During the last weekend, the legionnaires of the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC), the only cavalry unit within the current Foreign Legion, were protecting the Air Legend airshow near Paris, as part of the counter-terrorist Operation Sentinelle.
2e REI: 2023 El Moungar Day
On September 2, 2023, the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI) commemorated the 120th anniversary of the 1903 Battle of El Moungar, a crucial moment in their history. See the images.
Legion: New Caledonia in August 2023
As we informed earlier, three regiments of the French Foreign Legion have deployed their men to New Caledonia in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia, since June 2023. The legionnaires should stay in this special overseas collectivity of France for four months, as is common practice for the so-called short duration mission (MCD). See some new images from taken during their deployment in August.
Hélie Denoix de Saint Marc (1922-2013)
Hélie Denoix de Saint Marc was a French Foreign Legion officer who served mainly with airborne units. Best known for his active participation in the 1961 Generals’ Putsch, he died on August 26, 2013. The following article was written in his memory.
1er REG: 2023 Training in Estonia
In July 2023, new French rotations arrived in Estonia in Northeastern Europe to replace the previous French contingent, which made part of NATO’s “enhanced Forward Presence” (eFP), a multinational battlegroup led by the British. Legionnaires from the 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment (1er REG) are part of the new contingent.
2e REP: Diamond Strike 23 in Australia
In late June 2023, a platoon of the Foreign Legion’s 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2e REP) was detached to the Australia Army’s 7th Brigade to participate in Exercise Diamond Strike. Learn more and see some images.
Lieutenant Colonel Jean Pierre Bissey
On August 5, 1933, Lieutenant Colonel Jean Pierre Bissey, a little-known officer of the French Foreign Legion, was killed in a battle with local rebels during the French pacification of Morocco. Almost forgotten today, he remains the highest-ranking Foreign Legion officer killed not only between the two world wars but also during the long Moroccan campaign. The following article has been written in his memory.
2e REI: 1st Company in New Caledonia
Since June 2023, the 1st Company of the French Foreign Legion’s 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI) has been deployed to New Caledonia, a special overseas collectivity of France in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia.
50 years ago: A new Foreign Legion unit in the Indian Ocean was born
50 years ago, on August 1, 1973, a small independent unit of the Foreign Legion was officially activated in the South Indian Ocean, near Madagascar. Its main mission was to control the strategically important Mozambique Channel, as well as keep French presence in the region.
Read more50 years ago: A new Foreign Legion unit in the Indian Ocean was born
Foreign Legion: 2023 Change of Command
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.
1er REC, 13e DBLE, 1er REG: 2023 CENTAC
On June 25, 2023, legionnaires of the French Foreign Legion’s 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC), 13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade (13e DBLE), and 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment (1er REG) arrived at the CENTAC Combat Training Center at the Mailly Camp, in the Aube Department of Northeastern France. Their task was to train combined arms maneuvers.