HISTORY
 The
French Foreign Legion has inherited the traditions of foreign troops
who have served France since the Middle Ages.
Every one has heard of the Scottish Guards of Charles the VIIth,
the Swiss Guards of the Bourbon Kings, and Napoleon's Polish Lancers.
Louis Philippe, "King of the French" created the French
Foreign Legion on March 10, 1831.
Composed exclusively of volunteers aged between 18 and 40, with
or without means of identification, the Legion was immediately involved
in the conquest of Algeria before passing under Spanish control
in 1835.
A second Legion was then created which fought in Algeria, in Crimea
(1855), in Italy (1859) and in Mexico (1863). In Mexico, it won
one of its greatest titles to fame: on April 30, 1863, at the Camerone
Hacienda near Puebla, 3 officers and 62 legionnaires resisted 2,000
Mexicans. After a day of heroic fighting the last five survivors
fixed bayonets and charged.
This battle, whose name adorns every Legion flag, remains the symbol
of a mission carried out to the bitter end.
1870: the Legion fought in France. It welcomed many foreigners who
fought in its ranks (the same happened in 1914 and 1939).
Then came the campaigns of Tonkin, Sudan, Dahomey, Madagascar and
Morocco.
1914: the 1st World War. After very heavy casualties, the disbanded
regiments were merged into one: the Foreign Legion's "Regiment
de Marche" headed by the famous Colonel Rollet, "the Father
of the Legion".
World War I came to an end in France.
The Pacification of Morocco and the Middle East with the campaigns
in the Rif, the Atlas and against the Druze.
1939-1945: on the eve of the Armistice, the 11th Regiment of the
Foreign Legion was decimated, rather than forced to retreat.
The 13th Half-Brigade (Battalion) of the Foreign Legion made history
at Narvik and Bjervik in Norway, then accomplished another feat
in 1942 at the famous Bir-Hakeim victory in Libya.
The Legion was then reunited and fought victorious campaigns in
Tunisia, Italy, Provence, Alsace and Germany.
In Indochina, the 5th Foreign Infantry Regiment escaped from the
Japanese grip.
1945: the Indochina war began. Every Foreign Legion regiment was
represented on the battlefield, particularly in Phu Tong Hoa, the
Colonial Road 4, and Dien Bien Phu, where they fought to the last
man.
1954: the entire Legion was back in Algeria. Its regiments, at first
in charge of security, were soon sending out major intervention
forces. They took an active part in large scale operations and in
border defense duties.
1962 to the present day: after leaving Algeria, the regiments regrouped
in the south of France and Corsica, or overseas in Djibouti, Madagascar,
Tahiti, and French Guiana.
In 1969-1970, the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment and the 1st Foreign
Regiment took part in the Chad operations.
In May 1978, the 2nd Foreign parachute Regiment saved hundreds of
European and African civilians in Kolwezi, Zaire, from certain death.
The Legion has paid dearly in human lives during combat and pacification
operations in which France has been involved.
Since 1831, 902 officers, 3,176 NCOs, and over 30,000 legionnaires
have died for France; one third of them while fighting directly
for the defense of the country.
Foreigners by birth, the legionnaires have become Frenchmen by the
blood they have spilled.
|
