» history | French Foreign Legion Information

70 years ago: The very first Foreign Legion airborne unit was disbanded

May 31, 2019 · Posted in 3rei, history, indochina

70 years ago today, on the 31st May of 1949, the very first airborne unit of the French Foreign Legion was disbanded. Organized and stationed in Hanoi (the then capital of French Indochina) in 1948, the company of no more than 150 legionnaires-paratroopers supported French troops during the first stage of the Indochina War (1946-54). If you are interested in the lesser-known history of the Foreign Legion, see our fully reworked article dedicated to this exceptional unit (une version française incluse).

GOLE: 43rd anniversary of the deadly accident in the Horn of Africa

May 25, 2019 · Posted in 2rei, history

In late May 1976, an air accident occurred during a military exercise in the then French Territory of the Afars and the Issas (TFAI, today’s Djibouti), a country located in the Horn of Africa. A French Army helicopter crashed. Eight men on board were killed, including six legionnaires from Foreign Legion Operational Group (GOLE). Another two legionnaires died later. At the time, the incident became the deadliest accident for the Legion since the end of the Algerian War (1962). It has still remained the second deadliest accident for the Legion since then. Nevertheless, for unknown reasons, the fatal crash has been completely forgotten in France. To remember the victims, see our updated article dedicated to this sad event.

62 years ago: A Foreign Legion overseas battalion in Madagascar was born

May 20, 2019 · Posted in blem, history

See a fresh, fully reworked article dealing with the history of an overseas battalion of the Foreign Legion being established in Madagascar, an island in the Indian Ocean, in mid-May 1957. Although little-known today, it was an exceptional and interesting unit which would give birth to two brand-new regiments, the 3e REI in Madagascar and the 13e DBLE in Djibouti in the 1960s. By the way, the battalion was the only Foreign Legion operational unit to not take part in the Algerian War (1954-1962) at the time.

156 years ago: A legendary battle in Mexico

April 29, 2019 · Posted in camerone, history

156 years ago, in late April 1863, a legendary battle occurred in Mexico between a small company of legionnaires and almost 2,000 Mexicans. An action during the Second French intervention in Mexico that helped the French to capture Mexico City, the capital. The eight-hour battle is portrayed today as a pure example of bravery and determination of fighting to the finish. It became an inseparable part of the cult of the French Foreign Legion. See the fully reworked article dedicated to the battle and supplemented with many images.

Foreign Legion Saharan Motorized Companies in North Africa: History & Images

April 2, 2019 · Posted in 1cspl, 2cspl, 3cspl, 4cspl, history, legion

The famous four Foreign Legion Saharan motorized units were disbanded in Algeria, North Africa, in late March 1963. Their men, vehicles, traditional uniforms, and fanions were absorbed into two infantry regiments. The dream of many generations of young men – the Saharan legionnaire with his white kepi, V-shaped bandoleer, wide trousers, Saharan burnous cloak, and sandals – officially came to an end.

32 years ago: A sad bomb attack in Djibouti killed four French soldiers

March 18, 2019 · Posted in 13dble, history

32 years ago, on the 18th March of 1987, a bomb attack occurred in Djibouti, the capital of a small country of the same name located in the Horn of Africa. The attack was aimed at L’Historil, a restaurant frequented by Western guests, mainly French Army personnel. At least 11 people were killed, including a French Foreign Legion non-commissioned officer…

65 years ago: A decisive battle started in then French Indochina

March 13, 2019 · Posted in dien bien phu, history, indochina

65 years ago, a decisive battle started in then French Indochina between French troops, including legionnaires, and the Viet Minh. The two-month battle occurred in a remote valley of Dien Bien Phu in northeastern Vietnam. On 13 March 1954, the Viet Minh launched a bloody assault on a defensive position held by a Foreign Legion battalion. After several hours of severe fighting, the position would be overrun…

10 March 1831: When a Legion was born

March 9, 2019 · Posted in history, legion

188 years ago, on 10 March 1831, a royal ordinance of Louis Philippe I, King of the French was issued. The ordinance ordered the establishment of the Foreign Legion, to engage a number of foreign deserters asking to serve France. Until the 2000s, the 10th March of 1831 marked the official birthday of the current French Foreign Legion which derived its origin from that original Legion. Nevertheless, the lineage of the Legion is far more complex and because of that, the official birthday was quietly changed in the last decade to the more neutral 9th March.

43 years ago: 1976 Loyada Rescue Mission

February 4, 2019 · Posted in 13dble, 2rep, history

43 years ago, in early February 1976, a hostage rescue mission carried out by GIGN + two French Foreign Legion units occurred at Loyada, a small border village in then French Somaliland, today’s Djibouti (Horn of Africa). Their goal was to rescue 31 French children kidnapped by local militants.

1982 Mont Garbi Accident: 37 years already

February 3, 2019 · Posted in 2rep, history

37 years ago, on the 3rd February of 1982, a common French military exercise was planned in Djibouti, a country in the Horn of Africa. In the morning, a French Foreign Legion airborne platoon were lined up at a French air base. It was their only 10th day in Africa. They were assigned to carry out a routine training jump over a drop zone located nord-west of the capital. The legionnaires boarded their aircraft and took off…

111th anniversary: Foreign Legion’s company overtook by a severe snowstorm

February 1, 2019 · Posted in 1re, history, Morocco

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.