April 30, 2025, marked the 162nd anniversary of the Battle of Camerone, the defining event in the French Foreign Legion’s history, when 62 legionnaires under the command of Captain Jean Danjou faced a force of 2,000 Mexican troops. Refusing to surrender, they fought to the very end, with only three able-bodied legionnaires left standing. Commemorations of this anniversary were held across all Legion units and garrisons, both in France and abroad. The following post includes images from several of these ceremonies.
2e REI: 2025 Exercise Solferino
Between March 6 and 13, 2025, the French Foreign Legion’s 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI) conducted Exercise Solferino, a large-scale military drill in the Corrèze region of central France.
2e REI: 2025 Letestu Challenge
Each year, the Letestu Challenge is organized by the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI). Watch a short video of this year’s edition, which took place at the end of February.
PHOTOS: 1st Battalion 2e REI in Vietnam’s Faifo around 1950
Another part of the PHOTOS series. See a small set of nice pictures taken in French Indochina’s Vietnam from 1950 to early 1951, during the First Indochina War (1946-1954). These few photographs belonged to a German legionnaire serving with the 1st Battalion, 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI) there at the time.
Read morePHOTOS: 1st Battalion 2e REI in Vietnam’s Faifo around 1950
2e REI: New chapel nears completion
Within the French Armed Forces, the Foreign Legion is known as a corps that has traditionally maintained a strong conservative and Christian spirit. So it was no surprise when the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI) launched, in 2021, a fund-raising campaign to create a new chapel for its legionnaires. After several years, the construction of the chapel is nearing completion.
Foreign Legion: 2024 Armistice Day
Today, on November 11, 2024, the French Foreign Legion detachments participated in the ceremonies commemorating Armistice Day, to honor the memory of military veterans and those who died in the line of duty. See images.
Foreign Legion: 2024 SAED Presentation
Watch a nice presentation of a SAED commando-like platoon of the French Foreign Legion. A combat support platoon, it is still a relatively little-known unit among Foreign Legion enthusiasts. You’ll learn more about the platoon in this article.
2e REI: 2024 El Moungar Day
On Monday, September 2, 2024, the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI) officially commemorated the 121st anniversary of the 1903 Battle of El Moungar, an important part of the French conquest of the Sahara, and the 36 men of the regiment who had fallen during it.
2e REI: C4 Close Combat Course
See a short video showing young legionnaires of the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI) who are trained in close combat.
Marching Company, 1st Foreign Regiment in Algeria in 1968
The Marching Company, 1st Foreign Regiment was the last French Foreign Legion unit to remain stationed in Algeria, North Africa. Its task was to guard the French air base at Bou Sfer near the city of Oran. The company was disbanded on August 17, 1968.
Read moreMarching Company, 1st Foreign Regiment in Algeria in 1968
2e REI: Shooting exercise for 3rd Company
While most of the legionnaires from the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI) are deployed in France and abroad, the training continues for the 3rd Company.