On May 8, 2023, the French Foreign Legion units commemorated the 78th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, which came after the definitive overall surrender of Nazi Germany to the Allies, signed in Berlin. During the final battles in Europe in May 1945, three Legion units participated: the RMLE (3e REI now), 1er REC, and the 13e DBLE. See some images from the 2023 Victory in Europe Day celebrations.
Foreign Legion: 2023 Camerone Day
The 30th of April 2023 marked the 160th anniversary of the 1863 Battle of Camerone, an epic moment in the history of the French Foreign Legion in which its 65 men faced some 2,000 Mexican adversaries. The famous battle is portrayed as a pure example of bravery and the determination to fight to the finish, and gave the Legion its character and esprit de corps. Therefore, Camerone Day became the most important holiday for all current or former members of this exceptional military unit. See 2023 Camerone Day pictures from several Legion regiments.
13e DBLE, 1er REC, 1er REG: 2023 Mission Lynx in Estonia
See some nice pictures from Estonia, a Baltic state located in Northeastern Europe, where are currently deployed legionnaires from three French Foreign Legion regiments: the 13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade (13e DBLE), the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC), and the 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment (1er REG). There, they serve alongside Great Britain’s The Queen’s Royal Hussars (QRH).
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1er REC, 2e REI, 1er REG: 2023 Training at the CENTAC Combat Training Center
In the second half of March 2023, legionnaires from three Foreign Legion regiments are deployed to the Combat Training Center (Centre d’Entraînement au Combat, CENTAC) at the Mailly Camp, in the Aube Department of Northeastern France.
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1er REC, 13e DBLE: Exercise Orion 2023
Since late February 2023, legionnaires from the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC) and the 13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade (13e DBLE) have been participating in the second phase of joint Exercise Orion 2023, in Southern France. According to the French Armed Forces, it is the largest military exercise conducted in the past three decades.
French Foreign Legion: A Soldiers Story
Watch an awesome interview released by POVCAST in late January 2023, with Senior Corporal Johnny Leggett telling his experiences serving in the Foreign Legion, including his training and deployments. Born in Scotland, United Kingdom, Johnny joined the Legion in 1979, when he was 21, and left it after 15 years of service, in 1994.
Foreign Legion: 2022 Armistice Day
In France, the 11th of November marks Armistice Day. That day – known as Remembrance Day (or Veterans Day) in mostly English-speaking countries – the entire nation in France and abroad commemorates the end of hostilities of World War I. Thus, yesterday, on November 11, even the French Foreign Legion – as well as the rest of the French Armed Forces – commemorated the 104th Armistice Day, and remembered the 36,000 legionnaires and foreign volunteers who were killed or wounded during WWI. See the photos.
Foreign Legion: Two legionnaires are 2022 French military boxing champions
During four days, between November 2 and November 4, 2022, the French Military Boxing Championship took place at the National Center for Defense Sports (CNSD) boxing hall in Fontainebleau, in the metropolitan area of Paris. Dozens of boxers from France’s armed forces (Ground, Air, Navy and Gendarmerie) participated, including those from the Foreign Legion. The championship returned after a ten-year pause.
Read moreForeign Legion: Two legionnaires are 2022 French military boxing champions
1er REC: First French Army operational unit to receive EBRC Jaguar vehicles
On 23 August 2022, the Foreign Legion’s 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC) received officially their first EBRC Jaguar armored vehicles of the new generation. The regiment became the very first operational unit of the French Army to get them.
Read more1er REC: First French Army operational unit to receive EBRC Jaguar vehicles