French Foreign Legion
The
French Foreign Legion (
French:
Légion Étrangère) is a unique unit within the
French Army established in
1831. It is an elite
rapid deployment force originally made up of
foreign volunteers serving France.
The French Foreign Legion was created by
Louis Philippe, then
King of the French, 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 the
Franco-Austrian War and in
Mexico.
Initially, the Legion proved to be an effective means for removing some of the more "undesirable" elements of 19th century French society, as its ranks were filled with cut-throats, run-aways, beggars, general criminals and unwanted immigrants. During its early period, the Legionnaire was very poorly trained and given only the most basic of equipment, clothing and food. The unit tended to be badly motivated - as their reasons for joining were desperation and self preservation rather than patriotism, as a Legionnaire would most likely be trying to escape from some grave problem. Living and working conditions were terrible, and their early campaigns were typically bloody affairs. As a result,
desertion was traditionally a major problem for the Legion.
The task of forging a rag-tag band of poorly-motivated would-be warriors - from many different cultures - into an effective fighting force proved to be an immensely difficult undertaking. To accomplish this, the Legion quickly developed an incredibly austere code of discipline, far exceeding that of other contemporary units, including those of the regular French army.
Mexico
Main Article Battle of CamarónIt was in
Mexico on
30 April 1863 that the Legion earned its legendary status. The small infantry patrol led by
Capitaine Danjou numbering 62 soldiers and 3 officers was attacked and besieged by over a thousand[
1] Mexican infantry and cavalry units organized into 3
battalions, and was forced to make a defense in
Hacienda Camarón. Despite the hopelessness of the situation they fought nearly to the last man, with just three soldiers surrendering to the Mexicans on the condition that they could keep their weapons, their flag, and the body of Capitaine Danjou.
According to French law the legion was not to be used within metropolitan France, so it wasn't a part of Napoleon III's Imperial Army that capitulated at Sedan. With defeat of the Imperial Army, the Second French Empire fell and the Third Republic was created. They were determined to continue fighting, as for them the Imperial Army didn't represent France but a unpopular regime.
The problem was that the new
Third Republic was in a desperate shortage of trained soldiers, so the Legion was ordered to provide a contingent, one excluding all men of German descent. On October 11 two provisional battalions disembarked at Toulon, the first time the legion had been deployed in Metropolitan France. They attempted to lift the
Siege of Paris by breaking through the German lines. They succeeded in re-taking
Orléans, but failed to break the siege.
Colonial Warfare
During the
Third Republic, the Legion played a major role in French colonial expansion. They fought in North Africa (where they established their headquarters at
Sidi-Bel-Abbès in
Algeria),
Madagascar, and
Indochina, where they participated in the celebrated
Defense of Tuyen Quang in 1885.
The World Wars
In
World War I the Legion fought in many critical battles of the war, including the
Battle of Verdun. The Legion was highly decorated for its efforts in the war.
The Foreign Legion was heavily involved in
World War II, 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
Units of the Legion were deployed in
French Indochina and fought in the
Franco-Chinese War, and one battalion was the key component in the celebrated defense of the fortress of Tuyen Quang when it was assaulted by Chinese troops many times its number.
Units of the Legion were involved in the defense of
Dien Bien Phu during the
First Indochina War 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.
Spanish Emulation
The
Spanish Foreign Legion was created in 1920, in emulation of the French one, and had a significant role in Spain's colonial wars in
Morocco and in the
Spanish Civil War (on the Nationalist side). Unlike its French model, the number of non-Spanish recruits never exceeded 25%.
The 1st
Regiment Etranger Parachutiste was established in 1955 and disbanded in April 1961 as the entire regiment rose against the French government of Charles de Gaulle, in protest against moves to negotiate an end to the Algerian War. Following Algerian Independence in 1962 the Legion was reduced in numbers but avoided the wholesale disbandments of most other units comprising the "Army of Africa" (
Spahis,
Zouaves,
Tirailleurs and
Chasseurs d'Afrique). The intention seems to have been to retain a professional force which could be used for military interventions outside France and not involve the politically unpopular use of French conscripts. The abolition of
conscription in France, in
2001 and the creation of an entirely professional army might be expected to put the Legion's longterm future at risk but as of
2006, there is no sign of this.
While most of its
commissioned officers are French, approximately 10% are former legionnaires who have risen through the ranks. The rest of the Legion is made up of men from a wide variety of nationalities, with French citizens representing 25-35% of the legionnaires. The foreign volunteers are primarily European. Before and during
World War II, many
Jews from
Eastern Europe fled to France and ended up enlisting in the legion. Ironically, after the fall of the Third Reich, Germans (long a major presence in the legion) accounted for roughly sixty percent of the manpower, with many former
German troops coming directly from
WWII POW camps (
Bernard B. Fall, a leading expert on French Indochina and author of
Street without Joy and
Hell in a Very Small Place, disputes this figure and claims that at most Germans only made up thirty-five percent of the Legion in the post-WWII period). The book
Devil's Guard relates a former
Waffen-SS member's brutal account of joining the Legion and fighting with fellow former
SS against the
Vietminh in Indochina. During the mid-1980s the Legion contained large contingents of
British and
Serbian nationals. Present day has seen a number of recruits from
African and
Balkan countries.
The Legion's ranks historically were filled with enlistees from countries which were undergoing some sort of crisis. While no serious studies were made of the motives for enlistment it seems likely that many recruits were simply transient foreigners who found themselves in France and out of work. In recent generations, however, many of those joining have come from middle-class backgrounds in stable prosperous countries such as Britain and the US (and indeed France itself).
Legionnaires can choose to enlist under a
pseudonym ("declared identity") and a declared citizenship. This disposition exists in order to allow people who want to turn over a new leaf in their life to enlist. French citizens can enlist under a declared, fictitious, foreign citizenship (generally, a
francophone one). After one year, legionnaires can regularize their situation under their true identity.
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. Generally speaking, convicted felons are prohibited from joining the service.
After serving in the Legion for three years (out of a five-year initial enlistment), the legionnaire is allowed to apply for French citizenship. Furthermore, a soldier harmed in combat for France is also allowed to apply for French citizenship under a provision known as
"Français par le sang versé" ("French by spilled blood").
Previously, the Legion was not stationed in mainland France except in wartime. Until 1962 the Legion headquarters were stationed in Sidi-Bel-Abbès,
Algeria. Nowadays, some units of the legion are in Corsica or overseas possessions, while the rest is in the south of mainland France. Current headquarters are in
Aubagne,
France, just outside
Marseille.
There are nine regiments and one independent sub-unit :
* Mainland
France**
1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC), based in
Orange (
armoured troops)
**
2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI), based in
Nîmes,
**
1st Foreign Engineer Regiment (1er REG), based in Laudun;
**
2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment (2e REG), based in St Christol,
**
1st Foreign Regiment (1er RE), based in
Aubagne (Legion
headquarters),
**
4th Foreign Regiment (4e RE), based in
Castelnaudary (training);
* in
Corsica,
**
2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2e REP), based in
Calvi;
*
French Overseas Territories and
Overseas Collectives,
**
3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment (3e REI), based in
French Guiana,
**
Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte (DLEM);
* Africa
**
13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade (13 DBLE), based in
Djibouti.
These deployments are current as of November 2005
* Operations exterieures (other than at home bases or on standard duties)
**
Martinique - (Protection) - 2e REG / 2e Compagnie, RCS;
** Paris, France -
VIGIPIRATE - 2e REI / 2 units, EM; 1er REG / 2 units;
**
Montpellier - VIGIPIRATE - 2e REI / 1 unit;
**
Perpignan - VIGIPIRATE - 2e REI / 1 unit;
**
Guyane - (Protection) - 3e REI / 3e Compagnie; 1er REG / RCS;
**
Côte D'Ivoire - (Intervention) - Operation LICORNE - 1er REC / 5e Squadron;
**
Mayotte - (Prevention) - DLEM;
**
Iles Glorieuses - (Prevention) - DLEM;
**
Djibouti - (Prevention) - 13e DBLE; 2e REI / CAC, RCS; 2e REG / 1er Compagnie, RCS;
**
Kosovo - (Intervention) - 2e REG / BATFRA.
**
Afghanistan - (Intervention) - 2e REG / URH;
* Training Operations
** 2e REP - France (Corse) - Regimental Exercise
** 1er REC - France (Provence/Alpes-Cotes D'Azur and Languedoc-Roussillon) - Ex. Amphibie " Melaoria II"- Exercise "PC Garrigues "Palmex II";
** 2e REI - France and United Kingdom - La Courtine, Ex. Cambrian Patrol and CIECM;
** 3e REI - Guyane - Stage Combat en Milieu Equatorial;
** 4e RE - Exercise Antarès with 17e RPG.
Every legionnaire must know by heart the "Legionnaire's Code of Honour". The legionnaires spend many hours, learning it, reciting it, and then getting the vocal synchronisation together:
1. Legionnaire, you are a volunteer serving France with "Honour and Fidelity".
2. Every legionnaire is your brother-in-arms regardless of his nationality, race, or religion. You will demonstrate this by strict solidarity which must always unite members of the same family.
3. Respectful of traditions, devoted to your leaders, discipline and comradeship are your strengths, courage and loyalty your virtues.
4. Proud of your status as legionnaire, you display this in your uniform which is always impeccable, your behaviour always dignified but modest, your living quarters always clean.
5. An elite soldier, you will train rigorously, you will maintain your weapon as your most precious possession, you are constantly concerned with your physical form.
6. A mission is sacred, you will carry it out until the end, at all costs.
'7. In combat, you will act without passion and without hate, you will respect the vanquished enemy, you will never abandon your dead or wounded, nor surrender your arms.
|
Légionnaires in dress uniform. Note the red epaulettes and the distinctive white kepi. They carry the standard assault rifle, the FAMAS. |
From its foundation until World War I the Legion wore the uniform of the French line infantry for parade with a few special distinctions. The field uniform was often modified under the influence of the extremes of climate and terrain in which the Legion served. Shakos were soon replaced by the light cloth
kepi which was far more suitable for North African conditions. One short lived aberration was the wearing of green uniforms in 1856 by Legion units recruited in Switzerland for service in the
Crimean War.
In the early 1900s the Legionnaire wore a red
kepi with blue band and piping, dark blue tunic with red collar, red cuff patches, and red trousers. The most distinctive features were the green epaulettes (replacing the red of the line) worn with red woollen fringes; plus the embroidered Legion badge of a flaming grenade, worn on the kepi front instead of a regimental number. In the field a light khaki cover was worn over the kepi, sometimes with a protective neck curtain attached. The standard medium-blue double breasted greatcoat (
capote) of the French infantry was worn, usually buttoned back to free the legs for marching. Around the waist was a broad blue sash, copied from that of the
Zouaves. White linen trousers tucked into short leather leggings were substituted for red serge in hot weather. This was the origin of the "Beau Geste" image of the Legion.
In barracks a white bleached kepi cover was often worn together with a short dark blue jacket ("veste") or white blouse plus white trousers. The white or khaki kepi cover was not unique to the Legion at this stage but was commonly seen amongst other French units in North Africa. The variances of climate in North Africa led the French Army to the sensible expedient of letting local commanders decide on the appropriate "tenue de jour" (uniform of the day) according to circumstances. Thus a Legionnaire might parade in blue tunic and white trousers in hot weather or wear the blue greatcoat (with epaulettes added) with red trousers under colder conditions. The sash could be worn with greatcoat, blouse or veste but not with the tunic.
Prior to 1914 units in Indo-China wore white or khaki Colonial Infantry uniforms with Legion insignia, to overcome supply difficulties. This dress included a white sun helmet of a model that was also worn by Legion units serving in the outposts of Southern Algeria, though never popular with the wearers.
During the initial months of World War I Legion units serving in France wore the standard blue greatcoat and red trousers of the French line infantry, distinguished only by collar patches of dark blue instead of red. After a short period in sky blue the Legion adopted khaki with steel helmets, from early 1916. A mustard shade of khaki drill had been worn on active service in Morocco from 1909, replacing the classic blue and white. The latter continued to be worn in the relatively peaceful conditions of Algeria throughout World War I, although increasingly replaced by khaki drill. The pre-1914 blue and red uniforms could still be seen as garrison dress in Algeria until stocks were used up about 1919.
During the early 1920s plain khaki drill uniforms of a standard pattern became universal issue for the Legion with only the red and blue kepi (with or without a cover) and green collar braiding to distinguish the Legionaire from other French soldiers serving in North African and Indo-China. The neck curtain ceased to be worn from about 1915, although it survived in the newly raised Foreign Legion Cavalry Regiment into the 1920s.
At the time of the Legion's centenial in 1931, a number of traditional features were reintroduced at the initiative of the then commander Colonel Rollet. These included the blue sash and green/red epaulettes. In 1939 the white covered kepi won recognition as the official headdress of the Legion to be worn on most occasions, rather than simply as a means of reflecting heat and protecting the blue and red material underneath.
During World War II the Legion wore a wide range of uniform styles depending on supply sources. These ranged from the heavy capotes and Adrian helmets of 1940 through to British battledress and US field uniforms from 1943 to 1945.The white kepi was stubbornly retained whenever possible.
The white kepis, together with the sash and epaulettes survive in the Legion's modern parade dress. Since the 1990s the modern kepi has been made wholly of white material rather than simply worn with a white cover. Officers and senior NCOs still wear their kepis in the pre-1939 colours of dark blue and red. A green tie and (for officers) a green waistcoat recall the traditional branch colour of the Legion. From 1959 a green beret became the ordinary duty headdress of the Legion, with the kepi reserved for parade and off duty wear. Other items of dress are the standard issue of the French Army.
Main Article French Foreign Legion in popular cultureThe existence of the French Foreign Legion has led to a romantic view that it is a place for a wronged man to leave behind his old life to start a new one, but also that it is full of scoundrels and men escaping justice. This view of the legion is common in
literature, and has been used for dramatic effect in many
movies, not the least of which are the several versions of
Beau Geste.
*
List of notable Foreign Legionnaires*
Chasseurs d'Afrique*
Spahis*
Zouaves*
Harkis*
French Marines*
Spanish Foreign Legion*
French Army*Porch, Douglas.
The French Foreign Legion. New York: Harper Collins, 1991. ISBN 0060923083
*
Official Website*
Legion in Horn of Africa (video in french)*
The Official Recruitment Office of the Foreign Legion*
French Foreign Legion information*
Federation of Veteran Societies of the Foreign Legion*
French Embassy to US, Foreign Legion section*
A Foreign Legion forum*
Foreign Legion Info Site*
Foreign Legion Info Site by ex-legionnaire*
Channel 4 documentary website*
French Foreign Legion video links*
The presentation of the Eurocorps-Foreign Legion concept and its Single European Regiment at the European parliament in June 2003 *
French Foreign Legion forum(in Russian)*
Les grades à la Légion étrangère (insignia)*
Legion information by a former légionnaire (en français)*
Foreign Legion life*
Indochina - History links for French involvement in Indochina, casahistoria.net
