In early April 2020, Knut Flovik Thoresen, a Norwegian military officer and historian, released his another work dedicated to the Foreign Legion. He decided to map the allied expedition in northern Norway in April-May 1940 and, chiefly, the heroic fighting of the Foreign Legion’s 13th Foreign Legion Half Brigade (13e DBLE), which resulted in first allied victories over German forces in WWII.
Warning: Recruitment suspended!
Today, on 17 March 2020, the recruitment of candidates for the French Foreign Legion was suspended until further notice due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
189 years ago: Foreign Legion was born
A royal ordinance of Louis Philippe I, King of the French, was issued 189 years ago, on 10 March 1831. That ordinance ordered the formation of a Foreign Legion with the aim of engaging foreign deserters asking to serve France and, too, foreign soldiers of then the freshly disbanded Hohenlohe Regiment (ex-Hohenlohe Legion or Royal Legion). Until the 2000s, the 10th of March 1831 had marked the official birthday of the current French Foreign Legion which derived its origin from that original 1831 Legion. Nevertheless, the lineage of the current Legion is far more complex. See a more detailed article.
In Memoriam: Prince Aage of Denmark
80 years ago, on 29 February 1940, Prince Aage, Count of Rosenborg died after a very short illness. A famous French Foreign Legion officer, he was born in Denmark to the Danish royal family. This post was written in remembrance of him.
Andrew J. Mitchell: The Tigers of Tonkin
In July 2019, a new book dedicated to the French Foreign Legion and its history was released: The Tigers of Tonkin – The History of the French Foreign Legion in Indochina 1883-1945. This great book is an original work of Andrew J. Mitchell, an Irish amateur historian and a well-known Foreign Legion insignia collector.
Foreign Legion Saharan Motorized Companies in North Africa: History & Images
On the 31st March of 1963, the famous, legendary and little-known four Foreign Legion Saharan motorized units were disbanded and their men, vehicles, traditional uniforms and fanions merged with two infantry regiments. The dream of many generations of young men, the legionnaire of the Sahara with his white kepi, V-shaped bandoliers, baggy seroual trousers, a burnous cloak and sandals, officially disappeared.
Read moreForeign Legion Saharan Motorized Companies in North Africa: History & Images
10 March 1831: When a Legion was born
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.
VIDEO: A Chinese in the Foreign Legion
See a very interesting video showing a Chinese guy telling about his well-appreciated experience with the French Foreign Legion. This video could serve as a good motivation for guys wanting to join this unique military force.
Foreign Legion: 2018 in retrospective
The French Foreign Legion reminds some important events which occurred during the previous year of 2018. See the new video released by the Legion.