In a new Foreign Legion official video, Major Gérald Michiara presents an obstacle course which is well-known for all legionnaires and NCOs who have served with the Foreign Legion since the late 1980s – that one at the 4th Foreign Regiment (4e RE) in Castelnaudary.
100 years ago: A sad campaign in France ended for the Foreign Legion
100 years ago, in late June 1871, three battalions of the Foreign Legion landed in Algeria, having returned from the very first deployment of the Legion in metropolitan France. The men spent eight months there and took part in a wretched campaign. However, these weren’t the only foreigners to participate in the then fighting on the French side. Also, the three battalions didn’t represent all units of the Legion that were to partake in the conflict.
Read more100 years ago: A sad campaign in France ended for the Foreign Legion
Documentary: 2e REP and Kolwezi 1978
Watch an old French documentary dedicated to the legionnaires from the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2e REP) who participated in the 1978 Battle of Kolwezi in the then Republic of Zaire, Central Africa.
13e DBLE: Exercise Skrenvil 2021 alongside U.S. Marines, with new Griffon vehicles
Between late May and early June 2021, legionnaires with the 13th Foreign Legion Half Brigade (13e DBLE) participated in an amphibious exercise, Skrenvil 2021, to strengthen enhanced interoperability between the French Army, the Navy, and U.S. Marines.
Read more13e DBLE: Exercise Skrenvil 2021 alongside U.S. Marines, with new Griffon vehicles
1er REC: 2021 Commando Training Center
In late May 2021, the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC), the only cavalry unit currently serving within the French Foreign Legion, opened its new commando training center. The first course took place there between May 16 and 28. See the images.
2e REG: Captain Ulm died in service
On June 3, 2021, Captain Bastien Ulm died in the line of duty in southeastern France. He served with the Foreign Legion’s 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment (2e REG), referred to as the “Mountain Regiment”.
75 years ago: A disciplinary unit was born
75 years ago, on 1 June 1946, a new Foreign Legion disciplinary unit was born in French Indochina. Stationed on an island at Cam Ranh Bay in what is now called Vietnam, the unit’s mission was to reform badly behaving legionnaires who were being deployed to the Far East to participate in the First Indochina War (1946-1954), and who couldn’t undergo the usual punishment within their mother units. Although there is only little information, the new article dedicated to this disciplinary unit provides all currently available info, as well as very rare images that were never published before.
2e REI: Commando training on Réunion
In May 2021, men from the 1st Company, 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI) conducted a “commando course” on Réunion. It is an island situated in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, and an overseas department and region of France. See the video.
Foreign Legion: 45th anniversary of a deadly accident in the Horn of Africa
45 years ago, in late May 1976, a helicopter transporting Foreign Legion elements crashed to the ground during a military exercise in the Horn of Africa. Six legionnaires died immediately; another two died from their injuries later. At the time, this was the deadliest day for the Legion since the end of the Algerian War in 1962. Although considerably forgotten these days, even in France, this sad event and its victims should be remembered.
Read moreForeign Legion: 45th anniversary of a deadly accident in the Horn of Africa
Foreign Legion: Exercise Arc-21 in Japan
Between May 11 and 16, 2021, the French Foreign Legionnaires participated in a joint exercise Jeanne D’Arc 21, alongside their allies from the Japan Self Defense Force, Australian Defence Force, and U.S. Armed Forces. The exercise took place at Camp Ainoura (Naval Base Sasebo), and at Kirishima Maneuver Area, both located on the island of Kyushu, in the south of Japan. It was for the very first time when French troops took part in such exercise in Japan.
110 years ago: A fierce battle in Morocco
110 years ago, on 15 May 1911, during a French campaign to liberate the besieged ruler of Morocco, two platoons of the French Foreign Legion were involved in a fierce battle with numerous Moroccan rebels. Determined never to surrender to the enemy, only an officer and six legionnaires left alive after six hours of fighting. Although this battle is considered as the second Camerone, it has been almost forgotten over the years.