocco border. Beaten by the severe snowstorm in a semi-desert land, tens of legionnaires died. Many other suffered frostbite and had to be amputated. Though forgotten these days, the disaster has remained one of the most tragic events for the Legion.
Read more111th anniversary: Foreign Legion’s company overtook by a severe snowstorm