French Foreign Legion

   

The French Foreign Legion (F. Légion Étrangère) is a military unit of the French Army since 1831.

History

The French Foreign Legion was created by Louis Philippe, the French King at the time, on March 10, 1831, to support his war in Algeria. Successive legions were also raised to augment the French forces in the Crimean War, in Italy, and in Mexico.

Mexico

It is in Mexico that the Legion earned its legendary status. The small infantry patrol unit led by Capitane Danjou numbering 62 soldiers and 3 officers was attacked and besieged by native infantry and cavalry units numbering 3 battalions, and was forced to make a defense in Hacienda Camerone. Despite the hopelessness of the situation they fought nearly to the last man. Danjou was mortally wounded in the defense of the hacienda, and the last of his men mounted a desperate bayonet attack. When the last three survivors were asked to surrender, they insisted that the Mexican soldier allow them safe passage back home, to keep their flag, and to escort the body of the fallen Danjou. Upon seeing this, the Mexican commander commented, "these are not men, they are devils," and out of respect agreed to these terms.

Today the Camerone Day is an important day of celebration for the Legionnaires, when the wooden prosthetic hand of Capitane Danjou is brought on display.

The World Wars

The Foreign Legion was heavily involved in World War 2, playing a large role in the Middle East and the North African campaign. The 13th Demi-Brigade was deployed in the Battle of Bir Hakeim. Interestingly, part of the Legion was loyal to the Free French movement, yet another part was loyal to the Vichy government. A battle in Syria saw two opposing sides fight against each other in a short engagement, and later on the Vichy Legion joined its Free French brethren.

Indochina

The Foreign Legion was involved in the defense of Dien Bien Phu and lost a large number of their men in the battle. Towards the desperate end of the battle, Legionnaires formed the bulk of the volunteer relief force which were delivered by parachute to the base.

Membership

While most of its commissioned officers are French, the rest of the Legion is made up of men from a wide variety of nationalities (including French). After serving in the Legion for four years, the legionnaire is allowed to apply for French citizenship. A legionnaire, as the soldiers of the Legion are known, can enter the service under a pseudonym, and after four years of service can change his name at will. Due to a recent law, a soldier harmed in combat for France is allowed to apply for French citizenship.

A legionnaire is allowed to refuse acting against the country of his declared citizenship. French citizens are not allowed to join the Foreign Legion, and often choose a french-speaking country as a new nationality.

In the past, the Legion had a reputation for attracting criminals on the run and would-be mercenaries. In recent years, however, admission has been restricted much more severely and background checks are done on all applicants. In general, convicted felons are prohibited from joining the service.

Current headquarters are in Aubagne France, just outside Marseille.

Composition

There are eight regiments:

  • Mainland France
    • 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1 REC), based in Orange (armored troops)
    • 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2 REI), based in Nîmes,
    • 6th Foreign Engineer Regiment, based near Avignon,
    • 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment, to be based on the Plateau d'Albion,
    • 1st Foreign Regiment (1 RE), based in Aubagne (Legion headquarters),
    • 4th Foreign Regiment, based in Castelnaudary (training);
  • in Corsica,
    • 2nd Foreign Parachutist Regiment (2 REP), based in Calvi;
  • French Overseas Territories,
  • Africa
    • 13th Demi-Brigade of Foreign Legion (13 DBLE), based in Djibouti.

Reality and myths

The proposition that "French legislation prohibits the Legion from French mainland soil, and it is therefore based on Corsica" is obviously false:

  • French law does not make any substantial difference between Corsica and the mainland.
  • Most of the establishments of the Foreign Legion, including the headquarters, are in mainland France anyway.

The idea was that the Legion could not be used against French people, not that it could not be based on the mainland.

Current Deployments

These deployments are current as of December 2002

Notable Members of the Légion Étrangère

See also

External links

da:Fremmedlegionen de:Fremdenlegion fr:Légion étrangère ja:フランス外人部隊 no:Fremmedlegionen sl:Francoska tujska legija

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