French Foreign Legion: history and modernity

The famous French military formation dates back to the distant 1831. King Louis Philippe, concerned about the influx of foreigners into France and the simultaneous need to colonize African lands in Algeria, found a successful solution that allowed him to kill 2 birds with one stone. He issued a decree on the formation of a military unit in which foreigners could serve, regardless of their country of origin. The "Foreign Legion" could only conduct military operations outside France. Recruits were promised forgiveness for any sins in their civilian life and, subject to impeccable service, they could receive the coveted French citizenship. The risk to life was compensated by a good salary. Germans, Italians and Swiss, who arrived in France for a better life, poured into the recruitment centers. The surviving veterans of the Napoleonic wars were appointed officers in the legion. Since then, there has been absolutely no conflict in which the Foreign Legion did not take part. He had to fight with the Russians only once - during the Crimean War.

Recent operations involving legionnaires have taken place in Lebanon, the Persian Gulf, Iraq, Somalia, Kosovo and Mali. Individuals who left a clear mark on world history served in the ranks of the Foreign Legion. Zinovy Peshkov, brother of the Bolshevik revolutionary Yakov Sverdlov, rose to high ranks there. The famous Soviet military leader Marshal Rodion Malinovsky also wore the uniform of the Foreign Legion. Of his contemporaries, the most famous legionnaire is, of course, the veteran French politician Jean-Marie Le Pen.

The history of the creation of the French Legion

The French Foreign Legion was founded by the King of France Louis-Philippe I of Orleans on March 9, 1831. The base of the military formation was the infantry and cavalry regiments that existed earlier. The legion was staffed primarily by foreign citizens of various nationalities. In August 1914, there were 42,883 people, who were representatives of 52 nations and nationalities. In 2009, about 7.5 thousand people from 136 countries of the world served in eleven regiments.

France needed additional military units as the colonization of Algeria was planned. In addition to military tasks, the foreign legion also helped to cope with internal issues. For example, the problem of overpopulation in the country and the reduction in the number of “undesirable” segments of the population, such as emigrants from the colonies and criminal elements, were solved. The king signed a decree on the use of the legion exclusively outside France.

Legion composition and motto

The leadership of the unit was created from officers of Napoleon's army. The soldiers were recruited from natives of Spain, Italy, Switzerland and residents of other European countries, as well as the French who had problems with the law. It was at this time that the tradition arose - not to ask the name of a new soldier.

The motto of the French Foreign Legion is: “The Legion is our Fatherland.” In order for the recruits to be more devoted to him, they are completely restricted from contact with the outside world for 5 years. After which the military formation itself becomes both home and family for the soldiers.

Red and green are the official colors of the legion. Red symbolizes blood and green represents France. When a unit is in combat, its pennant is hung red side up, signifying "Blood on the Country."

Legion uniform and symbols

Legionnaires can be easily recognized by the white headdress that ordinary soldiers have. The beret of the French Foreign Legion is green and is worn by all soldiers. Recruits and command staff alike wear the iconic Rangers boots. A grenade and seven flames are the formation's coat of arms. Symbols, awards and distinctive signs have not changed since their introduction and are still used today.

The French Foreign Legion uniform is divided into dress and dress uniforms. Both are gray in color and differ from each other only in that the front dress uses epaulettes and a blue fabric waist belt instead of shoulder straps.

A special feature of the unit is the official march, which is performed at attention, except when it is sung while marching. Another feature can be called the marching itself. Other army units walk at a speed of 120 steps per minute, but here it is only 88 steps. This is due to the fact that the legion often participated in military campaigns in African countries, where the places where units were deployed had sandy soil, which made movement difficult.

Life in the Foreign Legion

The first time a recruit signs a five-year contract immediately. Having served the term stipulated by the contract, you can bargain with military commanders regarding the duration of the next contract. The new name will be indicated on the document. Only one letter will remain from the old surname. The path of all recruits is the same ─ to the town of Castelnaudary, where they all undergo a “young fighter course” for 4 months. This is a tough test, accompanied by endless training, exercises and drills, the main goal of which is to force the young soldier to strictly obey his superiors and forget about his own individuality.

Added to the hardships and deprivations of military service is a complete ban on using one’s native language and attending family events. Funerals of relatives and all sorts of anniversaries will now be done without them. The legionnaires will also have to completely abandon the everyday customs they have been accustomed to since childhood. The strict methodology leads to the fact that by the end of the first year of service, all novice legionnaires cheerfully speak French and are completely assimilated into French society.

French legionnaires at the old French Fort Madame

The motto “Legion ─ our fatherland” actually turns into a new home and family. Regardless of marital status in civilian life, all recruits are registered as single. A strict ban is imposed on any gambling. Despite all the strict morals in a closed military community, hazing is completely absent there. The state compensates for restrictions on freedoms with wages that are quite modest by European standards. An ordinary person can count on only €1,400. During service in “hot spots”, payments increase to €3,600.

Due to the fact that in everyday life legionnaires simply do not have time for significant expenses, by the end of their service they have quite a decent amount accumulated in their accounts. After 3 years, all foreigners can expect to receive French citizenship. Injury during combat speeds up the process. They will have to serve 19 and a half years before receiving a French pension. Previously it was 15, but the trend towards increasing the retirement period has taken root in the brains of not only Putin and Medvedev. Nobody is forced to retire. You can serve as long as your strength allows you to stand on your feet with weapons in your hands. The profession of a soldier is still very dangerous. Over its long history, more than 600 thousand people served in the ranks of the legion. Of these, 36 thousand remained on the battlefields forever.

The rank and file of the Foreign Legion are distinguished from all other French military personnel by their white hats, shaped like saucepans, but this is a dress uniform. In combat zones, legionnaires wear green berets. The distinctive highlight of the uniform is the Rangers boots. Everyone wears them - generals and privates. At parades, the “Foreign Legion” is difficult to confuse with anyone. The pace of the march is 88 steps per minute, instead of the usual 120. This is a tribute to tradition. The first legionnaires marched on African sand, and it significantly slows down any movement.

French Foreign Legion

Do not think that life in the legion is absolutely devoid of joy. Legionnaires know how to celebrate. An invariable accompaniment of significant events is copious amounts of drinking, which has also become one of the traditions. Some legionnaires become so addicted to alcohol that this hobby creates big problems for them in retirement. Cameron has long been one of the most revered holidays in the Foreign Legion. On this day, officers bring breakfast to the enlisted men in bed, mop floors and clean toilets, and any young man can order them to do push-ups. Still, there is a sense in the short-term “landing” of the bosses.

After a year and a half of continuous exercises and training, the young fighter will have to smell gunpowder. Service in a “hot spot” lasts six months, after which you have to relax for several weeks at a resort. Then the relaxed soldiers are brought back to their senses by 2-3 months of intensive training. A business trip to the conflict zone follows again. Already in the first 5 years of service, a legionnaire will have to smell plenty of real gunpowder. Colleagues from NATO countries, if not to say that they are afraid of the soldiers of the “Foreign Legion”, considering them complete “scumbags,” then clearly pay a fair tribute to their rich combat experience. Their combat effectiveness is not questioned by anyone.

The Second Parachute Regiment, stationed in Corsica, is considered an elite part of the Foreign Legion, serving as a rapid reaction unit. Paratroopers are always the first to arrive on the battlefield. The strict constant drill in the regiment leads to the fact that traditionally they most often desert from it. In principle, any legionnaire has the right to terminate a contract at any time, but the fastest way is desertion, if there are no problems with the law.

French Foreign Legion

Deserters deprive themselves of a very important privilege - to be a member of the Foreign Legion veterans' clubs. In general, everyone is accepted there, even those who did not serve there, but not deserters. A retired legionnaire very often continues to work in private military companies. They are always ready to receive them with their hands and feet. Mutual assistance is a characteristic feature of all legion veterans. Ex-officers and corporals who have achieved success in business in retirement willingly hire less successful former colleagues.

For holders of Green Berets who are left without a home or family and want to simply relax in retirement, the Foreign Legion provides the right to live in a picturesque chateau for permanent memories of the years spent in the service. Little is known about the Russians who served in the Foreign Legion, although there are probably hundreds of them. Russian ex-legionnaires prefer not to write memoirs, which is a pity. They could certainly add more legends and truths to life.

Campaigns of the French Legion at the beginning of the 19th century

In the 19th century, the French Legion conducted eleven military campaigns in various countries.

Here is some of them:

From 1831 to 1882 there was a campaign called "French Algeria". About 35 thousand military personnel were sent to the territory of this state, and after half a century of battles the country was occupied by France.
From 1835 to 1839, the French army conducted a military campaign in Spain. She participates in the so-called Carlist War.
From 1853 to 1856, the legion took part in the Crimean War along with its allies - the British and Ottoman Empires, as well as the Kingdom of Sardinia - against Russia. In this campaign, the French killed the most, almost 100 thousand people.
In 1859, the legion took part in the Austro-Italian-French war, in which it was victorious, and the territories of the Kingdom of Sardinia were ceded to France.

Participation in wars that took place at the end of the 19th – beginning of the 20th centuries

In this list you should definitely pay attention to:

In 1861-1867, the French army and legionnaires intervened in Mexico. The Franco-Mexican War begins, which ends with the victory of the local government under the leadership of Benito Juarez.
From 1882 to 1907, the second Algerian campaign in South Oran lasted, in which the French legion took part.
In Vietnam (Tonkin), from 1883 to 1910, legionnaires of the French Foreign Legion participate in numerous military operations.
In 1885, a foreign force invades Taiwan - the so-called Formosa Campaign (one of the names of the island).
From 1892 to 1894, an occupation military operation was carried out in the kingdom of Dahomey (the current territory of Benin and Togo).
In Sudan, from 1893 to 1894, legionnaires took military action, which, among other things, resulted in the division of the country into two parts (Sudan and South Sudan).
From 1895 to 1901, foreign recruits fought on the island of Madagascar. After this, in 1897, the island became a French colony.

History of the Foreign Legion: 180 years in the service of France

The Legion survived three republics, two world wars, the decline of the French colonial empire and, finally, the loss of its homeland, which for more than 130 years was Algeria...

It all started with a decree of King Louis Philippe, issued on March 9, 1831. At that time, the situation in the French state was, to put it mildly, alarming. A huge number of very restless people - former soldiers of Napoleonic army, emigrant revolutionaries from Poland and Italy and simply rogues of unknown origin - wandered along the roads of the country and threatened the very fragile power of the new king. Most of these people knew how to handle weapons well, which made them even more dangerous. They formed gangs, wandered around wherever they could and seriously harassed respectable citizens.

At the same time, French expansion in North Africa was unfolding. Therefore, the authorities came up with a brilliant idea to kill two birds with one stone: to collect these former combatants and send them to fight outside the metropolis. Thus, the French army received significant reinforcement in the form of professional soldiers with real combat experience, and the country got rid of a huge number of “undesirable elements” that had no place in peaceful life anyway. Well, it’s clear that such recruits could be used as “cannon fodder” with a clear conscience, so the word “at all” did not pity them.

Banner of the Foreign Legion and its symbol

The decree specifically stated that new troops could only be used outside France.

The royal initiative went off with a bang, as they say. A huge number of yesterday's vagabonds and bandits, attracted by the possibility of free food, a roof over their heads and the prospect of obtaining citizenship, began to besiege recruiters. The new unit had one more advantage: recruits were not asked about their past; even the names of future soldiers were not of much interest to employers. This was the best fit for people who were in trouble with the law. Perhaps the stories about legionnaires who escaped to military service literally “from under” the guillotine are an exaggeration, but the fact that there were plenty of murderers and rapists in the early legion is a fact.

The newly formed unit was sent to Africa and there, to the surprise of many, performed very well. The newly minted legionnaires were distinguished by complete frostbite in battle and a fierce attitude towards the local residents, which, however, is not surprising, given such a personnel composition.

From then on it went on and on. The Foreign Legion participated in most of the colonial disputes that France waged throughout the 19th and first half of the 20th centuries. Legionnaires shed their blood on all continents, with the exception of Australia and Antarctica. They also participated in the suppression of the famous Paris Commune, thereby violating the decree of Louis Philippe. Then there was the Crimean War, the Battle of Alma and the siege of Sevastopol.

There are some really cool guys serving in the Legion.

The Legion fought in all the significant battles of the First World War, it was thrown into the thick of it: Verdun, Somme, Gallipoli. The losses among the legionnaires were enormous, but even greater was the flow of volunteers wishing to join the ranks of the unit.

During

Second World War

Due to the rapid capitulation of France, the legion was divided between the warring parties. Some of its fighters fought on the side of De Gaulle’s Free France, others joined the Allied forces, many legionnaires remained on French territory and supported the Vichy regime. After the end of the war, all surviving legionnaires, regardless of who they were, were readmitted to the unit. For politicians come and go, but the legion remains.

One of the most common “tales” about the Foreign Legion is the dominance of SS veterans in its ranks after the end of the war. This myth was especially loved in the Soviet Union. In fact, the leadership of the legion made a lot of efforts to prevent former SS men from infiltrating its ranks. In addition to the usual checks, a thorough search of the recruits’ bodies was practiced for tattoos characteristic of the SS troops. Although, it should be noted that in the post-war years there were indeed many Germans from Alsace in the unit.

Of the post-war conflicts in which the legion took part, the wars in Indochina and Algeria can be particularly highlighted. The colonial system was collapsing, and even the heroism of the legionnaires could not save France from defeat in both campaigns. She had to leave both Vietnam and Africa.

If we talk about modern times, the first serious conflict in which the Foreign Legion participated was the first Gulf War. The unit was part of the main French forces and showed its best side. The legionnaires, who had extensive experience in combat in the desert, acted brilliantly, suffering minimal losses during the campaign.

A legionnaire must instill terror in his enemies

Then there were the Balkan wars and

war in Afghanistan

, where the legion was located until 2012, and the war in Mali, which continues in a sluggish phase today. Nowadays, legionnaires not only perform combat work, but also participate in various humanitarian missions. Since its founding, the legion has participated in more than thirty major conflicts alone.

Military actions at the beginning of the 20th century

This period was marked by the following incidents:

From 1907 to 1914, the French Foreign Legion fought Spanish, British and German forces for possession of Moroccan territories. As a result, France became the owner of most of the Moroccan lands.
In the First World War of 1914-1918, the French military confronted the armies of Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The result of the war was the German and Austro-Hungarian surrender.
From 1914 to 1918, legionnaires took part in military clashes in the Middle East for influence in the region and defining new borders of the Ottoman Empire.
From 1914 to 1940, the forces of the formation occupied Tonkin (Vietnam), as well as parts of Laos and Cambodia. These territories were within the sphere of influence of France until the very beginning of World War II and were called French Indochina.
From 1920 to 1935, foreign legionnaires again invaded Morocco and expanded the territory of French possessions.
In Syria in 1925, a national liberation uprising against French troops begins. Initially, the Syrian rebels achieve success, but after the strengthening of military forces in 1927, the uprising is completely suppressed, and Syria practically becomes a colony of France.

Operations carried out in the mid-20th century

Among them, special attention should be paid to the following:

The French armed forces, including the Legion, took part in World War II from 1939 to 1945. They were part of the anti-Hitler coalition, but the French Vichy government was a puppet and completely dependent on Nazi Germany.

In the Indochina War, which lasted from 1945 to 1954, also known as the War of Resistance, Foreign Legion forces and the French regular army fought the Vietnamese to maintain their colonies.
From 1947 to 1950, the legion participated in the suppression of the Madagascar uprising, in which the people of Madagascar fought for independence from France. The performance was suppressed, and its participants were executed, sent to concentration camps and prisons.
From 1952 to 1954, the French armed forces and legionnaires suppressed the uprising and struggle for Tunisian independence. As a result, the Tunisians achieved independence from France in 1956.
The war for Moroccan sovereignty, which lasted from 1953 to 1956 between French troops, legionnaires and the Moroccan liberation army, ended in victory for the latter. And at the beginning of March 1956, liberation from the French invaders was proclaimed.

Campaigns of the French Legion at the end of the 20th century

Military units took part in the following conflicts:

From 1954 to 1961, the Algerian War of Independence lasted between French troops and Algerian rebels. Although the French were victorious, they had to recognize Algerian sovereignty for economic and political reasons.
In 1978, the legion took part in military clashes in Zaire against the National Liberation Front. The French troops were victorious.
From 1982 to 1983, legionnaires were involved in military operations in Lebanon during the First Lebanon War.

In 1991, the French Foreign Legion was among the invaders of Al-Salman Airport in Iraq. This is one of the episodes of the Gulf War, which was launched by the United States.

From 1992 to 1996, units of the foreign legion were involved in the so-called UN peacekeeping operations in Somalia and Bosnia. As a result, the civil war in Somalia only intensified and acquired even greater proportions, and UN forces had to admit their inability to resolve the conflict. In Bosnia, NATO forces and legionnaires supported the genocide of the Serbs, which was carried out by Bosnian Muslims (Bosniaks). The result of these events was the death of about 110 thousand people.

History and modernity of the French Foreign Legion

Training, tactics, weapons and combat path of unusual soldiers of the Fifth Republic

The term “legion” comes from the Latin term lex - “law”, according to another version from the word lego - to gather troops. The word "legion" in Ancient Rome meant a military formation of 4500–5000 heavily armed warriors, who were assigned auxiliary units. The entire army of Ancient Rome consisted of legions that successfully fought against their neighbors and opponents. The modern Foreign Legion maintains the military culture of the ancient Roman army. Its mottos are “Loyalty and Honor”, “The Legion is our Motherland” and “The Legion is Brotherhood”. The Legion professes the principles of brotherhood, camaraderie and internationalism. He inherited these principles from the army of revolutionary France, which later became the Napoleonic army.

The French Foreign Legion was created in 1830 in France by King Louis Philippe of Orleans (Bourbon dynasty) from officers - supporters of the Bourbons and former Napoleonic soldiers and officers, participants in the Napoleonic wars against Russia and Europe.

It should be noted that before the creation of the French Foreign Legion at the end of the 18th century, Polish legions were created in Italy. These units consisted of Polish emigrants who had previously been defeated by Field Marshal Alexander Suvorov and his troops in Poland and fled to Italy, where they joined the French army, from which two legions were formed. Subsequently, these legions were disbanded, their soldiers and officers became part of the Poniatowski Corps of Napoleon's army. The Polish legions fought well and proved themselves to be the best, this fact influenced the decision of Louis Philippe of Orleans, the founding father of the Foreign Legion.

After the Napoleonic Wars, France accumulated many foreign nationals with military experience who needed to be put to use. There was another goal. The idea of the great Roman Empire, its military-political power, its famous legions did not leave the heads of French politicians. What was needed was a military force that could successfully implement their plans abroad and within the country, and it was desirable that this force unit consist of professionals who were not morally connected with the French nation, but fought exclusively for military fees (salary plus bonuses). Louis Philippe d'Orleans saw in the created legion a personal guard of soldiers with combat experience who were ready to fight for him.

The first soldiers who made up the French Legion were French from Napoleon's army, Italians from the Italian army of Eugene Beauharnais and Poles from Poniatowski's corps.

The French Legion is one of the oldest military units in the world, one of the most combative and famous. Although there are other equally old units, combative and famous. For example, the British Royal Guard, the American Marines, the Russian Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky regiments.

The Russian army once fought against the legion during the Crimean War of 1854–1856. Two regiments of the legion took part in the battles near Sevastopol and the Battle of the Alma River. Our troops fought bravely, the legionnaires suffered losses. Nevertheless, on the banners of the legion there is an honorary inscription “For Sevastopol.”

Combat structure

Since 1830, the structure of the legion has changed several times in accordance with the requirements of the time, the economic and political situation in France, the nature of wars, changes in strategy and tactics, and improvements in weapons and equipment.

Legionnaires train under harsh conditions. Photo from www.legion-etrangere.com

The modern legion is actually a combined arms division, which includes 4 infantry regiments, of which 1 training regiment, 1 infantry semi-brigade, 2 engineer regiments, 1 armored cavalry regiment, 1 special purpose parachute regiment and 1 naval special forces detachment trained in landing techniques air, from the sea on boats and from under water using scuba gear. The Legion has its own tanks and includes about 8,000 professional fighters.

A legion is not an ordinary military unit, but a special-purpose operational military unit. All of its soldiers and officers, with the exception of sworn recruits, were baptized by fire and participated in military clashes and local conflicts, mainly in North Africa, the Middle East and Afghanistan. Moreover, the legion was involved in military conflicts by the French General Staff as part of a rapid response. The purpose of the legion was reflected in its use and tactics, the legion is an assault military unit, although it was successfully used in anti-terrorist operations. The legion and its fighters gained their counter-insurgency experience in battles in North Africa, especially in Algeria during the liberation war of the Algerian people, and in assault in Vietnam during the liberation war of the Vietnamese people.

Of greatest interest is the 2nd Parachute Regiment, created in 1948. In terms of structure and tasks, this is a special-purpose military unit, and not an ordinary parachute regiment; it consists of seven companies, each of which has its own goals, tasks and special training:

a) headquarters company - administration and support company or regiment control company;

b) command and logistics company - provision, food, ammunition, fuel, supply organization;

c) the 1st company specializes in night operations, urban combat and anti-tank warfare;

d) The 2nd company specializes in mountain operations. Its fighters are trained in downhill skiing with weapons and the use of mountaineering equipment. The fighters are proficient in mountain landing techniques. Each is qualified as a “military mountaineer”;

e) The 3rd company specializes in amphibious operations. Its fighters are divided into scuba divers who have sabotage skills, and mechanics who control sabotage and landing motor boats. All fighters are proficient in the technique of parachute landing;

e) 4th reconnaissance company. It includes demolitionists, snipers and a commando platoon that uses a parachute - a wing for slow jumps and covert landings. The company's mission is anti-terrorism, intelligence gathering, sabotage operations, hostage release;

g) 5th technical support company.

The regiment gained significant experience in counter-insurgency operations in Algeria and Vietnam, participated in the famous battle of Dien Bien Phu, and demonstrated resilience and high military qualities.

When forming the regiment, the legion's command took into account the structure of the British Special Airborne Service in order to increase the efficiency of the regiment's operations and turn it into a part of special forces.

National composition

Today, representatives of more than 100 nations serve in the legion. They communicate in French - this is the language of the Legion. Quite a few legionnaires also speak Russian. Firstly, our compatriots, secondly, some people from Slavic countries and sometimes the French. Representatives of those nations that stood at the origins of the legion - the French, Italians, Poles - have an unspoken prerogative when entering the legion. The Legion is under the tutelage of the Catholic Church.

Arabs are in a special position. They mainly come from countries of former French colonies and, as native speakers of French, have a privileged right to enter the legion. In addition, they are native speakers of the Arabic language, culture and traditions of Islam. The Legion conducts combat operations in the Middle East, they act as translators and specialists in local culture if support from the population is needed. In addition, legionnaires are good warriors.

The fact of attracting Arabs to the legions took place back in the Roman Empire. One of the legionnaires, an Arab by birth, became a Roman emperor. This is Philip the Arab. The legion also includes representatives of the peoples of the Far East - China, Japan, Thailand.

Officers

At the head of the legion is a general of the French army, he is an officer with combat experience, he is the father of the legion, an exemplary legionnaire and the link with the French General Staff, which sends the legion’s fighters to combat operations. Personal acquaintance with the general occurs when taking the military oath. Looking at his photograph, you see a gallant officer with solid combat experience and serious experience in commanding military units. It is clear from his bearing that he is the best legionnaire of the legion and its pride.

The officers of the legion are French, graduates of the Saint-Cyr Military School. A small number of foreigners in the process of service, for military merits and achievements, command inclinations, military awards, military achievements and ranks received during combat operations, receive the right to take an officer course and become an officer of the legion. Of course, these are those who served for at least seven years and received the right to French citizenship.

Legion sergeants and corporals are recruited from ordinary legionnaires with combat experience and must have command aptitude and merit.

Nutrition

Of course, food in the legion is prepared taking into account the gastronomic traditions of France and its army. In the morning they give you cocoa and baguette. Lunch is quite decent - first, second, third. The food at the recruiting station is quite tasty. They give you cans of beer and Coca-Cola. A warrior must eat well.

The legion's cook is a master of the highest category. Products for legionnaires are purchased of very high quality, including delicacies. On Catholic holidays, the chef prepares the best dishes that are served in elite French restaurants.

At other times, legionnaires visit restaurants. They earn their living by protecting French interests. By the way, feasts and elite food are traditions of the army of Ancient Rome, which are observed in the legion, as opposed to the army of Ancient Sparta, which became famous for its meager nutrition and became a model of the harsh education of warriors.

Parade on the Champs-Elysees, legionnaires in traditional white caps march in a solemn march. Photo from www.legion-etrangere.com

Selection

The Legion is a Catholic organization; it has its own bishop, who participates in the military ceremonies of the Legion. The command of the legion ensures that the legion has a certain percentage of people from different countries. This takes into account religion, language, citizenship, and country of origin. The Slavs account for approximately 20% of the total number of legionnaires.

When selecting for the legion, physical, moral, and intellectual indicators are taken into account. All legionnaires are taller than 180 cm, have a strong physique and look like fighters of an elite unit with solid service experience. The Legion pays considerable attention to military bearing, which serves as an advertisement for the recruitment of new fighters.

During the selection process for the Legion, recruits undergo a series of physical and mental examinations. Physical exams: shuttle running, pull-ups, push-ups, rope climbing. Intellectual exams: according to the system of psychometric school exams and Eysenck tests for knowledge of physics, mechanics and mathematics.

Punishments

Punishments can be physical or financial. There can be no material penalties until the oath is taken and the first salaries are received. The new recruit may face physical punishment. For any reason, push-ups can be prescribed from 30 to 50 times.

Weapon

Weapons are divided into personal weapons and weapons of the unit in which the legionnaire serves. Legionnaires are armed with the FAMAS assault rifle. Legion special forces use it with a silencer. According to weapons experts, this is an extremely poor weapon and, at best, is suitable for police operations if used in the city. Recently, the legion has been rearming with the German HK416 rifle, which in design resembles the American M16. The snipers are armed with the American Barrett M82 sniper rifle, which has proven itself in military conflicts. Legionnaires are armed with Belgian FNMAG and FNMinimi machine guns and a French AA52 machine gun.

To combat tanks, legionnaires use Milan ATGMs. During classes at the legion, weapons and weapons of the countries of the former Soviet bloc are studied in case of their capture and use.

The legion's armored vehicles, the AMX-10P infantry fighting vehicle, resembles our infantry fighting vehicle, the AMX-10RC wheeled tank, armed with a 105 mm cannon, and the VAB wheeled armored personnel carrier resembles our BRDM. The legion's armored vehicles are somewhat outdated, but are quite suitable for local conflicts.

During combat operations, the legion is covered by combat helicopters and aircraft of the French army.

Russians

Russians appeared en masse in the legion after the Russian Civil War and the evacuation of General Wrangel’s army from Crimea in 1921. However, some emigrants fought as part of the legion already in the First World War. For example, Zinoviy Peshkov, an emigrant from Russia, fought bravely during this period as part of the legion, received awards for bravery and became a battalion commander, and later a corps general in the French army.

According to some reports, after 1921, more than 10 thousand White Guards, including generals and officers, served in the legion. All of them were demoted in rank and began their combat career as ordinary legionnaires. The most famous of them are Colonel F.I. Eliseev, who became the commander of a machine gun platoon, and Lieutenant General B.R. Khreschatinsky, who became a lieutenant of the legion.

Soviet Russians began serving in the Foreign Legion in the 1950s, when some Soviet soldiers were sent to serve in Africa and fulfill international duty. Having been captured by the Belgians and having escaped from them to a French African colony, they, on an offer that could not be refused, enlisted in the Foreign Legion and served in it along with former Wehrmacht and SS soldiers.

After the collapse of the USSR and the destabilization of the Soviet economy, many of our compatriots were recruited into the legion and went through the military path in it.

Oath

A ceremonial event that takes place after the successful completion of a course by legionnaire recruits at the training unit in Castelnaudary. In the presence of the legion command, legionnaire recruits, holding lighted torches, in full dress, pronounce words of allegiance to the Foreign Legion. From this moment on, they are full-fledged fighters of the legion. They are sent to military units to serve and master a military specialty.

Physical and combat training

At the stage of physical fitness exams, it is necessary to do at least 10 pull-ups, quickly and well perform shuttle running exercises, do push-ups at least 50 times and climb a rope. After being accepted into the training unit for a young fighter course in Castelnaudary, physical activity increases. According to the legion's fighters, the running distance averages up to 15 km per day. Forced marches are carried out with full combat gear over rough terrain, combat training, which requires good performance, and overcoming an obstacle course, which is considered one of the most difficult and long and the best among military units of various countries. Upon completion of the general training unit, each legionnaire masters his own military specialty - miner, mechanic, scuba diver, sniper, reconnaissance commando, ATGM shooter, tank driver, gunner. Legionnaires train in various combat training centers, and they must demonstrate high performance in exams.

Legionnaires' camouflage field uniform, insignia of the French army, headdress - green beret, dress uniform headdress - white cap, green epaulettes with red fringe, green tie, blue belt and aiguillette, dress uniform outwardly resembles our military uniform in cut, it is cream colored (coffee with milk).

Legion in modern times

Today, legionnaires - both officers and soldiers - participate in counterinsurgency operations and combat in populated areas in North Africa, the Middle East and Afghanistan. The legion's operations are successful, increasing its reputation as an elite military unit. A legion is an operational unit combining different types of troops - infantry, engineering troops, armored forces, naval and ground special forces and parachute units, equal to a division. This contributes to the success of its operations in local wars. If necessary, by order of the legion command, one unit comes to the aid of another, and subordination to the French General Staff contributes to the successful provision of reconnaissance and air support to the legion. We can say that the French Legion is 100 percent ready for battle. He is distinguished by good training and high military cohesion.

At the present stage, PMCs operate in the Russian Federation. PMC fighters are poorly armed, often with low-quality small arms, with different levels of training, without armored vehicles, without state-of-the-art communications and electronic warfare equipment, without their own aviation cover, often without sufficient reconnaissance they go on combat operations and suffer combat losses. PMC units are tactical units led by senior officers. Due to the lack of an operational structure, these units cannot carry out combat missions effectively.

Maybe it makes sense to create a Russian foreign legion led by a general, who will select the best fighters for service, interact with the General Staff of the Russian Federation and be used exclusively for foreign operations. After all, in the Russian Federation there is an operational division of the Russian Guard named after. Dzerzhinsky, which has a special purpose - counter-insurgency operations and maintaining public order within the Russian Federation. There are the Tamanskaya and Kantemirovskaya divisions, whose purpose is combined arms combat. In the army of the Byzantine Empire there was a Slavic theme - a territorial legion, which consisted of Slavs, was based in Northern Greece and worked well.

The Russian army has experience creating legions. They were first formed in 1769 to fight in the war against the Turks and included grenadiers, musketeers, Cossacks, hussars and artillery. They were called Moscow and St. Petersburg. The number is about 6 thousand people each. They performed well. And the St. Petersburg Legion took part in the war with the Polish Confederates. During the Crimean War of 1854–1856, the Greek Legion, consisting of Greek volunteers, who performed admirably in the defense of Sevastopol, fought on the side of the Russian army.

Modern Russia and its army need units that specialize in protecting the interests of the Russian Federation abroad, because it has many allies and friends. And military conflicts may occur in allied countries, the resolution of which requires rapid response operational units with knowledge of language and traditions.

Alexey Vasiliev

Alexey Alekseevich Vasiliev is an independent journalist.

Participation in hostilities dating back to the end of the 20th – beginning of the 21st century

And here are the most modern combat campaigns:

Another “glorious” campaign of the legionnaires was participation in 1999 in the NATO military operation called “Allied Force”. During its course, NATO troops bombed Yugoslavia and killed about 4 thousand people, including 400 children and approximately 2 thousand civilians. In fact, the legion was a participant in illegal military actions, since the UN did not issue a mandate to conduct an operation on the territory of Yugoslavia.

In 2013, the French Foreign Legion fought in combat operations in the African country of Mali.
Since 2016, the legion has been used as an auxiliary force for the Iraqi regular army in Iraq. The war that the United States started with its allies in 2003, after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, spilled over into a civilian channel. Numerous terrorist groups have also emerged fighting against the Iraqi army. During the war, according to the United States, about 95 thousand Iraqis died, however, according to some other sources, the death toll exceeded one million people.

The history of the French Foreign Legion shows that, setting itself good goals to protect France and save the French in other territories, the legion actually turned into ordinary mercenaries, to whom morality and common sense are alien. It is mainly used for military aggression and suppression of various liberation movements.

French Legion. How to get?

If all of the above does not remove the question of how to get into the French Legion, then first of all you need to apply for a visa yourself and come to one of the reception points. Recruitment points for recruits are located in the following cities:

Paris.
Lille.
Strasbourg.
Nantes.
Aubagne.
Lyon.
Bordeaux.
Nice.
Marseilles.
Toulouse.
Perpignan.

Anyone who wants to become a legionnaire can contact any of these centers around the clock throughout the week, as they work seven days a week.

However, not everyone will be accepted into the French Legion, as there are strict rules and selection criteria. Only men aged from 18 to 40 years old, physically strong, prepared for service and having a valid passport are accepted there. Newcomers undergo a medical examination and interview in Paris, and then, if the candidate passes the initial selection, the main competition awaits him at the base located in the city of Aubagne.

How to get into the foreign legion

Anyone wishing to connect their life with the Foreign Legion must get to one of the recruitment points. Age gradation can be from 17.5 to 40 years. There are only ten points, but they work around the clock. They don’t ask unnecessary questions, immediately isolating the potential recruit from the outside world. While the check is underway, which can take up to 2 weeks, future recruits are being closely watched. Previously, few people were interested in the past of legionnaires. Criminals and even murderers wanted in their homeland could serve in it, which created a lasting disrepute for the Foreign Legion.

Now, during the inspection, requests must be sent to Interpol. The presence of the applicant's name on the wanted list is the main obstacle to service. They also don’t like people involved in drug trafficking and former drug addicts. In a completely tolerant Europe, it is impossible for people with non-traditional sexual orientation to enter the legion. Following unofficial guidelines, recently it has been virtually impossible for people from Muslim countries to get into it. This is due to the fact that recently there has been a strong tendency to participate in hostilities in territories where Islam dominates. Several Foreign Legion veterans ended up serving ISIS. France does not want to transfer combat skills to terrorists.

The medical commission screens out patients with cancer, tuberculosis, diabetes, the deaf, the blind, and those with mental disabilities. Hepatitis also puts an end to a military career. A medical examination will definitely reveal tattoos. Taboo: images of naked women and swastikas. Doctors measure body index. The legion does not need skinny and obese young soldiers.

Legionnaires during physical training

The recruit must pass a physical fitness test. It's pretty simple. You need to do 7 pull-ups on the bar, pass an aerobic endurance test, and swim 25 meters in the pool. The level of education does not matter. The exception is medical professionals. They are beyond competition. However, based on the selection results, less than half of those who arrived at the point can sign a contract. The rest will be given a written refusal and compensated for the time spent at the recruiting station at the rate of €30 per day.

Selection

There are several tests for those who want to become a legionnaire. These are medical, sports and psychotechnical.

The medical test includes:

Dental conditions – healthy teeth, number of removed teeth – no more than six.

Surgical and general medical criteria – the absence of any serious diseases or their complete cure, documented; availability of medical certificates and medical records indicating full physical health.

The series of sports checks includes:

Shuttle running, accompanied by sound effects - from seven approaches, six times 20 meters.

Pull-ups on the bar – from four times.

Climbing a rope to a height of more than five meters.

Strength exercises for the abs, performed 40 times or more.

Psychotechnical tests are:

Various tasks to test memory, logical thinking and attention.

Particular attention is paid to the past life of a possible recruit, so a detailed interview is carried out.

Based on the test results, a decision is made on whether the recruit will enter service in the legion or whether he will be eliminated. If the decision is positive, a five-year contract is signed with the newcomer, and he is awarded the title of legionnaire. He is also issued an “anonymous card” - a kind of passport in which the last name, first name, place, date of birth and information about the parents have been changed.

French Foreign Legion - a force for peace

The French Foreign Legion was created on March 9, 1831, in accordance with the decree of King Louis Philippe d'Orléans. Then, for the first time, seven battalions went to conquer Algeria.

At the same time, the Legion was prohibited from serving on French territory due to the fact that it included emigrants - participants in the Polish and Italian uprisings, fighters of the foreign troops of Napoleon I, as well as mercenaries of Charles X. Thus, the king wanted to get rid of those potentially dangerous to the existing regime foreign warriors, while at the same time strengthening French expansion in North African territories.

The content of the article

French Foreign Legion today

Currently, 7,699 legionnaires come from 136 countries , not excluding France itself. All legionnaires are formed into 11 regiments and, depending on rank, are divided into:

Officers - 413 people,
Non-commissioned officers - 1741 people,
Privates - 5545 people.

Legionnaires are located geographically both in France itself (internal operations, exercises and maneuvers are carried out here) and in other countries and territories of the world.

These are the Antilles, New Caledonia, Guiana, Reunion, Mayotte and other territories where external operations of the Legion can take place.

The external operations of the French Legion include restoring or maintaining peace, riot control, military mediation and other tasks assigned to the legionnaires by the French Government.

Today, Legion regiments are deployed in the territories of Afghanistan, Guiana, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti and other places where French foreign policy requires it.

How to get into the foreign legion?

In order to try to enroll in the Legion, you need to apply for a visa yourself and travel to France at your own expense. Reception points for potential recruits are available in the following cities:

Paris, which also includes Lille, Nantes and Strasbourg,
Aubagne, which includes Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Perpignan and Toulouse.

These recruitment centers operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Requirements and conditions for recruitment into the legion

between the ages of 18 and 40 , who are physically prepared for military service and have a valid passport, have a chance to join the French Foreign Legion

Primary selection - an interview and medical examination are carried out in Paris, then, if the recruit passes, he awaits the main selection round at the base in the city of Aubagne.

Here you need to go through 3 selection stages:

1.Medical examination , which includes:

Dental requirements – healthy or cured teeth, number of missing teeth – no more than 4-6;
General medical and surgical requirements: absence of serious diseases or confirmation of their complete cure, medical records and certificates confirming good health, etc.

2. Sports tests:

Shuttle running with sound signals: at least 7 approaches, in which you need to run 6 times 20 meters each (Luc-Leger test),
Pull-ups on the bar - at least 4 times,
Climbing on a 5 meter long rope,
Abdominal exercises – at least 40 times.

3. Psychotechnical tests , including tasks for memory, attention, logical thinking, and questions will also be asked about the recruit’s past.

As a result of the selection, the recruit will be offered a five-year contract , after signing which he will be awarded the rank of legionnaire.

Also, after concluding a contract, the newly minted legionnaire is issued an “anonymous document” - a document with a changed name, surname, date and place of birth.

After a year of service, you can submit an application and, if accepted, continue to serve under your last name.

What is the salary in the French Foreign Legion?

All employees of the French Foreign Legion, from ordinary legionnaires to corporals inclusive (service period from 2 to 4 years) are fully provided with food, clothing and housing . Plus, new recruits receive a salary of 1043 Euros.

Also, each legionnaire has the right to vacation - 45 working days a year.

Examples of minimum and maximum salaries in the Legion

Rank	Length of service	Minimum salary	Maximum salary*
Legionary	10 months	1205 €	3567 €
Corporal	3 years	1226 €	3626 €
Chief Corporal	10 years	1303 €	3939 €
Sergeant	7 years	1351 €	3929 €
Sergeant Chief	10 years	1779 €	4186 €
Adjudant	17 years	2007 €	4748 €
Adjudant-chef	21 years old	2078 €	4818 €

The maximum salary depends on the allowance for service as a paratrooper, the allowance for service in the overseas department and the surcharge for staying abroad.

In addition, compensation payments are added to the additional payments. Legionnaires' benefits also include their right to obtain French citizenship upon completion of three years of service. After 15 years of service, legionnaires receive a lifetime pension of 1000 Euros.

Career in the French Legion

If a recruit has the qualities of hard work, dedication, motivation and military service ability, he has an excellent opportunity to advance in the military.

Promotion is not dependent on professional success in civilian life or on education, promotion is based solely on merit, military and/or technical success during service.

According to Legion statistics, every fourth legionnaire reaches the rank of non-commissioned officer.

Typically, a recruit serves in the rank of legionnaire from 1 to 6 years, and after 2 years of service he can be promoted to corporal.

After receiving the rank of corporal or corporal chief, after 3 years of service you can achieve the rank of sergeant. After serving 3 years in the rank of sergeant, you can expect to receive the rank of sergeant chief, then adjuntant and, finally, adjuntant chief.

After 4 years of service with the rank of adjunct chief, you can be elected to receive the highest rank in the Legion - major. This is the chief non-commissioned officer who is appointed by the command or wins as a result of a competition.

For more than 170 years of its existence, the Legion's regiments have participated in a variety of operations around the world, and the French Foreign Legion itself has turned from a gang of thugs into an elite unit, where the best representatives of many countries of the world strive to join.

Source

Other nuances

The ranks of the French Foreign Legion are no different from those of other French troops. They are divided into three compositions - privates, non-commissioned officers and officers.

The ordinary ones include:

Legionnaire 2nd class.
Legionnaire 1st class.
Cpl.
Corporal Chief.

Non-commissioned officers include:

Sergeant.
Sergeant Chief.
Adjutant.
Adjutant Chief.
Major.

The officers are:

Postgraduate student.
Ensign.
Lieutenant.
Captain.
Major.
Lieutenant colonel.
Colonel.

While serving in the legion, the entire composition is fully provided with food, accommodation and clothing for a period of two to four years. In addition, recruits are paid a salary of 1,043 euros. Each legionnaire has the right to leave for 45 days once a year. The minimum and maximum salaries of the French Legion differ significantly, influenced by both rank and length of service.

The salary in the French Legion for ordinary soldiers and junior officers ranges from 1205 to 4186 euros, and for officers the salary is 4850-9000 euros. Plus various bonuses for individual military operations and military merits. After 15 years of service, a pension equal to 1000 euros is paid, which is for life.

Legion in our time

The main activities of the legion today are the following:

It is used on all continents. First of all, it carries out the tasks set by the French state to protect economic and geopolitical interests.
The formation often participates in various NATO operations - humanitarian, military and peacekeeping. Just as during the founding of the legion, its employees are subordinate only to the supreme commander-in-chief, now the President of France.
Legionnaires are present in countries such as Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo. Under the auspices of the UN and NATO, they try to maintain peace in these countries, but periodically engage in military clashes with various military formations.
In 2004, the legion took part in a humanitarian mission and helped restore the infrastructure of those countries that suffered from the devastating tsunami in Southeast Asia.

French Foreign Legion

Now the national composition of the Foreign Legion has changed somewhat. The former dominance of the Germans came to an end long ago. Most of the rank and file in his ranks were born in Eastern Europe. In second place in terms of representation is Latin America. The French themselves make up no more than 1/5 of the entire composition. In total, to date, representatives of 150 nationalities of the world have expressed a desire to serve France. Now the strength of the Foreign Legion is 8,900 military personnel, distributed among 7 regiments. There was a time when it reached the size of a good army ─ 40,000 soldiers.

French Foreign Legion

The special status of the formation is that it reports directly to the president of the republic. From the point of view of the military branches, the legion has infantry, tank and parachute units. They are deployed not only in France, but also in its overseas territories ─ Corsica, Mururoa Atoll, Comoros, United Arab Emirates and French Guiana.

French Foreign Legion: history and modernity

The history of the creation of the French Legion

Legion composition and motto

Legion uniform and symbols

Life in the Foreign Legion

Campaigns of the French Legion at the beginning of the 19th century

Participation in wars that took place at the end of the 19th – beginning of the 20th centuries

History of the Foreign Legion: 180 years in the service of France

Military actions at the beginning of the 20th century

Operations carried out in the mid-20th century

Campaigns of the French Legion at the end of the 20th century

History and modernity of the French Foreign Legion

Participation in hostilities dating back to the end of the 20th – beginning of the 21st century

French Legion. How to get?

How to get into the foreign legion

Selection

French Foreign Legion - a force for peace

French Foreign Legion today

How to get into the foreign legion?

Requirements and conditions for recruitment into the legion

What is the salary in the French Foreign Legion?

Career in the French Legion

Other nuances

Top 10 most asked questions about the French Legion.

Why did you leave the French Legion?

Why did you decide to join the French Legion?

How did you find out about the French Legion?

How's it going in the Foreign Legion?

And, in general, how is it in France?

Did I get what I wanted from my trip?

How did you prepare to join the Legion?

Why weren't you accepted into the Legion the first time?

Will I be accepted into the Legion with poor eyesight/bad heel/sclerosis, etc.?

What's your next adventure?

Legion in our time

French Foreign Legion