The officers, NCOs, and legionnaires with the 2nd Company, 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2e REP) have just completed their month-long mountain training in France.
General Vittorio Tresti passed away
General Vittorio Tresti, a former commanding officer of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment (3e REI) and one of the few commanding officers who started their famous careers with the Foreign Legion as simple legionnaires, passed away on February 15, 2024. He was 85 years old.
VIDEO: 2024 1er REG, 2e REG Legionnaires
As the 40th anniversary of the activation of the French Foreign Legion’s first engineer regiment approaches in early July, the Legion has recently released a new official video clip to introduce viewers to its combat engineers of the 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment (1er REG) and the 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment (2e REG).
Andrew J. Mitchell: French Foreign Legion Insignia – 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment
In early 2024, a new English-written book dedicated to the French Foreign Legion was released: the long-awaited Collecting French Foreign Legion Insignia, Volume III – Part 2, 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment. The new book is another original work of our friend, Andrew J. Mitchell, an Irish amateur historian and a Foreign Legion insignia collector.
Read moreAndrew J. Mitchell: French Foreign Legion Insignia – 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment
130 years ago: A forgotten campaign in West Africa ended
In February 1894, the last elements of the French Foreign Legion left the Slave Coast in West Africa where they had successfully participated in two expeditions aimed at a local kingdom’s ruler and his forces. Not only did the legionnaires face heat, disease, and supply problems, but they also had to fight local female warriors, Amazons…
Read more130 years ago: A forgotten campaign in West Africa ended
1er REC: 2nd Squadron at Mailly Camp
See nice images showing the anti-tank vehicles of the 2nd Squadron, 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC) when firing at Mailly Camp, in the Marne Department of northeastern France.
2e REI: 2024 Republic Day Parade in India
On Friday, January 26, 2024, an honor detachment of the French Foreign Legion represented the French Army during the 75th Republic Day Parade that took place at the Kartavya Path in New Delhi, India. Along with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, French President Emmanuel Macron attended the ceremony as a special guest.
2e CSPL: 1950s, 1960s Color Film Collection
Watch absolutely unique, very rare amateur footages depicting Foreign Legion ceremonies in Laghouat, Algeria in the 1950s and 1960s. At that time, the town was home to one of the Legion’s Saharan companies: 2nd Legion Saharan Motorized Company (2e CSPL). Two of the rare films are in color.
4e RE: A 2023 short documentary on the Foreign Legion’s method of integration
Watch a short documentary film produced by VA+, the online media branch of the Valeurs Actuelles (“Current Values”), a French conservative weekly magazine. The reporter, Antoine You, visited the 4th Foreign Regiment (4e RE) in Castelnaudary and tried to understand how the Foreign Legion integrates members of dozens of different nationalities coming from all over the world.
Read more4e RE: A 2023 short documentary on the Foreign Legion’s method of integration
French Foreign Legion in 2024
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).
1er REC: A longest-serving active member of the French Armed Forces left the Foreign Legion after 44 years of service
In November 2023, Brigadier-chief Manuel Da Costa left the French Foreign Legion, reaching the age limit of 62 years for an active soldier. With 44 years of service, this senior corporal was the longest-serving active member not only of the Legion, but also of the entire French Armed Forces.