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.
Happy New Year 2024
Another year is coming to a close, having passed by at an unbelievably rapid pace. Another year in a row, the eleventh since 2012, when the FOREIGNLEGION INFO online project was launched. And thus, this is the right time for another annual summary.
Merry Christmas – Joyeux Noël 2023
I can’t believe it is again the end of the year. It seems like yesterday that I was posting the 2022 annual summary. I hope that all of you, dear readers, are ready to celebrate the coming Christmas festivities. On behalf of the whole FOREIGNLEGION INFO website, I sincerely thank you for your unwavering support, and wish you a merry Christmas (Joyeux Noël in France/the Legion) and happy and relaxing holidays, with a glass (or two) of something good to drink!
2e REI: 2023 Christmas Cross Country Run
As usual, also this year the French Foreign Legion regiments organize sports competitions for its men, as part of the coming Christmas festivities. This includes the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI), which organized its Christmas cross country run this week, close to Nimes, its garrison in Southern France. See images.
75 years ago: Second airborne unit of the Foreign Legion in North Africa was born
75 years ago, in late 1948, another airborne unit of the Foreign Legion was officially activated in France’s North Africa. Like its older sister unit, even the new one was to take part in the First Indochina War (1946-1954) in Southeast Asia. It would distinguish itself and become the most decorated French Army battalion to have fought there. Subsequently, back in North Africa, the unit transformed into a regiment, which would later be known as one of the best trained and action-ready operational formations in the world.
Read more75 years ago: Second airborne unit of the Foreign Legion in North Africa was born
2e REP: With a local tribe in New Caledonia
See an official reportage published by the French Army that covers the trip of a platoon with the 5th Company, 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2e REP) to a remote village in New Caledonia, Pacific Ocean. The week-long trip occurred in September 2023, during the unit’s standard four-month deployment to this special overseas collectivity of France.
1er REG, 2e REG: 2023 Saint Barbara Day
In early December 2023, French Foreign Legion combat engineers with the 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment (1er REG) and the 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment (2e REG) commemorated once again their patron, Saint Barbara (Sainte Barbe in French).
Major Gérald: Secret tips for more effective abdominal exercises
The French Foreign Legion has published another useful video starring Major Gérald, the highest-ranking NCO serving as head of the Sports Office, 1st Foreign Regiment (1er RE) in Aubagne. In this new video, he shares his secret tips for better strengthening of abdominal muscles.
Read moreMajor Gérald: Secret tips for more effective abdominal exercises
1er REC, 2e REI, 1er REG: Exercise BIA 23
This week, on November 27, began an important tactical combined arms maneuver BIA 23 that takes place in the Marne Department in northeastern France, north of Camp Mailly. Organized by the 6th Light Armored Brigade (6e BLB), it is to be the very first French exercise involving a combined arms brigade of the modern SCORPION generation ready for an operational deployment. Among the participating units are the Foreign Legion’s 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC), 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI), and the 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment (1er REG).
Andrew J. Mitchell: Mafteiu and the Compagnie Montée d’Algérie
In mid-November 2023, a new English-written book dedicated to the French Foreign Legion was released: Mafteiu and the Compagnie Montée d’Algérie, subtitled The obscure history of the little-known French Foreign Legion Mounted Company of Algeria, 1881 – 1939. This is another original work of our friend Andrew J. Mitchell, an Irish amateur historian and a passionate Foreign Legion insignia collector.
Read moreAndrew J. Mitchell: Mafteiu and the Compagnie Montée d’Algérie
1er REG: Exercise MILEX 23 in Spain
In late October 2023, the first-ever joint European Union military exercise took place. Held in Spain, and carried completely outside NATO structures, the exercise involved units of the European Union’s member states. Among them were also combat engineers from the Foreign Legion’s 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment (1er REG). See images.