French Foreign Legion information. An online project dedicated to the famous Foreign Legion.
The latest part in our series on interesting photographs. This time we head to the South Pacific — Tahiti, French Polynesia — for a set of photographs taken in Polynesia’s capital, Papeete, in 1971. They show the Heavy Equipment Company of the 5th Pacific Mixed Regiment (5e RMP) and some of its vehicles and heavy construction equipment.
Read morePHOTOS: 5e RMP’s Heavy Equipment Company in Tahiti in 1971
From May 10 to 22, 2026, an operational training detachment (DIO) of the 5th Foreign Regiment (5e RE), based on the French overseas island of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean, provided military training to members of the Malawi Defence Force.
On April 30, 2026, the French Foreign Legion observed the 163rd anniversary of the Battle of Camerone, the legendary action that forged the Legion’s identity and esprit de corps. On that day in Mexico in 1863, a company of 62 legionnaires led by Captain Jean Danjou stood against some 2,000 Mexican soldiers. The legionnaires refused to surrender and fought until only three of them remained standing. As every year, the anniversary was commemorated across all Legion units and garrisons, in France and abroad. Below are images from several of these ceremonies.
On March 3, 2026, the 5th Foreign Regiment (5e RE) of the French Foreign Legion celebrated its regimental day in Mayotte, a French overseas territory in the Indian Ocean. The ceremony honored the memory of the legionnaires who fought and won the Siege of Tuyen Quang in 1885, during the Sino-French War in what is now northern Vietnam — a battle whose name is inscribed on the regiment’s flag.
In late January 2026, General Cyrille Youchtchenko, the commander of the French Foreign Legion, visited the 5th Foreign Regiment (5e RE) stationed in Mayotte, a French overseas territory in the Indian Ocean.
In mid-December 2025, a series of Challenges de Noël (Christmas Challenges) took place in regiments of the French Foreign Legion, both in France and abroad. These anual events are friendly competitions between companies of the same regiment. They are not about winning alone, but about building fighting spirit, teamwork, and unit cohesion. For hard-working legionnaires, the challenges also bring a moment of fun and relaxation. They are usually organized shortly before Christmas.
On November 11, 2025, detachments of the French Foreign Legion participated in ceremonies marking Armistice Day, honoring the memory of military veterans and those who died in the line of duty.
At the end of October 2025, the 4th Squadron of the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC) departed Mayotte in the Indian Ocean. The unit had been deployed there since July of this year, serving as the 1st Company of the 5th Foreign Regiment (5e RE).
In northern Vietnam in the autumn of 1945, a new unit was established, bringing together the surviving members of the 5th Foreign Infantry Regiment (5e REI) who remained in the area at the time of Japan’s surrender. Though virtually unknown today (unlike the 5e REI’s much better-documented marching battalion – BM 5 – formed in China), it was the first Foreign Legion formation to reappear within the borders of French Indochina after World War II, reaffirming the Legion’s enduring presence in this territory.
Read moreAutonomous Battalion of the 5th Foreign Infantry Regiment (BFC 5) – 1945-1946
During the summer of 2025, several regiments within the French Foreign Legion underwent significant leadership changes, reflecting the regular rotation of senior officers across this elite force. These appointments are part of the French Army’s standard two-year command rotation cycle and affect both mainland and overseas units.
Read moreForeign Legion: 2025 Change of Command took place in six regiments
In late July 2025, the 4th Squadron of the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC) became the new 1st Company of the 5th Foreign Regiment (5e RE) in Mayotte, Indian Ocean.