» legion | French Foreign Legion Information

80 years ago: Second World War ended for legionnaires in Europe

May 8, 2025 · Posted in history, legion, wwii

Between 1939 and 1945, the French Foreign Legion men saw nearly every front of the Second World War – from Norway and France to North Africa, the Middle East, Italy, mainland Europe, and the jungles of Indochina. They fought under both Vichy and Free French command in some of the war’s most challenging campaigns. Our new article traces the Legion’s complex role during the war, its internal transformations, battlefield engagements, and the legacy it carried into the postwar world.

110 years ago: French Foreign Legionnaires in Southeastern Europe during World War I

March 16, 2025 · Posted in 1re, history, legion

In early March 1915, a battalion of the French Foreign Legion was formed in Algeria to participate in the Allied campaigns in Southeastern Europe, including engagements in Gallipoli, Serbia, Greece, and Macedonia. Discover the harrowing journey of these nearly forgotten men, whose odyssey ultimately led them to Odessa, in what is now Ukraine…

French Foreign Legion in 2025

January 15, 2025 · Posted in legion

Created in 1831, the French Foreign Legion is an integral part of the French (Land) Army (Armée de Terre) and thus an element of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces. In 2025, the Foreign Legion consists of more than 9,600 officers, NCOs, and legionnaires, representing around 150 nationalities from all over the world. They comprise 12% of France’s Land Operational Force (FOT).

French Foreign Legion in 2024

January 16, 2024 · Posted in legion

Created in 1831, the French Foreign Legion is an integral part of the French (Land) Army (Armée de Terre) and thus an element of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces. In 2024, the Foreign Legion is composed of almost 9,500 officers, NCOs, and legionnaires, comprising around 150 nationalities from all over the world. They represent 12% of France’s Land Operational Force (FOT).

2023 Legion Christmas nativity scenes

January 6, 2024 · Posted in 2reg, 2rei, 2rep, 3rei, grle, legion

For the French Foreign Legion, seen as a traditional pro-Catholic institution in France (unlike the rest of the French Army), Christmas Eve marks the second most important holiday. To celebrate it, legionnaires in all units of the Foreign Legion – regardless of their origin and religious – create nativity scenes (crèches) every year and compete to see which one is the nicest and most original. The scenes can be small, static ones, or performed live with hand-made scenery. This long-standing Legion tradition is unique within the French Army. If you are interested, see some of the nativity scenes created by legionnaires in December 2023.

Legion: Digital Kepi Blanc Magazine

November 10, 2023 · Posted in 1re, legion

Since November 2023, the Képi Blanc Magazine, a monthly journal of the famous French Foreign Legion, has been available also in the digital version! For those interested, below are instructions on how to order the digital (online) version of this magazine.

Foreign Legion: 2023 Change of Command

July 26, 2023 · Posted in comle, legion

In late July 2023, General Alain Lardet left after three years the Foreign Legion Command (COMLE) to be replaced by General Cyrille Youchtchenko, the new commander-in-chief of the Legion.

2022 Foreign Legion Veterans Institution

January 20, 2023 · Posted in legion

See a French Army official documentary dedicated to the Foreign Legion Disabled Veterans Institution (IILE), based in Puyloubier, southern France. The documentary was published on the Army’s official YouTube channel in late 2022.

2022 Legion Christmas nativity scenes

January 9, 2023 · Posted in 1reg, 2reg, 2rei, 3rei, dlem, legion

Christmas Eve marks the second most important holiday within the French Foreign Legion, traditionally a pro-Catholic institution. Thus, for that day, legionnaires in all units of the Legion create original nativity scenes and compete to see which one is the nicest and most original. This Legion tradition is unique within the French Army.

140 years ago: A fierce battle with local rebels in North Africa

April 29, 2022 · Posted in history, legion

In North Africa in late April 1882, in a borderland territory which separated Algeria from Morocco, a surveying expedition under the command of Captain de Castries was returning from survey work at the Chott Tigri depression. Escorted by two companies of the Legion, the column was attacked by more than 2,000 local insurgents. The escort, whose strength was no more than 350 men, was fighting one against six. At the end of the seven-hour battle, two officers and 49 legionnaires had been killed.

PHOTOS: Algerian War 1954-1962

March 19, 2022 · Posted in legion, photos

Sixty years ago – on March 19, 1962 – the Algerian War ended. One of the decolonization movements that affected the Western empires after World War II, the Algerian War took place between 1954 and 1962 in Algeria, the then French department situated in North Africa. The war was fought between the French armed forces and the National Liberation Army (ALN), the armed wing of the National Liberation Front (FLN). The French Foreign Legion, firmly established in Algeria since 1831, took an important part in the conflict, as the main core of the French intervention forces. Officially, the Legion lost 65 officers, 278 NCOs, and 1,633 legionnaires in action. See over 30 iconic pictures to commemorate the war and those who fought in it on the Legion side.