An interesting Brazilian documentary on the French Foreign Legion, showing, besides other things, the very rare images of advanced training courses of this legendary unit. It was released 36 years ago, in January 1978 by Globo, the second-largest commercial TV network in the world.
1976: Transfer of Basic Training Units from Corsica to Castelnaudary
Starting in June 1962, training units of the French Foreign Legion were based in Corsica, where they had arrived from Algeria. In October 1976, they left the island and moved to mainland France to be stationed in the town of Castelnaudary, in the southern part of the country.
Read more1976: Transfer of Basic Training Units from Corsica to Castelnaudary
Hélie Denoix de Saint Marc, one of the most famous Foreign Legion figures in the modern history, has died
Aged 91, Hélie Denoix de Saint Marc, the main Foreign Legion figure participating in the Generals’ Putsch against French president Charles de Gaulle in Algeria in 1961, has died on August 26, 2013.
Unique photos: 13e DBLE, 4e RE and 2e REI about 35 years ago
Three videoclips, created and shared on YouTube by a former legionnaire of French nationality, with a large number of nice photos from the French Foreign Legion, made approximately 35 years ago (late 1970s, early 1980s).
Read moreUnique photos: 13e DBLE, 4e RE and 2e REI about 35 years ago
History of the 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment
There is the only cavalry regiment within the today’s French Foreign Legion. But it was not always so. During the years of 1939-40 and 1946-62, the Foreign Legion used also the second cavalry regiment, 2e REC. Nicknamed “Dauphin Étranger”, the 2e REC was the last Foreign Legion unit based in Morocco, which it left in 1956 for participating in the Algerian War. In Algeria, the regiment was serving and fighting for more than five years, till the end of the war in 1962. See history and pictures of the 2e REC.
1st Foreign Parachute Regiment – a rebel of the Foreign Legion
There has not been such a controversial regiment neither within the French Foreign Legion nor within the whole of French Army for decades. The 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment (1er REP). Two times completely destroyed during the heavy fights of the First Indochina War, the 1er REP became the well-respected and feared legendary elite unit. But, it also participated in the Generals’ putsch in Algiers in 1961 and played a lead role of it….
Read more1st Foreign Parachute Regiment – a rebel of the Foreign Legion
Heavy mortar units of the Foreign Legion in the First Indochina War
In October 1952, the Foreign Legion made a decision to create an independent heavy mortar unit. In 1954, there were three mortar units within the French Foreign Legion fighting in the First Indochina War. A parachute mortar company and the two infantry mortar companies composed of mixed elements: legionnaires and local anti-communist soldiers. These units used the 120mm heavy mortars. See history and a few images of the units.
Read moreHeavy mortar units of the Foreign Legion in the First Indochina War
French Foreign Legion 1949 documentary
A short French documentary about the Foreign Legion released in 1949. Very nice images of the Foreign Legion main base in Sidi Bel Abbes (Algeria) while celebrating Camerone Day. A lot of legionnaires caught in the film will die during next five years in the First Indochina War. We can also see historical images of a typical legionnaires job of that time: hard-working with “la pioche“, a pickaxe.
French Foreign Legion in Syria – the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment
Syria, Homs, Damascus. Names we are hearing regularly in these days of 2012-13. It is very interesting to discover the French Foreign Legion and its legionnaires were serving at these places for decades. In 1939, the Legion units serving in Syria were transformed into the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment and just based at Homs and Damascus. In 1941, it was the only Foreign Legion regiment which remained loyal to the French Vichy regime (cooperating with Hitler). See the very little known history and some photos of the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment.
Read moreFrench Foreign Legion in Syria – the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment
Anniversary of creation of the French Foreign Legion
On March 10, 2013, the French Foreign Legion will celebrate the 182nd anniversary of its creation. Following the suggestion of Minister of War (Ministre secrétaire d’État au département de la Guerre) Jean-de-Dieu Soult of March 9, King Louis Philippe presented a new royal ordinance in Paris on March 10, 1831, in which he ordered establishment of the Foreign Legion.
Read moreAnniversary of creation of the French Foreign Legion
History of the French Foreign Legion in pictures
A video of ForeignLegion.Info production about the history of the French Foreign Legion. In more than 150 well-ordered images, you can see all important data of this elite part of the French Army: the Foreign Legion’s battles, campaigns, operations or units activation, deactivation, moving.