See a short video showing the 4th Platoon, 5th Squadron of the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC) during their military exercise in Southern France. During the exercise, the legionnaires familiarize with their equipment.
3e REI: 2023 Fourragere Day
In mid-September 2023, the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment (3e REI) celebrated both the regimental holiday and the 50 years of the 3e REI’s presence in French Guiana. See some images.
120 years ago: A violent battle in Algeria
In early September 1903, a violent battle was fought in Algeria between men of a Foreign Legion mounted company and a Moroccan war party. The battle that lasted more than seven hours resulted in heavy casualties on the Legion side.
3e REI: 2023 Jaguar Course Documentary
See a new documentary produced directly by the French Foreign Legion to commemorate the 50th anniversary of its presence in French Guiana, represented by the famous 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment (3e REI). The 3e REI arrived in French Guiana in mid-September 1973, after having left Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. The more than an hour-long documentary details an important task of the regiment: one of the most difficult military courses in the world, the two-month jungle warfare Jaguar Course.
1er REC: 2023 Protecting Air Legend
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.