Service in 2 rep of the foreign legion during the 1960s has resulted in an outstanding book that gives a great insight into the mental toughness and realities of soldiering in the bled during the savage war of peace in algeria. What is it like to be in the french foreign legion. A complete history of the lengendary fighting force. Score a book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. French foreign legion soldiers were toughest in the world. In an age when most of the worlds armies strive to make military service a less bestial and more enlightened experience than it used to be, the legion still drives its trainees to. How else can one explain the fact that the french foreign legion is heavily overrecruited. This book print and low price ebook is the perfect guide for anyone interested in joining the french foreign legion. French alps shooting patrice menegaldo had been interviewed as a witness after the 2012 shootings of. A complete history of the legendary fighting force.
As a boy, id always more than halfwondered if the french foreign legion was an invention of hollywood. Aug 06, 2018 before joining the french foreign legion 9 things you should know. This book gives the reader a straightforward and continuous survey of the history of the french foreign legion. This article was amended on wednesday february 25 2009.
The duration of an initial contract with the foreign legion is 5 years nonnegotiable. Dien bien phu and the french defeat in vietnam 2004. French foreign legion, french legion etrangere, an elite military force originally consisting of foreign volunteers in the pay of france but now comprising volunteer soldiers from any nation, including france, for service in france and abroad. He is the author of the very successful maa 300 french foreign legion since 1945 and the recent maa 322 the french war in indochina 194654. If you did your research, there wont be much new stuff for you. The inside story of the world famous fighting force. In early april 2020, knut flovik thoresen, a norwegian military officer and historian, released his another work dedicated to the foreign legion. Langley author recounts service in the french foreign legion. We follow sergeant steeles battles in the french foreign legion, all based on some of the legions most epic and bloody battles. Thank you for the a2a, blood sweat tears are the things that come to my mind.
This is what basic training in the french foreign legion is. Legionnaires are highly trained infantry soldiers and the legion is unique in that it is open to foreign recruits willing to serve in the french armed forces. The french foreign legion accepts recruits from all over the world. French foreign legion adventures is collection of short stories beginning with the legion s involvement in the crimean war through the north african desert era, w. French foreign legion books meet your next favorite book. The world contains more misfits, sadists, masochists, and people who enjoy fighting than we sometimes like to suppose. High quality french foreign legion gifts and merchandise. Fighting for the french foreign legion by alex lochrie goodreads.
Another great book from somebody who can walk the walk. If you did your research, there wont be much new stuff for. Dien bien phu and the french defeat in vietnam by martin windrow, our f. French foreign legion in popular culture wikipedia. History uniforms headgear insignia weapons equipment by raymond guyader jun 28, 2014 4. Jean danjou was a french army officer and veteran of fighting in algeria when he volunteered for legion duty in 1852. Oct 14, 2010 the world contains more misfits, sadists, masochists, and people who enjoy fighting than we sometimes like to suppose. Before joining the french foreign legion 9 things you should know. Apr 10, 2017 one exception was the hohenlohe regiment, largely staffed by germans but including men of all nationalities.
History of the french foreign legion book depository. In july 2019, a new book dedicated to the french foreign legion and its history was released. When it was founded, the french foreign legion was. Historian douglas porch chronicles the legions involvement in spain, mexico, indochina, madagascar, wwi, vietnam, and algiers to name a few and delves into the inner workings of legionnaires and their captains.
The true experience of an american in the french foreign legion by jaime salazar and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. In an age when most of the worlds armies strive to. The legion absorbed many refugees who crowded into france as well as unemployed soldiers, such as members of the swiss regiments who had served the unpopular. Jun 29, 2017 book of the week at the edge of the world. They are volunteers of any nationality, race or creed, always ready to serve france. There are some photographs, but they were dark in the paperback book. Once inside the legion, wagemueller and his fellow ss compatriots form a unit led by nazi officers that eventually is deployed to vietnam, part of what was then known as french indochina, to. The hard truth about the foreign legion by max hastings the.
He is the author of the highly successful menatarms 300. This force, raised in 1815 after the defeat of napoleon when france was in disarray, was disbanded in 1831, its foreign troops incorporated into the newly formed french foreign legion that same year. Mar 20, 2019 langley author recounts service in the french foreign legion langleys joel struthers aims to educate the public on what service looks like in the legion. French foreign legion news, views, gossip, pictures. The french foreign legion remains one of the worlds most enigmatic military forces.
A handbook for potential candidates of the legion etrangere by thomas gast jul 30, 2018 5. Service in 2 rep of the foreign legion during the 1960s has resulted in an outstanding book that gives a great insight into the mental toughness and realities of soldiering in. Devils guard, by george robert elford published in 1971, is the story of a former german waffenss officers string of nearconstant combat that begins on world war iis eastern front and continues into the books focusthe first indochina war, as an officer in the french foreign legion. Created in france in 1831 and immediately posted to the scorching deserts of algeria, it went on to become a unit renowned for its cruel training regime and its absolute disregard for death in battle. Time was, films about the french foreign legion were themselves legion. Created as a temporary expedient in a french army that otherwise barred foreigners from serving in its ranks, the french foreign legion eventually. Americans in the french foreign legion the french foreign. French foreign legion for beginners book presentation youtube. The paratroopers of the french foreign legion are respected worldwide as some of the most skilled and dangerous soldiers on earth. Before joining the french foreign legion 9 things you. Five years in the french foreign legion 9780891418870. By outlining the legions vicissitudes, victorious campaigns, epic marches, heroic and sometimes hopeless stands, dirtiest combats and dramatic defeats, but also by briefly placing the legion back in the historical background of france, and by describing its development. Since its creation in 1831, the french foreign legion has become the stuff of.
French foreign legion adventures is collection of short stories beginning with the legions involvement in the crimean war through the north african desert era, w. French foreign legion since 1945 and menatarms 322. The foreign legions recruiting centers should be open 247365 yes, all year long officially. French foreign legion entry requirements and conditions. Best books about the french foreign legion from the past 20. But in the meantime it can be said that every legionnaire, be he in the jungles of tonkin, or on the boiling sand of the desert, should his time come, will be prepared to face death, either with a smile or a curse on his lips according to his own temperament, just as his predecessors have done in. This is what basic training in the french foreign legion. It answers to all faqs, like entry requirements and conditions of. Martin windrow is series editor at osprey and an authority on the postwar french army, particularly the foreign legion. Some characters mentioned in this book are morphs of several individuals. Created as a temporary expedient in a french army that otherwise barred foreigners from serving in. The book is presented by the author as nonfiction but considered to be untrue by military historians, and. Langley author recounts service in the french foreign legion langleys joel struthers aims to educate the public on what service looks like in the legion. One exception was the hohenlohe regiment, largely staffed by germans but including men of all nationalities.
Dec 26, 2019 join the conversation on twitterinstagram. Historian douglas porch chronicles the legion s involvement in spain, mexico, indochina, madagascar, wwi, vietnam, and algiers to name a few and delves into the inner workings of legionnaires and their captains. French foreign legion news, views, gossip, pictures, video. He is an associate of the royal historical society and of the foreign legion association of great britain. Not within the last 20 but you could try legionnaire. It can be used as a stepping stone to books,that cover all aspects of the legion in more depth.
French foreign legion for beginners book presentation. His first two years were with the 3 rd infantry regiment in french guyana, he then served seventeen years, attaining the rank of adjutant, in the elite 2 nd parachute regiment the only airborne unit in the french foreign legion, based on the island of corsica. The tigers of tonkin the history of the french foreign legion in indochina 18831945. Legion of the lost is a compelling, firsthand account of the contemporary french foreign legion, sure to dispel myths while, at the same time, add to the legend of the finest trained army of mercenaries the world has ever seen. If the idea of spending 12 weeks in boot camp is what keeps people from joining the marine corps, they should be thankful that its only that long. French foreign legion for beginners, available on amazon. Erwin james is writing a book called legion of honour, based on his experiences in the french foreign legion. Mitchell, an irish amateur historian and a wellknown foreign legion insignia collector read more andrew j. It answers to all faqs, like entry requirements and conditions of engagement. Jean danjou was a veteran of three wars, an amputee, and an allaround pimp when he slapped the crap out of mexican infantry with his prosthetic hand. The french war in indochina 194654 and the critically acclaimed the last valley. Mar 31, 2016 this book gives the reader,a concise history of the foreign legion. The foreign legion was founded by king louisphilippe on march 9, 1831, as a military unit to support the conquest of algeria, which the french had invaded the previous year.
The french foreign legion is a complete, captivating study of the famed fighting force, from its inception in 1831 to modern times. Wrens 1924 romantic novel, beau geste, unleashed a sandstorm of popular legioninspired celluloid. History, uniforms, headgear, insignia, weapons, equipment by raymond guyader 19 sep 2014 4. The hard truth about the foreign legion by max hastings. This book gives the reader,a concise history of the foreign legion. We follow sergeant steeles battles in the french foreign legion, all based on some of the legion s most epic and bloody battles. Braby is a specialist military book dealer currently based in hollywood, california. The true experience of an american in the french foreign legion. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours.
The french foreign legion and its most famous us legionnaires. Books about the history and activities of the french foreign legion. At the age of 23 he joined the french foreign legion, his school of life. But in the meantime it can be said that every legionnaire, be he in the jungles of tonkin, or on the boiling sand of the desert, should his time come, will be prepared to face death, either with a smile or a curse on. It could always be worse like in the french foreign legions four month basic training. This force, raised in 1815 after the defeat of napoleon when france was in disarray, was disbanded in 1831, its foreign troops incorporated.
During the 1920s, french foreign legion major william fosters gene hackmans unit is protecting an archaeological dig, but the discovery of an arab sacred burial site prompts the angry arab tribes to attack fosters small garrison. A canadian in the french foreign legion joel struthers, benoit desmeulles isbn. He is a series editor at osprey and an authority on the french foreign legion. Having said that,this book is still an interesting read. However, whatever is stated on the legions official website, enlisting in the legion during monday to friday between 08. The first four weeks are an introduction to military life. French foreign legion french foreign legion history.
Unlike most books on the legion, it starts at the beginning and continues to modern times. French foreign legion paratroops osprey publishing. French alps shooting patrice menegaldo had been interviewed as a witness after the 2012 shootings of saad alhilli and his family and french cyclist. This is the naziapologia war novel that apparently. As an integral part of the french army, the french foreign legion is a professional fighting unit using the same equipment and with the same missions as any other infantry, tank, or engineer unit of the french army. Five years in the french foreign legion by simon murray, beau geste by p. Aug 10, 2018 this book print and low price ebook is the perfect guide for anyone interested in joining the french foreign legion.
25 684 977 364 171 422 983 485 882 400 1377 796 369 173 1224 119 1423 636 741 1512 1513 136 109 1399 1277 925 1367 805 834 1408 1033 775 298 1245 1298 547 880 851 1184