The French Foreign Legion
The story behind one of the best military units in the world dates back to the 1830s
And a period after the French July revolution and the rise of King Louis Philippe of the House of Orleans
One of the Kings first tasks was to disband the mercenaries of the Swiss Guard and the regiment of HO and lo in no time
Paris was crawling with Swiss and German
troublemaking
ex-soldiers the beginning of the French campaign in Algeria seemed to be a solution if these veterans were deployed to northern Africa as
Reinforcements they would be far from the capital
From the point of view of the King their lives were not as important as the lives of French soldiers
So they were perfect for Algeria
on March 9
1831 King Louis Philippe signed the ordinance on forming a military formation for service outside France the Lygia
etosha or Foreign Legion
French citizens were forbidden to join the unit as
Speed was of great importance recruits were not obliged to present their papers in order to enlist into the Legion
No questions were asked. So the Legion became a melting pot of ex mercenaries criminals and desperate colonists
They were all shipped to Algeria which became the cradle of the Foreign Legion
for almost two centuries
the French Foreign Legion has been the striking force of French colonization from Algiers to Indochina and from France to
Madagascar
discipline of the Legion
The French Foreign Legion is a distinctive unit of the French army to this day their bravery
Determination and strict discipline as values for which they are known for are based on the Legionnaires code of honor
when they enlist the code asks for honor and fidelity followed by comradeship discipline and courage every
Legion heir is demanded to respect the traditions of the Legion to train rigorously and put his mission above anything else even
His own life. There are over a hundred and 40 nationalities mainly from Central and Eastern Europe. And then Asia and South America
and with men from all different backgrounds races
Religion social class and political views a strong esprit de corps is needed
Upon joining recruits swear allegiance to the Legion rather than to France
Something that is unique within the French military and for a Legionnaire surrender is not an option
In combat Allegiant Air has to respect the enemy
He has defeated never leave his arms and never leave wounded or dead comrades on the battlefield
After three years of service a Legionnaire can get french citizenship
and as part of the fronts a pilot a son got a seat or
French by spilled blood if a Legionnaire is injured in combat
He can immediately apply to become a French citizen the strict discipline of the Legion became a solid
Tradition and was a necessity in handling the diversity of enlisted soldiers during its history
the Legion gathered various types of people from around the world
Those who enlisted to join the Legion were not asked about their past lives
But were given the opportunity to build a new life by serving in such a manner the Legion gathered many men with suspicious past
After the Second World War the controversy of such an approach increased as the Legion became the sanctuary for many ex German soldiers
It is said that many vafan SS were recruited
However bad press soon followed this and new recruits were inspected for a blood type tattoo or the scar where they tried to hide it
The truth was that many of the Legionnaires were criminals thieves and murderers
Running away from the law. But many others were just adventures or desperate men who seek tannu life
Intense training and strict discipline are the basis to overcoming the problematic behavior of individuals
Legionnaire training is designed to destroy each soldier's individuality and past and form a sense of calm rad
It was because of this that the French Foreign Legion is one of the fiercest military units in history
Uniform
distinguished by their discipline and valor Legionnaires also look different than that of the rest of the French army since
1873 the symbol of the Foreign Legion is the seven flame grenade the typical attributes of the Legion has the leftmost and rightmost
flame pointed downwards
Contrary to the rest of the army
The seven flame grenade also stands as a symbol on the red and green flag of the Legion
Red and green are traditional colors of the Legion carrying the tradition of the second four Allegiant the Swiss Legion
Swiss mercenaries carried flags with these colors and brought them along when they joined the Legion and formed the second Battalion in
1856 along with the Swiss the Legion adopted their colors as well
with several distinctive details
The uniform of the Legion is represented of their history and tradition
The oldest element of the Legion uniforms were the buttons which were defined by the Royal ordnance from 1831
According to this the buttons were golden yellow and have the inscription lesion at tanja
However, the most distinctive feature of the Legionnaires uniform was the white Pepe. Nella. Kepi Blanc
Pepe's were actually blue with a red top and used to be covered with a khaki cover but due to sun exposure
They turned white
From 1939 the Legion started to use a white cover for their kept ease while khaki covers remained in use for training until the 1970s
White cover copies were being worn on guard duty during military ceremonies or as part of the walking out uniform
There are several variants of the Legion air
Kepi a white kepi with a black strap is the standard water while the white kepi with a golden strap is reserved for senior corporals
And a silver strap for senior corporals of the cavalry
Senior corporals with more than 15 years of service and noncommissioned officers wore black cap ease with a golden strap
Pepe's are worn both with dress and combat uniforms other distinctive features were a blue sash
Red and green epaulets a green necktie and a green beret
The Placentia a blue the blue sash worn by Legionnaires around their waist had a practical role in the past
It was worn under the uniform and served to protect from intestinal diseases and the coal African nights
Eventually, the blue sash became a matter of ceremonial decoration and started to be worn on top of the uniform in
1882 the Legion obtained a blue sash which was worn only on parades
The sash is 40 centimetres wide and four point two meters long
Epaulets became part of the Legionnaires uniform in 1868
Exclusively Legionnaire epaulets are in the traditional colours consisting of a green field and red fringes below the epaulette on the Left sleeve
Stands a diamond-shaped Legion insignia the seven flame grenade around which are tree green Chevron's
Three chevrons were used by the French army of Africa
Which the Foreign Legion was a part of on?
The uniform golden Chevron's represented the years of service in the Legion for every five years of service
The Legion air adds one chevron to his emblem in the French army
Only Legionnaires have the right to add as many Chevron's as they have earned unlike others who were allowed to have up to three chevrons
Since green is the dominant color in Legion symbols
That's also the color of the necktie that is a part of the parade dress
Since the Foreign Legion is an exclusive unit of the French army. They are the only unit of the army that wears green neckties
Another headdress is the green beret
Liubao de ver has more modern origins as it first appeared among Legion paratroopers during the Indochina war
In 1959, it became a standard part of the uniform for all Legionnaires
The beret has worn bent to the left with a seven flames grenade badge on the right
Even though Green Berets are reserved for the Legion French naval commandos wear it as well. But with the badge on the opposite side
Another recognizable element of the Legion air uniform is connected to the sapper unit of the Legion in addition to the standard uniform
Legion pian years or sappers are obliged to have large beards and wear model
1848 buffalo leather aprons and polished axes on their shoulders
Finally one last distinctive feature of the Legionnaires uniform are black boots with white shoelaces which are part of the parade dress
Combat history of the Legion
During the many years of Allegiance service to France
There have been many wars and operations in has proved its bravery and commitment to its code of honor
Through the 19th and 20th centuries Legionnaires fought in Africa. Asia Central America Europe and in both world wars
however, it was the Battle of Cameroon during the Mexican campaign from 1863 to
1867 that demonstrated the valor of the Foreign Legion
during the campaign on April 30th 1863
The third company of the first battalion made a reconnaissance mission from their base at Chiquita to the town of Palo Verde
Near the small abandoned village of Cameroon
The company was attacked by the cavalry of Mexican rebels
The Legionnaires retreated to a nearby farm where they fortified their position
company commander Captain Jean d'Anjou along with two other officers and 62 Legionnaires refused to surrender to the unit of
600 Mexican cameramen the
Number of Mexicans soon raised to two thousand as three battalions came to reinforce the cavalry
Even then the Legionnaires refused to surrender and decided to fight to the end
The battle lasted from 9 a.m. To 6 p.m
the majority of the company was killed including
Captain des jeux the last five Legionnaires fought until they spent their ammunition at that point
They fixed their bayonets and charged at the enemy the Mexicans killed one Legionnaire and wounded another officer
Seeing their courage Mexican Colonel come bus of French origin ordered a cease fire
He led the remaining three Legionnaires
Allowing them to carry their weapons and equipment to his commanding officer when the commanding officer saw them
He shouted these are not men. They are Devils
Captain Jean d'Anjou became a symbol of Legionnaire bravery in 1853
D'Anjou lost his hand in algeria and instead or a wooden hand
After his death of cameroon. His hand was brought to France
every year kept in Jean Dan Jews hand as the greatest relic of the Legion is
Paraded on April 30th the most important holiday for Legionnaires the Cameroon day
Subscribe and click the notification bell for more history videos