Unusual, bright, curious military units of the world. French Foreign Legion. Service in the French Foreign Legion

The French Foreign Legion is perhaps one of the most romanticized military formations. The many books and films made about the Legion have solidified its reputation as a place where any man can escape from his past to start life from scratch.

When on March 9, 1831, King Louis Philippe I of France signed a decree on the creation of a new military unit, he hardly thought that he was creating something iconic and romantic. His goals were more pragmatic: France needed soldiers to protect its interests outside the country itself, for example, in Algeria. It was unprofitable to send respectable sons of the fatherland there, so volunteers from among the natives of Italy, Spain and Switzerland were recruited into the new formation. Also, any Frenchman who had problems with the law and wanted to atone for his debt to society could get there. For the king, this was very beneficial, because many criminals had good combat experience, which, in the event of popular unrest, they could use against the current government. Therefore, by signing the relevant documents, the king killed two birds with one stone: firstly, under the command of loyal Napoleonic generals, he sent soldiers abroad, whose lives no one in Paris cares about; secondly, it cleared the country's streets of undesirable elements, and thirdly, it gave France enough soldiers to protect her interests in Algeria. Time passed, rulers changed and old borders were redrawn, but the French Foreign Legion continued to exist as a stronghold of loyalty to the country and its interests abroad. Although the traditions of the Legion were formed from the customs of various armies of the world, he himself was always united and did not distinguish between nationalities.

Composition of the French Foreign Legion. To date, the Foreign Legion consists of 7 regiments with a total strength of approximately 7,500 people. The training of legionnaires allows them to lead fighting at any time of the day or night, on any terrain, regardless of meteorological conditions. However, today the priority tasks of the Legion are the evacuation of civilians from conflict zones, the provision of humanitarian assistance and the prevention of armed clashes, although it is no secret that sometimes the Legion still takes part in NATO anti-terrorist operations in the Middle East. A key feature of the French Foreign Legion for more than a hundred years has been a small amount of heavy weapons and armored vehicles.

The main standard weapons are the FAMAS rifle, AA-52 or FN MAG machine guns. Snipers are most often provided with French FR-F2 rifles, although the American large-caliber Barrett M82 is sometimes also issued. To combat enemy armored vehicles, the Milan ATGM and the 120-mm MO-120-PT mortar are used. From armored vehicles: BMP AMX-10R, wheeled tank AMX-10RC and armored personnel carrier VAB. Perhaps, from the point of view of the military, legionnaires do not need to be spent much, because every soldier there knows the rule "Legionnaire dies, but fulfills." It is also very beneficial for politicians, because foreigners or not the most desirable elements die while protecting the interests of France abroad. So, from their point of view, it looks like this: "A legionnaire does and dies." In practice, all this translates into a rather sad picture: if you send 100 legionnaires on a mission, they will cope with it, but only 30 people will return. 30% - this is exactly the indicator that appears in the survival statistics.

Location and selection rules. To date permanent places The deployment of units of the French Foreign Legion is considered to be the island of Mayot, in the Camoros, Djibouti in Northeast Africa, the city of Kourou, located on the territory of French Guiana, and the island of Corsica. There are also several units stationed on the territory of France itself, but all of them are mainly engaged in the selection of volunteers and staff work. Due to the fact that in the vast majority of countries in the world service in the Foreign Legion falls under the article on mercenaries, recruiting centers are located exclusively in France. There are nine in total, but the most popular are located in Paris and Strasbourg. The volunteer must get to the place of submission of documents on his own. The Legion in this regard does not provide any assistance in obtaining visas. However, if a candidate is rejected after being sent to training camp, they are paid a return ticket to the place where he applied, and given a small amount of money. The first thing they do with a candidate after getting to the recruiting center is to “study” him. The newcomer is thoroughly searched, his teeth, eyesight, hearing, weight and height are measured. If there are scars, then they are asked to tell about the history of their appearance, the same is with tattoos. All this is carefully recorded. Lastly, they are asked to tell the reason for the desire to serve in the legion. If at this stage the candidate is not rejected, then all personal belongings and documents are confiscated from him. He is shaved bald and given a sports uniform. After that, he is placed in a room where several more people will live. Volunteers live according to a strict regime: they get up at five in the morning, go to the canteen to get dressed and do various physical work. By the way, all commands in the legion are given in French.

Multi-stage selection. The selection camp in Aubagne is the last point before going to the Pyrenees, where the training base is located, where legionnaires are made from ordinary people. There, each candidate is subjected to a series of tests. Medical tests determine the tendency to certain diseases, because a legionnaire is a man of steel who should not be mowed down by a common cold. Next comes the physical tests. All of them are related to running, because the legionnaire does not march and does not run, only if he is dead. Those who passed on medical grounds and passed the necessary standards pass a psychological test: a legionnaire must have iron nerves and must not have mental disorders. Those who did not drop out are waiting for the "Gestapo" - this is how they jokingly call an interview with Legion security officers. Here, the future soldier is interrogated and their results are compared with those obtained at the recruiting station. The interview takes place in three stages. All of them ask the same questions in the candidate's native language, but at the first stage they go in one sequence, at the second - in another, and at the third they are asked by a French officer through an interpreter. After passing the "Gestapo", the volunteer receives the status of rouge (red). This is due to the fact that those who previously passed all the checks had to wear red armbands. "Red candidates" are given a military uniform, all the necessary accessories, as well as a new name, surname and a short biography.

Features of the contract. After completing training in a training camp, which, by the way, few can withstand, a contract is concluded with a volunteer, according to which the signatory must complete military service in the ranks of the French Foreign Legion for a period of five years. After the first five years, during which the rank of corporal can be achieved, the legionnaire can extend the contract for a period of six months to ten years. After signing, a person should forget about what it means to think. For him there is only an order, he is the property of the legion. All communication within the legion is only in French, if the conscript does not speak it, he will be taught. All movement is by running. The salary of an ordinary legionary in the first five years does not exceed $ 900 plus allowances for participating in combat operations. Also, after the first contract, you can apply for a permanent residence permit in France, after a few more years of service, a legionnaire can receive citizenship, and a pension after 17 years of service, or as a reward for his valor. The funeral of the dead legionnaires is carried out at the expense of France.

No gender equality. Despite the fact that the Legion of the twenty-first century still holds the secret of identity, those with a criminal record are no longer accepted here. The road to all married people is also closed here. There is even a joke about this: “the legion only shoots blanks.” Despite the fact that in many armies of the world women now serve on an equal basis with men, the Legion always remains an exclusively male formation. There are still women here, but only as civilian employees and mainly at the selection points.

National composition. Officially, the legionnaire has no nationality. As their motto says, "Legio Patria Nostra" - "The Legion of our Fatherland." Over the almost two hundred years of this formation, many people have passed through it, who previously served in various armies of the world, which, in turn, left a kind of imprint on the local traditions and orders. So, for example, after World War II, many German SS soldiers found refuge here, which was reflected in the anthems of the legion. For the most part, they are all slightly altered songs of the SS legions. There is also a saying in the Legion: "When things are really bad in Russia, the Legion begins to speak Russian." This is not just an unfounded statement: in the last hundred years there have been three big waves influx of Russian-speaking recruits to the Legion: 1914, 1920 and 1993. Now about a third of all legionnaires come from Eastern Europe and the CIS countries, about the same number come from South America, Africa and South-East Asia. The rest are either residents of French-speaking countries, such as Belgium, or Frenchmen who have changed their citizenship.

attitude towards apostates. The Foreign Legion is still perceived by many as a harsh military brotherhood whose slogan "March or die!" and where for desertion they are buried up to the neck in sand and left to be eaten by animals. Now this is not entirely true. If the legionnaire is absent from the evening verification without good reason, it is marked as "absent". This entails a strict reprimand, an extraordinary outfit, deprivation of a leave of absence or a penalty. If the absence is delayed for more than seven days, the legionnaire is declared a deserter and in this case he faces up to 40 days in the Legion's prison. If all this happened during a military operation, then the deserter faces two years in a civil prison in France, but only after 40 days in a legionary prison. The least lucky will be those who run away with weapons. In this case, a lot of people will go in search and it is unlikely that such a fugitive will even live to see the trial.

Unity of the Legion. Despite the fact that from the side of the French Foreign Legion it resembles a multinational cauldron into which people of different religions and beliefs go, there are no conflicts based on racial hostility. From the very first days of recruits through serious psychological and physical exercise, and also, to be honest, and through pain, they make them understand that from now on their nationality, race and gender are legionnaires. Therefore, when one of them hears the famous cry for help: "The Legion - to me!", He will definitely come to the rescue, and it will not matter to him where this cry will sound: in the desert, the jungle or in a local bar. For the same reason, during the Bastille Day parade, which is held annually on July 14 on the Champs Elysees, while all units march in several columns, the Legion marches alone. Legionnaires never separate and always stay together, and it doesn't matter whether in battle, civilian life or street brawl - legionnaires are always together.

A shameful stain on the reputation of the Legion. 1961 - black page for the Foreign Legion. Despite the fact that in the entire history of the existence of this formation, they repeatedly unsuccessfully tried to disband it, it was in 1961 that the Legion itself disbanded one of its regiments, declaring them traitors. The infamous 1st Foreign Airborne Regiment was formed during the Indochina War. This unit tarnished itself by participating in the so-called "Algiers putsch of the generals", which was raised by the far right after France promised independence to the colony. The legionnaires themselves prefer not to remember this day, because then their brothers betrayed what the Legion has always lived for - unquestioning service to France and its government.

Ideal private military company. Due to the fact that foreigners serve in the Legion, the French government can successfully deny its involvement in any operations in the territory of such hot spots as, for example, Syria - it simply claims that in given state no French citizens. It is reliably known that in the same 2011, it was the soldiers of the French Foreign Legion who destroyed several bases intended to supply Gaddafi's troops with fuel and food. In Az-Zavi, it was the legionnaires who, at the cost of their lives, broke through to the city center and provided Free access there to rebels from Benghazi. Also thanks to this military fraternity, France can successfully pursue even the most aggressive policy without dirtying its hands and without asking permission from its NATO allies.

At the same time, approximately 9,000 legionnaires are part of the UN peacekeeping force in Côte d'Ivoire, where France has its own historical interests. These soldiers, in addition to their conflict prevention duties, also carry out operations on orders that come directly from Paris, bypassing the world community. Thus, in modern society, the Foreign Legion performs the task of protecting the interests of its country in those areas where only foreigners can do it. In fact, from a legal point of view, legionnaires have most of the advantages of PMCs, but at the same time they are always true to their duty and will never seek benefits and ask unnecessary questions.

The French Foreign Legion is a unique elite military unit that is part of the French armed forces. To date, it has more than 8 thousand legionnaires, who represent 136 countries of the world, including France. One thing for all of them is serving France at a high professional level.

The creation of the legion is associated with the name of King Louis Philippe I, who in 1831 signed a decree on the creation of a single military unit, which was to include several active regiments. The main purpose of the new formation was to carry out combat missions outside the French borders. To exercise command, officers were recruited from Napoleon's army, and not only natives of Italy, Spain or Switzerland were accepted as soldiers, but also French subjects who had certain problems with the law. Thus, the French government got rid of potentially dangerous people who not only had significant combat experience, but could also use it in conditions of political instability within the state.

This policy of the king was very logical. The fact is that the legionnaires were trained to conduct a large-scale campaign to colonize Algeria, which required a large number of troops. But at the same time, France could not send its subjects to Africa. That is why foreigners who lived in the vicinity of Paris were recruited into the legion.

Around the same period of time, the tradition of not asking for the real names of new soldiers also occurs. Many desperate people had the opportunity to start life anew, getting rid of the criminal past.

To date, the legion's rules also allow for the anonymous reception of soldiers. As before, volunteers are not asked for their name or country of residence. After several years of service, each legionnaire has the opportunity to obtain French citizenship and start absolutely new life with a new name.

It should be noted that the first rule of legionnaires is never to give up. This tradition began as early as 1863, when three legionnaires held over 2,000 well-armed soldiers of the Mexican army. But, taken prisoner, thanks to their courage and valor, they were soon released with honors.

As at the time of its foundation, the French Legion is under the direct control of the head of state.

The modern Foreign Legion consists of tank, infantry and sapper units. Its structure includes 7 regiments, including the famous GCP paratrooper with special forces, one special detachment, one semi-brigade and one training regiment.

Legion units are deployed in the Comoros (Mayotte Island), in Northeast Africa (Djibouti), in Corsica, in French Guiana (Kourou), and also directly in France.

A feature of the French Legion is that women are not allowed into it. Contracts are awarded exclusively to men aged 18-40. The initial contract is for 5 years. All subsequent contracts can be concluded for terms from six months to 10 years. In the first five years, you can reach the rank of corporal, but only a person with French citizenship can become an officer. The main composition of the officers of the unit is, as a rule, regular military men who graduated from the military educational establishments and chose the Legion as their duty station.

Since mercenarism is considered a criminal offense in many countries of the world, recruitment points exist exclusively in France. For everyone who wants to join the legion, testing is carried out, which includes three stages: psychotechnical, physical and medical. In addition, a separate interview is conducted with each recruit, during which it is necessary to clearly and truthfully tell your biography. The interview is conducted in three stages, and each new stage is a repetition of the previous one. Thus, a kind of check "for lice" is carried out.

Foreign volunteers can be easily recognized by their white headgear, although only privates wear it. The unit's colors are green and red.

To date, about 7 and a half thousand soldiers are serving in the legion. The training of soldiers allows them to conduct operations in the jungle, at night. They are trained to carry out special operations to neutralize terrorists and rescue hostages. The main task of the legionnaires today is to prevent hostilities. They are called upon to carry out the evacuation of the population from the combat zone, provide humanitarian assistance, and restore infrastructure in regions of natural disasters.

Thus, there is information that the French Foreign Legion provided serious support in conducting a ground operation during the events in Libya. In August 2011, the legionnaires managed to eliminate the fuel and food supply base, which was the main one for Gaddafi's troops. According to some reports, several companies of the legion were transferred to Libya from Tunisia or Algeria. A little wound, in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bEz-Zawiya, the Foreign Legion, with few losses, managed to break into the city center, providing free access to the fighters from Benghazi. The command of the legion hoped to raise the Berber population in revolt, but this was not possible.

The participation of the French Legion in the Libyan war is denied in every possible way by the official authorities of France, despite the fact that the press is actively discussing this issue. This position of Paris is quite understandable, since any invasion of the territory of Libya would be contrary to the UN resolution regarding this state, which refers only to the closure of airspace. A similar situation had already happened before, when in 1978 in Zaire the French government recognized that the Foreign Legion took part in the military conflict only after the legionnaires had completed their mission.

The Arab Spring has shown that foreign military personnel are present in many conflict zones. In addition to Libya, the French Legion also took part in hostilities in Syria. So, in Homs, 150 were arrested, and in Zadabani - 120 French legionnaires, mostly paratroopers and snipers. And although no one can confirm that they were legionnaires, such an assumption is quite logical, since this unit is completed from citizens not only of France, but also of other states. Thus, France again has the opportunity to claim that there are no French citizens in Syria.

Another place where the French Foreign Legion also noted is the conflict that broke out in Côte d'Ivoire. One gets the impression that France has set itself the goal of creating for itself the most aggressive image on the entire European continent. Very often, Paris starts the game "for big", ignoring the interests of its allies in the North Atlantic Alliance. So, in April 2011, French paratroopers occupied the airport of the economic capital of Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan. Thus, the total number of the French military corps stationed there was about 1,400 people.

The total number of the UN peacekeeping contingent in this country is 9 thousand people, of which only 900 were French. France independently decided to increase the size of its military corps, without coordinating actions with the UN leadership. The basis of the French military corps is the military of the Foreign Legion, which has been taking part in Operation Unicorn for several years. In addition, the French government stated that the contingent that arrived in Côte d'Ivoire is coordinating actions with unoci troops, thus actually recognizing that, in addition to the Unicorn, France is also conducting its own independent operation on the territory of the country.

Thus, the French Foreign Legion is sent to areas where France seeks to protect its interests within or "under the cover" of the European Union or the North Atlantic Alliance, as well as where there are certain historical obligations or a threat to the lives of French citizens.

Military history has many pages that mention various military formations that are directly involved in hostilities and located in the hottest spots on our planet. The most famous among them is the French Foreign Legion. This is a truly legendary military unit, the military glory of which is fanned by various myths and stories. Many books have been written about this elite unit and more than a dozen films have been shot. For generations of men, service in this unit was considered the ultimate dream. Many have dreamed and continue to dream of how to become legionnaires and quickly put on a special military uniform. However, in reality, instead of bravado and ostentation, the Foreign Legion is a hard service and work associated with constant risk and danger. Is a person ready to voluntarily give up all the advantages that civil life promises, starting his military career in accordance with the harsh and strict military Charter?

You can refer to weighty arguments in favor of making such a decision: good wage, full social security, the possibility of obtaining French citizenship as a result. However, one has to pay a big price for all this: personal freedom, hard physical labor and deprivation, and finally, the constant danger and threat to life, despite the fact that romance military service, future privileges and decent pay is a serious motivation.

French Foreign Legion - what is it really?

It should be noted right away that the legion is not an interest club in which everyone does what they want. This is a full-fledged military unit belonging to the armed forces of the French Republic. Here, not only the military Charter applies, but also a number of provisions that regulate the procedure for serving. Unlike traditional armed forces, the legion has a different system of recruitment and recruitment. The servicemen of this unit undergo a completely different, transcendent level of training. Subsequent service in the Legion takes place in conditions as close as possible to combat, in various parts of the world.

Only representatives of the stronger sex can become legionnaires. The way is ordered for women to serve in the foreign legion!

The history of this legendary military unit has less than two hundred years. In 1831, King Louis Philippe I of France undertook an adventurous military operation in North Africa. The military campaign, according to the plan of the French court, was to divert attention civil society from internal problems in the state. The purpose of the military expedition to Algeria was the declared expansion of the borders of the colonial empire.

This dubious undertaking required a significant number of troops, which France at that time was clearly not enough. In addition, the French generals were not enthusiastic about the military adventure of the French king and opposed in every possible way the sending of units of regular French army to overseas possessions. Life itself suggested a way out of this situation.

France in the first half of the 19th century was going through hard times. The economy was in decline, the population of the country was in distress. The consequences of fifteen years of continuous wars that France waged under Napoleon Bonaparte were showing. Inside the country, a huge number of idle males appeared, who were looking for any ways and opportunities to improve their plight, not disdaining robbery at the same time. Neither the police, nor the gendarmerie, nor the army could cope with such negative phenomena. The only way out of this situation was a royal decree on the creation of a new paramilitary unit under the leadership of French officers, which could be recruited by people who had problems with the law.

In this way, it was possible to immediately solve two problems:

• by means of legalization, remove criminal and unreliable elements from the streets of French cities and from the roads;
• collect the necessary number of people for subsequent preparation and sending to the colony.

The only condition that was stipulated in the royal decree was that the newly created paramilitary formation could not be used on the territory of the metropolis. As a result of such actions, in just a few months, the required number of people were recruited through recruiting centers. The set did not differ in special requirements. The recruits were not asked, neither name nor social background. It was enough for a man from the street to become a legionnaire to have tolerable health and to have an idea of ​​​​how to hold a gun.

Shortly after the first months of basic military training, the recruits were sent to Algiers to put down a rebellion of local natives and to participate in the expansion colonial possessions. The new army was given the name - Foreign Legion.

The first combat experience showed that the chosen tactics fully justified themselves. Legionnaires, unlike the soldiers of the regular army, knew what they were fighting for. Having shown enviable ingenuity, perseverance and steadfastness on the battlefield, the soldiers and officers of the foreign legion were able to quickly suppress not only the centers of the rebellious Arabs, but also establish a strict and harsh colonial regime in the colony. From that moment on, the foreign legion began to be involved in almost all the wars waged by France. In the 19th century, legionnaires had to fight in Spain and Mexico. Participated in the French Foreign Legion and Crimean War, fighting with Russian troops near Sevastopol.

In the next XX century, legionnaires became participants in the largest military conflicts that affected not only France, but also shocked the whole world. The conquest of Indochina, participation in hostilities in the French colonies in Madagascar, Morocco, then the First World War. Everywhere in the most dangerous areas, soldiers and officers of the foreign legion were involved. The French Foreign Legion became a kind of special forces that solved the most complex tactical and strategic tasks. At some points, the number of units of the Foreign Legion was about 50 thousand people. The soldiers of this unit had to serve in the most different parts world, starting from the hotel islands in pacific ocean and ending with the dense jungles of South America and tropical Africa.

The essence of the Foreign Legion as a unit and how to get into it

Despite the fact that the Foreign Legion is officially part of the structure of the French army, in fact it is a separate military unit that reports directly to the head of state. At first it was the King of France, the Emperor, and in modern times, the President of the French Republic. Neither army charters nor orders of the Minister of Defense apply here. To date, the legion has its own, developed infrastructure. Each regiment that is part of the legion has its own place of quartering, with barracks, with headquarters and even with its own guardhouse. At its core, this is closed organization, reminiscent in its structure of medieval knightly orders.

Financing of the legion is carried out at the expense of the state treasury and thanks to sponsorship. A large part of the budget of the Foreign Legion is made up of income from financial and economic groups and lobbyists who have big weight in the domestic and foreign policy of France. In other words, there are no permanent and fixed appropriations for the upkeep of the legion. Unlike the regular French army, legionnaires do not have broad social state guarantees.

The French Foreign Legion is also distinguished by its military doctrine. There is an unspoken restriction on the equipment of units that are part of the Foreign Legion. There are no full-fledged tank formations and own aviation here. Armed with armored personnel carriers, light artillery systems, helicopters. The bulk of the combat work has to be done by infantry units. To date, the legion includes:

• one armored cavalry regiment;
• two airborne units;
• engineer-sapper regiment;
• infantry and training regiments.

Some military units are stationed on the territory of continental France and on the island of Corsica. In the town of Aubagne, Bouches-du-Rhone department, on the territory of the 1st regiment is the Headquarters of the Foreign Legion. Other units are located in overseas territories controlled by France.

The procedure for recruiting military units belonging to the French Legion is curious. In contrast to the previously used recruitment methods, when citizens of any reputation and any nationality could become legionnaires, today the recruitment conditions for this elite unit have been tightened.

In order to become a legionnaire today, it is enough to know the mechanism of the admission procedure and have a relatively clean reputation. Gone are the days when the Legion was a convenient hiding place for those who tried to hide from the law, even from another realm. The main and main condition for starting the process is a voluntary desire, which, together with your passport, must be shown at the recruiting center. This is followed by a rigorous medical board and an assessment of your physical abilities. Today, the Legion is not ready to support soldiers with poor health and not fully aware of what they have to deal with. The first contract is signed for a period of 5 years, and the main article of the contract directly indicates that you will not have to sit out in the rear in a warm resort. The main function of legionnaires is service in hot spots, where the likelihood of hostilities and clashes is always high.

Not only a person of French origin can become a legionnaire, but also a foreigner. Over the years of the existence of this unit, representatives of more than 130 states served in the Foreign Legion. Only privates and sergeants are recruited into the Legion. Command at all stages is carried out by French officers, therefore French is the main command language.

After the end of the first contract, military personnel who have shown valor, courage and have an impeccable reputation receive either French citizenship or a residence permit in France. Having received a wound during operations, there is a chance to immediately receive not only French citizenship, but also a serious increase in salary. The service life of a legionnaire is limited only by the period of the contract. In other words, if the legionnaire's contract has ended and he is tired of fighting, you can leave. For those who have served under the banner of the Foreign Legion for 19 years or more, a lifetime pension with the right to provide housing is assigned.

Despite the fact that today the number of military conflicts in which the French Foreign Legion is involved is limited, the life of a legionnaire is not sugar. In parallel with high salaries and relative comfort in peacetime, the soldiers of the foreign legion, as before, experience the hardships and hardships of military service in a double or triple volume.

Story

The French Foreign Legion was created on March 9 by King Louis Philippe I on the basis of several predecessor regiments. One of these regiments was Regiment de Hohenlohe under the command of the German prince and French marshal Ludwig Alois von Hohenlohe-Bartenstein (Ludwig Aloys von Hohenlohe-Bartenstein). This regiment fought for the royalists in the Revolutionary Wars and later served under King Charles X of France. As France planned to colonize 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 get the necessary troops and at the same time reduce the number of "undesirable" sections of the population in the country. So he issued a law the next day ( la Loi du 9 mars 1831) that the foreign legion can only be used outside of 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 the French, who had problems with the law. At the same time, a tradition was laid - 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 given the task of scouting the outskirts of Palo Verde in anticipation of a convoy with guns, siege equipment, and three million francs in cash destined for the French troops besieging Puebla. Advancing after midnight on April 30, the legionnaires encountered the Mexicans on the morning of the same day. Realizing the undeniable advantage of the Mexicans (1200 infantry and 800 cavalry), Captain Danjou and his people 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 are doomed and only a miracle can save them, the legionnaires gave their word to stand to the end. For more than ten hours they resisted the Mexican army. Despite offers to surrender, the legionnaires preferred death to inglorious captivity. Their self-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-red flag of the Foreign Legion from its foundation until the end of the 1980s. According to a speech by Colonel Morellon, over 36,000 legionnaires fell in action at this time.

Today, the Legion is used not to wage war, as before, but mainly to prevent hostilities 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 aid, to rebuild infrastructure (eg in Lebanon and after the Tsunami in Southeast 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 the hostages.

Locations

Organization and tasks

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

Legion colors are green and red. (Green symbolizes the country, red - blood. If the legion unit is in battle, then the triangular pennant of the Legion is hung so that the red side is at the top: "Blood on the country").

The motto of the legion: "The Legion is our fatherland" (lat. Legio Patria Nostra). For a more complete introduction of this slogan into the consciousness of each legionnaire, his contacts with the outside world in the first five years of service are limited and controlled - the Legion really becomes a family and home for the legionnaire.

A 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 march pace of legionnaires. While other army units march at 120 paces per minute, the Legion only do 88. This is due to the fact that African deployment areas often had sandy soils, which makes it difficult to march at a fast 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 Legionétrangere), which in the majority consist of legionnaires who served in Indochina and Algeria.

They meet regularly, take care of the tradition and go to different holidays in France. 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 at Kolwezi" (fr. La Legion saute sur Kolwezi), director: Raoul Cutard, France;
• - "Adventurers" (fr. Les Morfalous), director: Henri Verneuil, France;
• - "AWOL" (eng. Lionheart), director: Sheldon Lettich, USA;
• - " Legionnaire" (eng. Legionnaire), director: Peter MacDonald, USA ;
• - "Good job" (fr. Beau Travel), director: Claire Denis, France;
• - "Jinns" (fr. Djinns), directors: Hugh Martin, Sandra Martin, France / Morocco;
• - "Foreign Legion", director: Kim Nguyen, Canada;

Documentaries

• - Escape to the Legion Escape to the Legion), host: Bear Grylls, USA;
• - Warriors of the world. French Foreign Legion, director: Roman Kaigorodov, Russia; == http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pfc1z90vF0 ==

see also

Notes

1. A new chance for a new life (Russian). Archived
2. Debate unerwünscht (German). Archived from the original on February 18, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2009.
3. Fremdenlegionäre in Indochina (German). Archived from the original on February 18, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2009.
4. Bei den Deutschen in der Fremdenlegion (German). Archived from the original on February 18, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2009.
5. La Guerre d "Indochine (Russian). Archived
6. Simon Jameson French Foreign Legion (Russian). Archived from the original on February 18, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2010.
7. Foreign Legion (Russian). Archived from the original on February 18, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2010.
8. Shadursky, V. G. Foreign policy France (1945-2002): textbook. allowance. Minsk: BGU. 2004.
9. Conditions for concluding a contract (Russian). Archived from the original on February 18, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2009.
10. Admission. In Aubagne. (Russian). Archived
11. Richard Luca Honey, I joined the legion (Russian). Archived from the original on February 18, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2010.
12. Federation des Societes d "Anciens de la Legion Entrangere (fr.). Archived from the original on February 18, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2010.
13. Zinovy ​​Peshkov: How Yakov Sverdlov's Elder Brother Became a French Brigadier General (Russian). Archived from the original on February 18, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2010.
14. Khreschatitsky Boris Rostislavovich (Russian). Archived from the original on February 18, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2010.
15. "Great Defender of the Jews" Petliura (Russian) . (unavailable link - story) Retrieved February 6, 2010.
16. French Foreign Legion on the site "Heroes of the country"

Literature

• Balmasov Sergey Foreign Legion. Moscow: 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. Everyday life French Foreign Legion: "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 abeneuerliche 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 Legionétrangere 1939-1945. Heimdal, Bayeux 2000, ISBN 2-84048-130-8
• Pierre Dufour: La Legion étrangere en Indochine 1945-1955. Lavauzelle, Paris 2001, ISBN 2-7025-0483-3
• Dominique Farale: Mysterieuse Légion Etrangère de 1831 a nos jours. D.I.E. Paris 2005, ISBN 2-914295-16-2
• Peter Hornung: Die Legion - Europas letzte Söldner. Meyster-Verlag, München 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 Realitaten. Schöningh, Paderborn 2000, ISBN 3-506-74471-2
• Guido Schmidt: Der Cafard - Als Fallschirmjager bei der Fremdenlegion. Motorbuch-Verlag, Stuttgart 1997, ISBN 3-613-01795-4
• David Jordan: Die Geschichte der Französischen 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, Zürich 1999,

It is difficult to say something definitely on the topic of the Foreign Legion, since the data about it in different publications are different. I can only judge him from the stories of one of my acquaintances, a legionnaire whom I know from Marseille. Let's call him Garibaldi, because they prefer not to give their name, and there is no need to do so. Before publishing this section, I gave him to read articles about the legion that you will read, to which his opinion was this: the author of impressions was in the legion, but he embellishes his merits and experience in some places, which is quite justified: this is a publication in newspaper. Other amendments were as follows: firstly, with regards to money, a novice legionnaire receives 6,000 francs, not 3,000, then the salary increases to 8,000, and when serving in certain regions of Africa, up to 20,000 francs per month. depending on the complexity of the conditions of service. Money, as a rule, does not fall into the hands, but falls directly into a savings housing account in the bank, so that later you can buy an apartment or a house. He is satisfied with his service and does not think about returning to Russia: there is money, good food, company, adrenaline in the blood and the future of a French citizen, and this is a lot. As for advice to those who decide to take this step in their lives, one piece of advice: get a tourist visa, take a ticket to Marseille and go. Everything else depends on you.

I would only like to note that the first article was written a long time ago, so some of the information is out of date, do not take everything literally.

What do you need to know about the Foreign Legion?

Russian citizen according to the laws of the Russian Federation, he does not have the right to serve in the armed forces of foreign states.

But this does not cancel the laws in force in other states. The French Foreign Legion is an integral part of the French army. In the legion, everything is arranged in exactly the same way as in other units of the French army; the same types of weapons are in service. And as far as strategic tasks are concerned, everything is the same.

Another thing is that they are achieved, so to speak, by proxy: the foreign legion is made up of volunteers of any citizenship, nationality and religion, ready to serve France.

Enrollment
The legion enrolls men from 17 to 40 years old, fit for military service for health reasons. Applicants under the age of 17 require special permission from their parents or guardians. Knowledge French optional - learn while you serve.

The first contract is for 5 years. The volunteer must come to France and come to the registration point. The Foreign Legion does not provide any assistance in buying tickets and obtaining a visa to those who want to serve in it.

After successfully passing the preliminary medical examination, the candidate is sent to the Headquarter selection center - this is in Aubagne, 15 kilometers from Marseille. There, the candidate is waiting for a full medical examination and tests - IQ, psychological and physical fitness.

If everything is in order, the candidate is signed a contract for 5 years. The contract says that during this period you are ready to serve in any conditions and under any circumstances wherever you are sent.

If the candidate did not pass the tests, he is told "no" - and he can go anywhere and think for himself about how much money to return to the country where he came from.

Service
The first four months are preparation and training. Then the young legionnaire is sent to the Fourth Foreign Regiment, located in Castelnaudary. Promotion and assignment of ranks depends on the physical capabilities of the legionnaire, his IQ and ability to lead people.

After three years of service - if there were no claims against the legionnaire, and he has a certificate in his hands that he served satisfactorily - the legionnaire has the right to apply for French citizenship. Whether they will give it to him is another question, but the right to demand consideration of his candidacy as a permanent resident of France remains with him for 10 years.

Code of honor
1. Legionnaire - a volunteer who serves France faithfully and with honor.
2. Each legionnaire is your brother in arms, regardless of their citizenship, nationality, training and religion. You must demonstrate this unwavering solidarity at all times and in all places.
3. Keeping true to legion traditions, respect commanders, discipline and brotherhood. This is your strength, this gives you courage and faith.
4. Be proud of the rank of a legionnaire. Remember it always and everywhere. Behave with dignity under any circumstances. Always take care of your appearance.
5. You are a highly skilled, well-trained soldier, an elite. Always make sure that your weapon is in excellent condition, treat it like your greatest treasure. Treat your body the same way. Always be in shape, train the body and temper it.
6. Becoming a legionnaire, you become one forever. Everything that is entrusted must be carried out in any conditions - by all means and to the end.
7. All orders are carried out implicitly, regardless of your attitude towards them. Respect the winning enemy. Never abandon your comrade, neither wounded nor dead. Under no circumstances let go of the weapon.

Professions
While serving, legionnaires not only participate in special operations. They have the opportunity to get a specialty - military or civilian.
So you can specialize in military affairs (mortars, rockets, sniper art, diving, diving, parachuting). And you can acquire a completely peaceful profession: secretarial business; radio; telephony; lighting equipment and lighting engineering; electrical engineering; equipment service; construction (mason, plumber, electrician, carpenter, painter); car service (mechanic, electrical engineer, welder, car painting); musician; medical assistant; cook; photographer; computer's operator; sports coach (instructor).

Career
Often, participating in hostilities on the territory of foreign states, legionnaires wear uniforms without insignia.
Since the foundation of the legion (1831), fighting for the interests of France, 902 foreign generals and colonels, 3,176 mid-level commanders and more than 30,000 ordinary legionnaires have died.
The amount paid to a legionnaire depends on his rank and participation in special operations. An ordinary legionnaire receives an average of 5,500 francs per month ($894), a corporal - 6,000 francs ($975), a commander of the highest rank - l6,300 francs ($2,648).
After the expiration of the first contract, the legionnaire can sign the next - for a period of 6 months to 3 years. A private can serve in the legion for up to 15 years. The service life of the command staff is not limited. However, after 15 years of service, legionnaires of any rank are eligible for a pension. But in France, only those former legionnaires who receive her citizenship will pay it.
Legionnaires who returned to their homeland - for example, to Russia, must apply for a pension to the local social security authorities. Today, the minimum old-age pension in Russia for people who do not have seniority earned on the territory of Russia (USSR) or on the territory of other states, but in the direction of Russian (Soviet) institutions and organizations - 94 rubles 29 kopecks.
In the event of the death or death of a legionnaire during his service - in the event that the body is discovered - the funeral is carried out at the expense of the French state.

Recruitment points for the foreign legion in France

Fort de Nogent (near Paris)
94120 Fontenay-Sous Bois

La Citadelle: 59000 Lille;

Quartier Lecourbe: Rue d "Ostende, 67000 Strasbourg;

Quartier Colbert: 32 bis, avenue de la Paix, 51000 Reims;

Quartier Aboville: 86000 Poitiers

Quartier Desgrees-du-Lou: rue Gambetta, 44000 Nantes Armees;

Quartier de Lattre de Tassigny: 57000 Metz;

Caserne Mangin:8, rue Francois-Rabelais, 66020 Perpignan; rue du Colonel-Trupel, 76038 Rouen Cedex; 66, avenue du Drapeau, 21000 Dijon;

Quartier Vienot: 13400 Aubagne; 18, Quai de Lesseps, 64100 Bayonne; 260, rue Pelleport, 33000 Bordeaus;

Quartier General Frere: 69007 Lyon;

Caserne Filley: rue Sincaire, 06300 Nice;

Caserne Perignon: avenue Camille Pujol, 31000 Toulouse