What is service in the legion? French Foreign Legion

About motivation

- the first ones are those who came to earn money, to get a French passport if possible, without planning to connect their lives with LE for a long time, those who do not have any special illusions about the service, who came for their 5-year contract and moreover;

- the second type includes those who love the army lifestyle, who are attracted to adventures, travel and various kinds of adventures (in the good sense of the word), who would like to see themselves in the French Legion as a “Soldier of Fortune”, to be a “Peacemaker”, helping people all over the world, and for this type of recruit, money is not a top priority;

- and others who have problems with the law in their home country and for them the French Foreign Legion truly becomes a refuge, since first of all, if you are allowed into the recruiting station, your first and last name will be changed, which you have the right to keep for yourself even after the end of the contract . It is clear that it will be much more difficult for law enforcement agencies to find such a person to bring to justice.

In my observation, it often happens that a recruit cannot be classified into any one category. So, many come to the Legion, including the author of the article, on the one hand, to get a job and a decent salary, and on the other, to satisfy the thirst for adventure and change, which is far from the least important in the recruit’s motivation.

Many come to the Legion for money, but subsequently stay there for the sake of length of service or, as they say, career, as well as French citizenship, and for them the Legion becomes a second home. Some flee to LE from persecution of the law, but subsequently realize that the Legion suits them in spirit, that this is their element.

It happens differently. Oddly enough, many recruits cannot clearly answer why they came to the Legion and what they expect from the service. As a rule, such weakly motivated young people who do not have clear goals make up a large percentage of refuseniks - those who refused to serve in the Legion of their own free will and left with the consent of the Legion leadership while still in the city of Aubagne - second place (after the recruitment point) to select future recruits, or refused, having already signed a preliminary 5-year contract while in the Castelnaudary training camp.

Often it is from such young people, who left the service for various reasons in the first months, but want to justify their departure, that you can hear heartbreaking stories about the difficulties and even horrors of serving in LE.

What will be noteworthy here is the fact that the bulk of the “deserters” are those who “broke down” in their studies or left before the end of the first year of service. They are less likely to leave in the second and third years of service - due to family problems at home, due to health problems, or simply being disappointed in the service, when what is expected from service in LE, supported by strong motivation, does not correspond or goes against reality.

Therefore, to summarize the above, I would like to point out some facts from the life of a legionnaire that you need to know and remember when preparing to enter the French Foreign Legion.

So, about the salary.

On average, a legionnaire in France receives from 1,100 to 1,700 euros, depending on rank, location, length of service, etc. However, as practice shows, it is very difficult to save something in the first years of service - a lot of money is spent on entertainment, items household items, rental housing (allowed to live outside the barracks after three years of excellent service), some uniform items, cigarettes, booze, etc., etc.

A few manage to accumulate more than 20 thousand euros during the first contract. And then, this is if you limit yourself in many ways. I quote the words of a current legionnaire on this matter:

«… We won’t take the castel (meaning that in the first months all your salary goes towards your own support – author’s note). From the 5th month of service, your salary is about 1100 euros.
So you:
— you spend the weekend in a unit (during your vacation, you also don’t go anywhere);
— you don’t drink beer (why, if there is water in the tap);
— you don’t buy anything for food (you eat exclusively in the canteen);
— you don’t smoke (that’s right, smoking is harmful);
- the telephone, computer, iron and other appliances are not of interest to you;
— based on the above, you don’t use the Internet either.
But even with all this, you will spend about a hundred euros on soap, toothpaste and other personal hygiene items. You can, of course, “shoot” or steal all this (then you’ll be screwed)…»

or here's another one:

«… The main mistake of guys planning to join the legion is that they don’t take the legionnaire’s salary and multiply it by the number of months spent in the legion - from this you get a mythical amount that supposedly can be saved during service... The first couple of years in the legion are typical for EVERYONE , I emphasize - FOR EVERYONE - that money is spent very powerfully... You still don’t know France, and Europe in general, on your first vacation you still don’t know which hotels are best to stay in, which modes of transport are best to travel, and many other important things, in short - a complete mess...

Someone, of course, will say - “well, I’m not like that, I’m the smartest, I won’t get caught like that...” but this is all empty talk. I had a friend here in the parachute. He was - in the sense that he is now in another regiment, in Aubagne, he fell under the annual distribution from Corsica to other regiments and left for 1 RE. I remember sitting with him in a room in Djibouti, drinking tea, and I told him how I got rid of it after my first tournant in Kosovo... (And this trip in 13 DBLE was his first tournant, so he had yet to go through his “first "Vacation.) The only negative, I say - I arrived after vacation, went into the room, threw my bag on the floor, turned out all the pockets and poured out the change on my bunk - everything that was left after the vacation.

Naturally, he made such a clever joke, it was written right on his forehead - “well, I’m not like that, I won’t waste my hard-earned money like that - I need to save something for life, so to speak...”. We arrived from Djibouti, spent a week of guard duty in Calvi and left on vacation. I meet him after this vacation, and he returned from it exactly like I did from my first - with coins in his pockets. They went to Spain with a boy who was of the same draft as him. There are a lot of memories, but not a lot of money. But how you swore…»

Thus, if you spend practically nothing, you are left with about 10,000 euros per year or about 1,000 euros per month. Let everyone decide for themselves whether this is a lot of money or not. But it is difficult to imagine a contract soldier who does not allow himself to “let off steam”, who regularly deposits all the money he earns into a bank account or sends it to his relatives.

Of course, being in combat or other extreme conditions, a legionnaire receives much more. But, firstly, during the first 5 years of the contract you may never go on a long business trip, much less to hot spots (few people ever get there). Secondly, extreme conditions can mean loss of health and even life; is it worth talking about money in this case?

Secondly, regarding travel and the desire to see the world.

The French Foreign Legion sends its combat units (meaning outside France) to the following areas:

- firstly, these are places known to everyone with unsuitable conditions for life (climate plus flora and fauna hazardous to health), if not unsuitable, where your main activities will be daily grueling training, passing standards, exercises, tournants (long trips abroad) - so to speak, the routine of legionary life, and not at all sightseeing. Some, after such “travels,” end up straight in hospital beds;

- the second place where a legionnaire can end up is, naturally, any place where hostilities are taking place. And in this sense, the Legion may not be the best way to travel and see the world.

Third, it is reliably known that the Legion does not want to accept citizens who have committed serious crimes in their homeland(high probability of relapse) and especially those wanted by Interpol. I haven’t personally encountered this, but there are rumors that a person who is in the Interpol database, after being recruited and having his passport checked, goes straight to the local police commissariat. Long gone are the days when murderers and robbers were accepted into the Legion. Therefore, the only way to escape justice in LE is to hide your criminal history upon admission, which is not so easy, given the cross-examination system during selection in the city of Aubagne.

In conclusion, I would like to note the following. It may seem that I am exaggerating and portraying the LE service in a light that is favorable to me. Believe me, this is not true. My personal legionary history became a good school of life for me, given my young age at the time of recruitment.

Firstly, I learned from my own experience to accept the inevitable (meaning the ban on serving). In addition, about two years of physical training (more on this in the next article) were not in vain, physical education and running became partly a way of life for me, which prompted me to first quit smoking and then give up alcohol.

Secondly, today I can easily express myself in conversational French (before the story with the Legion, I only knew phrases like “bounjour monsieur, not manche pas si jour” and other similar phrases. Therefore, I do not hold any grudges against the Legion. And I have nothing to take revenge on him for, if this expression is appropriate in relation to the Legion.

Thus, the information that I offer in this article is not the final authority, it is just my personal view of events. And if future recruits read this article - if, of course, there are any - I want to wish them clarity in their motives and expectations from visiting LE, so as not to waste either their own or others’ time and money.

/Andrey Verenitsky, specially for Army Herald/

186 years have already passed since the formation of the Foreign Legion by France began. On March 9, 1831, nine months after the capture of Algiers in June 1830, King Louis Philippe the First decided to create a new army unit. Its structure is identical to infantry troops, divided into battalions, the number of which varies depending on the number of recruits. The name of the mercenary army is due to the recruitment of military personnel exclusively from among foreigners. In exceptional cases, the French were appointed as members of the command staff.

The beginning of the second period of the creation of a powerful colonial empire was associated with large losses in regular army units, and replenishment from a predominantly foreign contingent led to the successful completion of numerous military operations.

History of the Foreign Legion

Having suffered significant losses during the Algerian conquest, additional troops were formed from professional soldiers who remained unclaimed after the end of internal wars and revolutions in European countries. With the wave of immigration, a stream of people, often left without documents, sought refuge in France. For many years, foreign soldiers served in the legion, mainly in regiments drawn up along ethnic lines. One of the features of entering the service was the opportunity to start life from scratch, declaring one’s identity in accordance with internal needs. The rejected, exiled, and offended were given the chance to change their fate.

The first legionnaires landed in Algeria in August 1831 and on April 27, 1832 received a combat mission, and with its implementation, a reputation as valiant and persistent warriors. Equally skilled with a pickaxe and a gun, the legionnaires' merit was the construction of a base training camp and headquarters of the 1st Foreign Regiment in Sidi Bel Abbes in 1843 in the occupied territories.

On June 29, 1835, four years after its creation, the Foreign Legion took part in supporting the Spanish government and Queen Isabella II in the fight against the Carlists. Four thousand troops were sent to participate in the mission, and after 3 years only five hundred of them remained alive. During this campaign, the need for a mix of recruits and a move away from forming battalions along ethnic lines became apparent. In the future, members of units will be forced, regardless of the origin of the fighters, to communicate in French.

On December 16, 1835, the king decided to create a new foreign legion to solve the problem of the shortage of troops in Algeria. Thus, by 1840 the legion was divided into two parts. Without interrupting the Algerian mission, the troops take part in other military operations designed to increase the country's colonial territories. The soldiers fought on the fronts of the Crimean War against the Russian Empire in 1854-1856 and besieged Sevastopol. In 1859 they supported the Italians in the second war of independence.

During the Franco-Mexican War, they gained glory at the Battle of Cameron. Heroic resistance was accepted as a model of courage to be emulated by all units of the legion.

In 1883, the government revived the policy of colonial expansion and strengthened the legion's forces, sending them to the front lines.

Legion companies:

Tonkin in 1883;
Formosa Island in 1885;
Sudan from 1892 to 1893;
African Dahomey from 1892 to 1894;
Madagascar from 1895 to 1905;
Morocco from 1900 to 1934.

The Legion actively participated in the development of civil infrastructure in the colonies.

During the First World War, five infantry regiments were formed for deployment to Morocco. Four years of fighting were carried out by soldiers under the flag of a colonial infantry regiment of the French army.

Since 1920, units have served in Syria, Lebanon and Morocco as peacekeepers. An impressive road tunnel drilled into granite immortalized the stay of the pioneers of the third foreign brigade for many years.

At the beginning of World War II, the number of the legion was significantly increased, reaching 45 thousand soldiers. The newly created 11th and 12th Foreign Infantry (REI), 97th Group, 22nd and 23rd Regiments of the 21st Foreign Volunteer Infantry (RMVE) fight in the turmoil of 1940. Recruits serve in Norway, bringing victory at Narvik. The Foreign Legion, which made a great contribution to the liberation of Europe, knows no rest.

In 1946, the first foreign cavalry regiment (REC) landed in Indochina. It included a new type of unit: a foreign parachute battalion. The number of troops reaches 30 thousand people, a significant part of which are the Germans defeated in World War II. Dien Bienph in Indochina is remembered for its colossal losses. The army loses 300 officers, including four corps commanders, more than ten thousand sergeants and privates. This campaign became the deadliest in its entire history. Even before the end of the conflict in Indochina, a new combat mission appears in North Africa.

Between 1962 and 1969, the foreign legion was constantly present in Madagascar and Guyana, Djibouti, French Polynesia and the Comoros archipelago. The 5th Foreign Regiment (RE), stationed in French Polynesia, was preparing a nuclear testing site. A cosmodrome and space center were developed in Guyana.

The legion lived in Chad from 1969 to 1970, and returned there from 1978 to 1988. In 1983, the legion was sent to Beirut as part of a multinational security force. In 1991, during the Iraq War, more than two and a half thousand legionnaires took part in the victorious Operation Desert Storm. Since 1992, peacekeeping activities began under the auspices of the United Nations. The Legion is located in Cambodia, Somalia, and Rwanda. In 1993, units of the legion were sent to the former Yugoslavia. In 1996 in Bangui and in 1997 in Brazzaville, fighters took part in an operation to protect civilians.

In 2003, units were sent to Afghanistan, as part of Operation Pamir, to Cote d'Ivoire under the auspices of UNICORN, to Chad, Djibouti, Gabon and French Guiana.

Legionnaire's Code of Honor

In the Foreign Legion, the fundamental value is brotherhood in arms. The code of honor itself is a relatively new document that emerged in the 80s of the last century. The rules for military personnel are clear and strict. The concept of voluntary discipline, camaraderie, pride in one’s status, respect for a defeated enemy, the sacredness of the mission - the legionnaire learns at the training stage. Upon entering contract service, each recruit receives a brochure in his native language containing a set of rules and ethical standards that distinguish an employee in an elite military unit. Instructions on everyday issues are also important: from the specifics of wearing a uniform to recommendations for communicating with fellow soldiers. The main parting word for young people is a set of instructions on the topic of combat. The Code is strictly observed so that the glory of those who fell in battle does not fade, and the young replacement becomes worthy of the memory of heroes.

Important points of the legionary code:

The legionnaire serves France on a voluntary basis with all honor and loyalty.
Soldiers are brothers in arms, and it doesn’t matter what nationality a comrade belongs to or what religion he professes. The fighters are in solidarity, like members of one family.
Honor traditions, respect the commander. Discipline and teamwork are strength, and dignity is courage and loyalty.
A warrior is proud and behaves modestly. Wears an impeccably prepared uniform and regularly cleans the barracks.
A representative of the elite troops must train diligently, tirelessly improve his skills in handling weapons, constantly confirming his qualifications.
Fulfilling a combat mission is a sacred duty that must be accomplished even at the risk of life.
Enter into battle without fear and hatred, respect the vanquished, and do not leave a wounded or dead comrade or weapon on the battlefield.

This military formation is part of French history. Open to technical innovation and easily adaptable to reorganization, the Legion always stands at the forefront of military action. This success is largely due to personnel policy. The best warriors in the world, from 18 to 40 years old, whose vocation is military service, healthy in mind and body, still prefer to serve under French command.

Story

The French Foreign Legion was created on March 9 by King Louis Philippe I based on several predecessor regiments. One of these regiments was Regiment de Hohenlohe under the command of the German prince and French marshal Ludwig Aloys von Hohenlohe-Bartenstein. This regiment fought for the Royalists in the Revolutionary Wars and later served the French King Charles X. As France planned the colonization of Algeria, it needed significant troops. At this time, many foreigners settled in France, and especially in Paris. With the creation of the Legion, King Louis Philippe could receive the necessary troops and at the same time reduce the number of “undesirable” segments of the population in the country. So he passed a law the next day ( la Loi du 9 mars 1831) that the foreign legion could only be used outside mainland France. The officers for the new unit were recruited from Napoleon's army, and the soldiers were recruited from Italy, Spain, Switzerland, other European countries, as well as Frenchmen who had problems with the law. At the same time, a tradition was established - not to ask the name of the recruit.

The day of glory of the Foreign Legion was April 30, 1863, when the Battle of Cameron took place during the Mexican Expedition. A company of legionnaires under the command of Captain Danjou was tasked with scouting the outskirts of Palo Verde in anticipation of a convoy with guns, equipment for the siege, as well as three million francs in cash intended for the French troops besieging Puebla. Setting out after midnight on April 30th, the legionnaires encountered the Mexicans on the morning of the same day. Realizing the undeniable advantage of the Mexicans (1,200 infantry and 800 cavalry), Captain Danjou and his men occupied a building in a village called Cameron. To ensure the safety of the convoy, the Mexicans had to be held at all costs. Knowing that they were doomed and only a miracle could save them, the legionnaires vowed to stand until the end. For more than ten hours they confronted the Mexican army. Despite offers to surrender, the legionnaires preferred death to inglorious captivity. Their sacrifice allowed the convoy to reach Puebla unhindered.

Today, the Legion is used where the French state defends its interests within NATO or the European Union, has historical responsibilities (for example, Côte d'Ivoire) or where French citizens are in danger. It is subordinate, as in 1831, to only one person: the French head of state, today - the president.

The Foreign Legion took part in wars and operations in the following places:

French legionnaires in Kolwezi (Zaire) 1978

More than 600,000 people from all over the world served under the green and red flag of the Foreign Legion from its founding until the end of the 1980s. According to the speech of Colonel Morellon, at this time over 36,000 legionnaires fell in battle.

Nowadays, the Legion is not used to wage war, as before, but mainly to prevent military operations within the framework of missions under the auspices of the UN or NATO (for example, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan), to maintain peace, to evacuate people from war regions, to provide humanitarian assistance to restore infrastructure (for example in Lebanon and after the Tsunami in South-East Asia). Along with this, the Legion is ready to conduct special operations, such as fighting in the jungle, at night, against terrorists and to free hostages.

Locations

Organization and tasks

Foreign legionnaires can be recognized by their white headdress (“Képi blanc”), which, however, is worn only by the rank and file. The color of the beret in the Legion is green ( Béret vert) and icon ( Insigne beret) are worn, as in the entire French army, on the right. The Legion's coat of arms is a grenade with seven flames.

The legion's colors are green and red. (Green symbolizes country, red symbolizes blood. If a legion unit is in battle, then the triangular pennant of the Legion is hung with the red side up: “Blood on the country”).

The legion's motto: “The Legion is our Fatherland” (lat. Legio Patria Nostra). To more fully implement this slogan in the consciousness of each legionnaire, his contacts with the outside world in the first five years of service are limited and controlled - the Legion truly becomes a family and home for the legionnaire.

A special feature of the Legion is the song "Le Boudin", which, with the exception of the march, is always sung at attention! Another feature is the typical marching pace of legionnaires. While other army units march at 120 steps per minute, the Legion only takes 88. This is because African deployment areas often had sandy soils, making it difficult for them to march at a faster pace.

Organizations of former legionnaires

Although the number of Germans in the Foreign Legion is now small, due to the significant number of former foreign legionnaires, there are dozens of clubs and organizations of former foreign legionnaires in Germany ( Amicale des Anciens de la Legion étrangère), which mostly consist of legionnaires who served in Indochina and Algeria.

They meet regularly, take care of tradition and go to France for various holidays. Most of these organizations also accept people who have never served in the Legion. Deserters and those expelled from the Legion are not accepted. For this reason, each new member (if it is a former legionnaire) is checked by the union Fédération des Sociétés d'Anciens de la Légion Étrangère.

Films about the Foreign Legion

Artistic

- “Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion” (eng. Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion ), director: Charles Lamont, USA;
- "March or Die" March or Die), director: Dick Richards, USA / UK;
- “The Legion lands in Kolwezi” (fr. La Legion saute sur Kolwezi), director: Raoul Coutard, France;
- “Adventurers” (fr. Les Morfalous), director: Henri Verneuil, France;
- “AWOL” (eng. Lionheart), director: Sheldon Lettich, USA;
- “Legionnaire” (English) Legionnaire), director: Peter MacDonald, USA;
- “Good job” (fr. Beau Travail), director: Claire Denis, France;
- “Djinns” (fr. Djinns), directors: Hugh Martin, Sandra Martin, France / Morocco;
- “Foreign Legion”, director: Kim Nguyen, Canada;

Documentary

- "Escape to the Legion" (eng. Escape to the Legion), presenter: Bear Grylls, USA;
- “Warriors of the world. French Foreign Legion", director: Roman Kaygorodov, Russia; == http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pfc1z90vF0 ==

Notes

A new chance for a new life (Russian). Archived
Debatte unerwünscht (German). Archived from the original on February 18, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2009.
Fremdenlegionäre in Indochina (German). Archived from the original on February 18, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2009.
Bei den Deutschen in der Fremdenlegion (German). Archived from the original on February 18, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2009.
La Guerre d "Indochine (Russian). Archived
Simon Jameson French Foreign Legion (Russian). Archived from the original on February 18, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2010.
Foreign Legion (Russian). Archived from the original on February 18, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2010.
Shadursky, V. G. Foreign policy of France (1945-2002): textbook. allowance. Minsk: BSU. 2004.
Conditions for concluding a contract (Russian). Archived from the original on February 18, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2009.
Admission. In Aubagne. (Russian) . Archived
Richard Lucas Honey, I joined the legion (Russian). Archived from the original on February 18, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2010.
Federation des Societes d "Anciens de la Legion Entrangere (French). Archived from the original on February 18, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2010.
Zinovy Peshkov: how the elder brother of Yakov Sverdlov became a French brigadier general (Russian). Archived from the original on February 18, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2010.
Khreschatitsky Boris Rostislavovich (Russian). Archived from the original on February 18, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2010.
“The Great Defender of the Jews” Petliura (Russian). (inaccessible link - story) Retrieved February 6, 2010.
French Foreign Legion on the website "Heroes of the Country"

Literature

Balmasov Sergey Foreign Legion. M.: Yauza, 2004. ISBN 5-699-06982-8
Jean Brunon Georges Manyu: History of elite troops Foreign Legion 1831-1955. - M.: Isographus, 2003.
Zhuravlev V.V. Daily life of the French Foreign Legion: “Come to me, Legion!” - M.: Young Guard, 2010. - 347 p. - ISBN 978-5-235-03355-9
Paul Bonnecarrere: Frankreichs fremde Söhne - Fremdenlegionäre im Indochina-Krieg. Motorbuch-Verlag, Stuttgart 2000, ISBN 3-613-01144-1
Rajko Cibic: Geliebte gehasste Legion - Der abenteuerliche Lebensweg eines slowenischen Fremdenlegionärs. Verlag Lutz B. Damm, Jenbach 1996, ISBN 3-85298-020-8
Pierre Dufour: La Legion en Algerie. Editions Lavauzelle, Panazol 2002, ISBN 2-7025-0613-5
Pierre Dufour: La Legion étrangère 1939-1945. Heimdal, Bayeux 2000, ISBN 2-84048-130-8
Pierre Dufour: La Legion étrangère en Indochine 1945-1955. Lavauzelle, Paris 2001, ISBN 2-7025-0483-3
Dominique Farale: Mystérieuse Legion Etrangère de 1831 à nos jours. D.I.E. Paris 2005, ISBN 2-914295-16-2
Peter Hornung: Die Legion - Europas letzte Söldner. Meyster-Verlag, Munich 1982, ISBN 3-8131-8123-5
Yers Keller, Frank Fosset: Frankreichs Elite - Legions-Paras und Kommandos, Gendarmerie-Sondereinsatzgruppen GIGN, Kampfschwimmerkommando Hubert. Motorbuch-Verlag, Stuttgart 2001, ISBN 3-613-02103-X
Peter Macdonald: Fremdenlegion - Ausbildung, Bewaffnung, Einsatz. Motorbuch-Verlag, Stuttgart 1993, ISBN 3-613-01518-8
Volker Mergenthaler: Völkerschau - Kannibalismus - Fremdenlegion. Zur Ästhetik der Transgression (1897-1936). Tübingen 2005, ISBN 3-484-15109-9
Eckard Michels: Deutsche in der Fremdenlegion. 1870-1965, Mythen und Realitäten. Schöningh, Paderborn 2000, ISBN 3-506-74471-2
Guido Schmidt: Der Cafard - Als Fallschirmjäger bei der Fremdenlegion. Motorbuch-Verlag, Stuttgart 1997, ISBN 3-613-01795-4
David Jordan: Die Geschichte der francösischen Fremdenlegion von 1831 bis heute. Motorbuch-Verlag, Stuttgart 2006, ISBN 3-7276-7157-2
Blaise Cendrars: Wind der Welt. Abenteuer eines Lebens. Suhrkamp, Frankfurt/M. 1990, ISBN 3-518-40262-5
Friedrich Glauser: Gourrama. Unionsverlag, Zurich 1999,

, over its 180-year history has gained great fame and fame. Today it is one of the most honored formations of the French army.
The Foreign Legion was created on March 9, 1831 by decree of King Louis Philippe I. The name itself contained the principle of recruiting from foreigners, which continues to this day. But this applies only to the rank and file - the officers have always been staffed exclusively by the French.

Created for the conquest of Algeria, French Foreign Legion participated in all French colonial campaigns, in both world wars, as well as in numerous peacekeeping operations. Motto: “Legio Patria Nostra” (“The Legion is our homeland”). During its existence, the death toll was 35 thousand.

Legionnaire's dress uniform is armed with "FAMAS" rifles

French Foreign Legion how to get there

The principle of recruiting the Foreign Legion - from foreigners - remains to this day.
Among the rank and file, immigrants from Eastern European countries predominate (about a third). There are also many South Americans (about 25%) and French (20%). The latter are attracted to serve as a legionnaire because of the opportunity to receive a “new personality,” thereby starting life “from scratch.”

So our guys showed up as part of the legion, Afghanistan

Recruitment is carried out on French territory. Only men between the ages of 17 and 40 can enlist.

French Foreign Legion remains one of the few branches of the French army where women are not allowed access. Requirements for the candidate, physical health and that there are no problems with Interpol. Various checks take place for several days, all this time the candidate is at the recruitment point, documents are selected, and he is prohibited from all communications with the outside world.

After all checks and medical commissions are completed, you are either a legionnaire. Or not. In case of refusal, the candidate is paid monetary compensation. If desired, a legionnaire’s service passport (Anonymat) is issued, with new data entered in it; first and last name, date of birth, parents' names, etc.

Flag of the French Foreign Legion. Green color is the legionnaire’s new homeland, red is his blood. During military operations, the flag is turned over: “blood is in the homeland”

At the end of the contract, you are given the opportunity to change two letters in your last name and residence permit.

The first contract is signed for five years. Subsequent ones can be signed for a period from 6 months to 10 years. During the first five-year contract, it is possible to achieve the rank of corporal and subsequently sergeant.

The officer corps of the legion are career military personnel who graduated from military schools and voluntarily chose the legion for military service. You can become an officer only if you have French citizenship.
After three years of service, the legionnaire has the right to request French citizenship, or receive a residence permit at the end of the first contract.

According to a recently adopted law (in 1999) by the Senate, a legionnaire injured during combat has the right to receive French citizenship regardless of the length of service.

FAMAS F1 assault rifle

Structure and numbers.
Currently, the strength of the Foreign Legion is about 7.5 thousand people.
The French army has a marching tempo of 120 steps per minute, but for the Foreign Legion it is only 88 steps. This is explained by tradition. In African countries, where he mainly operated, it is difficult to march at a high pace on sandy soil.

French Foreign Legion composition: one semi-brigade, eight regiments and one separate unit.

Six of the eight regiments are stationed on the French mainland.

1st Foreign Regiment (Auban) - the headquarters and administrative part of the legion.
The 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (Nimes) is a motorized infantry unit, part of the 6th Light Armored Brigade. The regiment, numbering 1,230 people, is the largest part of the legion. It includes ten companies: management and support; supplies and support; five motorized infantry; anti-tank; reconnaissance and fire support; backup.
4th Foreign Regiment (Castelnaudary) - training, consisting of six companies: control and support; three private training companies; non-commissioned officer training company; specialist training company.
The 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (Orange) is an armored cavalry unit that is part of the 6th Light Armored Brigade. The regiment consists of six squadrons: control and support; reconnaissance (VBL light armored vehicles); three armored cavalry (AMX-10RC armored vehicles armed with 105 mm cannons); anti-tank
1st Foreign Engineer Regiment (Loudoun), also part of the 6th Light Armored Brigade. Consists of seven companies: management and supply; administrative and maintenance; three combat engineering; support; reserve.
2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment (Saint-Cristol), part of the 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade. The organization is similar to the 1st Engineer Regiment, but there is no reserve company.
In Corsica, in Calvi, there is the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment, part of the 11th Parachute Brigade. It consists of eight companies: control and supply; administrative and support; four parachute; reconnaissance and fire support; reserve.
In French Guiana there is the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment, which is tasked with guarding the French space center in Kourou, as well as training military personnel for combat operations in the jungle. The regiment consists of five companies: control and support; two infantry; Air defense; reserve.
Left, a soldier from the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment in Afghanistan. January 2011.
on the right, legionnaires of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment in French Guiana during jungle warfare exercises. 2005 year.
On the island of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean there is a separate detachment consisting of two companies: a permanently stationed control and support company, as well as a rotating company from a regiment or paratroopers.
Finally, the 13th semi-brigade, which includes five units, is located in Abu Dhabi (UAE). Three of them (control and support companies, support companies, as well as an armored cavalry squadron) are deployed on a permanent basis, and two are allocated on rotation: a motorized infantry company (from the 2nd infantry or 2nd parachute regiments) and an engineering company (from the 1st or 2nd engineering regiments).

The FR F-2 sniper rifle is in service

Standard small arms in service French Foreign Legion , this is the FAMAS automatic rifle and the FR F-2 sniper rifle.

f1famas automatic rifle

In special units, as throughout the world, depending on the task being performed.

An integral part of the French military forces is the Foreign Legion. This is part of the French ground forces, which consists exclusively of foreign citizens. As a matter of fact, this is the only difference that distinguishes it from other military units.

History of formation

The history of the French Foreign Legion begins in the 19th century, namely in 1831. King Louis Philippe I planned to make Algeria his colony, but there were not enough soldiers in the French military at that time. The ruler decided to create a military unit of foreign citizens, especially since at that time many natives of Switzerland, Spain, Italy, as well as other European countries settled in French territory. The name of the recruit was not asked then, and soldiers of Napoleonic army were chosen as officers for the foreign legion.

Structure of the French Foreign Legion and conditions of service

The French Foreign Legion has functioned from the moment of its creation to the present day, subordinate to the modern head of state - the president.

The structure of the legion is a command and tank, engineer and infantry units. It consists of 7 regiments, 1 training regiment, 1 special detachment and 1 semi-brigade. Foreign legionnaires need to serve for 15 years.

The Foreign Legion participates in matters that directly affect the French state and citizens, as well as with the rest of France's military forces in NATO and the EU.

After serving for three years, the employee can ask the state to grant him French citizenship, and after successfully completing the first contract (which implies five years of service in the legion) to obtain a residence permit. In addition, in 1999, the French Senate passed a law stating that a wounded soldier of the Foreign Legion has the right to obtain French citizenship at any time. Also, employees who have restored their surname and have the rank of corporal or sergeant have privileges - such legionnaires can get married.

Soldiers are provided with free food, clothing, medical care, housing and insurance. They also receive a salary and bonus depending on their length of service and rank. In the ranks of the legion are privates, corporals, junior sergeants, sergeants, senior sergeants and warrant officers, whose salaries are commensurate with the level of rank and range from approximately 1,000 euros for a private to more than 4,000 euros for a warrant officer. The military qualifications of employees also play a role.

How to join the legion

The main military forces of France recruit people regardless of gender. In contrast, the Foreign Legion has special selection criteria:

age 17-40 years;
exclusively male;
successfully passed psychological tests;
good physical health;
absence of marital ties up to and including divorce (for security purposes, to reduce the risk that a soldier will go to his family);
absence of problems with Interpol (previously, recruits were practically not checked for identity - except to find out their past; now, for security reasons, they are checked in this regard and find out the reasons that prompted them to apply).

At the same time, such factors as a strong physique (although those wishing to join the ranks of the legion are tested for physical fitness), knowledge of French or English, appearance and other details are not taken into account at all.

Initially, recruits sign a contract for five years, after which they can extend it for a period of six months to ten years. To join the officer corps, French citizenship is required, and the officers are mainly graduates of military schools, who later became French career soldiers who chose a foreign legion for further service. After leaving the legion, a former employee can change two letters in his last name, thus further protecting himself and his identity.

Who serves in the legion

There are quite a lot of people who want to serve in the legion. Various men of different nationalities, citizenships and religions are trying to become part of the military forces of France.

These people generally have a low level of education and problems with the law in their home countries, and thus try to provide for themselves and escape punishment at home, even exposing themselves to the extreme dangers that can be encountered during possible military operations. Of these, many are refugees from third world countries, who are prompted to join the legion by disaster, instability, the economic situation in their home country and the level of poverty. Such people are simply looking for a way out to obtain some kind of social guarantees and stability, and choose between joining illegal formation and service in the foreign legion, the latter. Most often they are embittered and unreliable, but the French military system allows them into the ranks of the legion.

Some employees also simply want to serve and bring the money they earn home. These are not necessarily people living below the poverty line, but simply those who come here to serve as a means of earning money. Some of them strive, in addition to the money they earn, to obtain a residence permit or citizenship of France, which gives many prospects in the future.

Many people really have a desire to take part in hostilities in the hottest military spots in the world, because they dream of war and getting combat adrenaline. Of these, some simply want to gain military glory, and some go to serve for ideological or political reasons - it is worth noting that it is precisely such servicemen who often become participants in war crimes.

After World War II, mostly Germans served in the ranks of the legion - their number reached up to 80% of the total. Now the situation has changed. For example, according to 2006 data, there are no more than 2% of Germans in the legion. Among the approximately 7.5 employees of the Foreign Legion:

a third come from Eastern European countries (with 40% of the total composition coming from the CIS),
a quarter are from South America,
and the fifth are French with new documents who are considered citizens of Canada, Belgium and other countries.