Can someone please explain this to me. I keep hearing about it, but have no idea what it actual is? Some sort of elite unit? and any past things they have done?
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Briefly, a unit of the French military based in Corsica that is made up of non-French citizens who voluntarily joined the legion.
well the FFL is not based in corsica, there is a regiment of paratrooper in corsica, that is all..
all the candidat who enter the FFL declared that they are not french, but in fact there is french who say they are belgian , canadian or swiss, about 30%.
there are companies or regiments in guyana, africa, polinesia, france in mission in kosovo, serbia, liban ...........
the FFL is an elite unit about 8000 men. with regiment of infantry, cavalry, artillery etc.....
the glorious battle were cameron, where 65 legionnaires fight 2000 mexicans the 31 april 1863 during 12 hours. the five last survivors charged with the bayonet.
in china end of 19th century, 600 legionnaires resists 5 months to 20 000 chineses soldier.
FFL has won the most decoration during WW1
i have more example if you want like the location of regiment, it's composition,battle etc.......
all the candidat who enter the FFL declared that they are not french, but in fact there is french who say they are belgian , canadian or swiss, about 30%.
there are companies or regiments in guyana, africa, polinesia, france in mission in kosovo, serbia, liban ...........
the FFL is an elite unit about 8000 men. with regiment of infantry, cavalry, artillery etc.....
the glorious battle were cameron, where 65 legionnaires fight 2000 mexicans the 31 april 1863 during 12 hours. the five last survivors charged with the bayonet.
in china end of 19th century, 600 legionnaires resists 5 months to 20 000 chineses soldier.
FFL has won the most decoration during WW1
i have more example if you want like the location of regiment, it's composition,battle etc.......
the fact their best troops are 'foreign' doesn't say much for the french military does it
no. around 1900, a general of the FFL said to his men "you are legionaires for diying (die) so i send you where we die"
this sentence resume well the role of the FFL, a foreign dead is a french live saved.but their courage is respected in the french army and in the french population. there is something fascinating with.
and the fact they are foreign and that they choose france and give their lifes to it.
this sentence resume well the role of the FFL, a foreign dead is a french live saved.but their courage is respected in the french army and in the french population. there is something fascinating with.
and the fact they are foreign and that they choose france and give their lifes to it.
Foreign Legion, French volunteer armed force composed chiefly, in its enlisted ranks, of foreigners. Its international character and the tradition of not revealing enlistees' backgrounds have helped to surround the Foreign Legion with an aura of mystery and romance. Although foreigners had served in French armies previously, King Louis Philippe created (1831) this specific foreign legion.
Originally intended to pacify Algeria, the legion also was active in the pacification of Morocco and fought in other areas of the French colonial empire and in both world wars. It was later active in the French campaigns in Indochina and Algeria. One regiment of the legion supported Algerian insurgency against the French government (1961) and was rapidly disbanded.
The legion was normally stationed in Algeria until 1962, when its headquarters were transferred to S France, near Marseilles. The army's regiments were scattered throughout the world. There have been many other foreign legions; e.g., a British legion participated in the Carlist Wars in Spain, and in the Spanish civil war (1936–39) the International Brigade fought on the Loyalist side.
Originally intended to pacify Algeria, the legion also was active in the pacification of Morocco and fought in other areas of the French colonial empire and in both world wars. It was later active in the French campaigns in Indochina and Algeria. One regiment of the legion supported Algerian insurgency against the French government (1961) and was rapidly disbanded.
The legion was normally stationed in Algeria until 1962, when its headquarters were transferred to S France, near Marseilles. The army's regiments were scattered throughout the world. There have been many other foreign legions; e.g., a British legion participated in the Carlist Wars in Spain, and in the Spanish civil war (1936–39) the International Brigade fought on the Loyalist side.
Le Legion D'Etrangers is the most famous French unit today. They currently operate just as they did years ago, except they are slightly more open to the public with their policies and are not quite as cruel as they may have been.
The lowest legionaire makes a few thousand francs a month, which is less (including taxes and exchange rates) than the basic American military private salery. You also will recieve a modest benifit plan similar to that of regular professional French soldiers.
Most people do not join the legion because they want money, and that is why many do not concider them mercinaries. Most people join the legion because of the prestiege. Telling someone that you were in the French Foreign Legion is quite an attention getter. (and woman getter for that matter)
Ofcourse that does not mean everyone in the legion loves it. It is hard, labourous, boring work in most ways. The FFL has a high rate of disertion, and an adverage turnover rate.
You would only have the technology of the French nation on your side, and their money too. That means if France goes to war with the US, or possibly Britain, you may not always be on the winning side. (like that's going to happen). The advantage of the FFL from a military point of view is the extreme comrodery which will ensure that you are not betrayed by your own unit when it counts.
To join you do not have to speak French, but you must enter France without their help by optaining some sort of entrance visa. They may or may not reject you if you are a murderor or other hanious criminal. If you are not honest you will have much trouble. The worse your crime, the lower your chance. That is not to say that all legionairs are criminals, hardly.
The FFL has an easily accecible site in many languages, which I reccomend.
The lowest legionaire makes a few thousand francs a month, which is less (including taxes and exchange rates) than the basic American military private salery. You also will recieve a modest benifit plan similar to that of regular professional French soldiers.
Most people do not join the legion because they want money, and that is why many do not concider them mercinaries. Most people join the legion because of the prestiege. Telling someone that you were in the French Foreign Legion is quite an attention getter. (and woman getter for that matter)
Ofcourse that does not mean everyone in the legion loves it. It is hard, labourous, boring work in most ways. The FFL has a high rate of disertion, and an adverage turnover rate.
You would only have the technology of the French nation on your side, and their money too. That means if France goes to war with the US, or possibly Britain, you may not always be on the winning side. (like that's going to happen). The advantage of the FFL from a military point of view is the extreme comrodery which will ensure that you are not betrayed by your own unit when it counts.
To join you do not have to speak French, but you must enter France without their help by optaining some sort of entrance visa. They may or may not reject you if you are a murderor or other hanious criminal. If you are not honest you will have much trouble. The worse your crime, the lower your chance. That is not to say that all legionairs are criminals, hardly.
The FFL has an easily accecible site in many languages, which I reccomend.
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It is the second thread, I read today where you demonstrate your strong francophobia.
If you have some problems with Frenchmen, please keep it for you !!!
Who cares?
rather, let him ponder why some of the best soldiers in the British Army are some of the sikher people on this planet!
Argh! Terrible joke!
As far as the FFL site given above, VERY interesting. I had only an inkling about the history of the unit. I always thought it was less selective than it (apparently) is.
O.
As far as the FFL site given above, VERY interesting. I had only an inkling about the history of the unit. I always thought it was less selective than it (apparently) is.
O.
Couldn't resist
And after all, the Gurkhas ARE mercenaries, whereas the Foreign Legion definetely isn't.
It is selective because it can afford to be. Don't be mistaken, though, they're a bunch of nasty toughs you don't want to mess with.
And after all, the Gurkhas ARE mercenaries, whereas the Foreign Legion definetely isn't.
It is selective because it can afford to be. Don't be mistaken, though, they're a bunch of nasty toughs you don't want to mess with.
Taken from the site:
Since 1831, 902 officers, 3,176 NCOs, and over 30,000 legionnaires have died for France; one third of them while fighting directly for the defense of the country.
I wonder how many that is in relation to the total amount of recruits?
Since 1831, 902 officers, 3,176 NCOs, and over 30,000 legionnaires have died for France; one third of them while fighting directly for the defense of the country.
I wonder how many that is in relation to the total amount of recruits?
there is 1 place for 9 candidats who went to enter the legion so they have the choice to take the best of the best.
Originally posted by Sire Enaique
Couldn't resist
And after all, the Gurkhas ARE mercenaries, whereas the Foreign Legion definetely isn't.
It is selective because it can afford to be. Don't be mistaken, though, they're a bunch of nasty toughs you don't want to mess with.
As far as I know though the Gurkhas are some of the loyalist forces in the UK military. Although I do take your point but I believe that the Gurkhas aren't mercenary.
Although they are undervalued there's a campaign to allow war widows and Gurkha veterans to have the same or a comparable amount as any other war widow or veteran receives from the MoD.
theres a story (possibly urban legend ) about a dude who had served the minimum 5yrs in the foreign legion, then went home (finland), only to be drafted into the finnish compulsory 1yr service, which is all about drudge work.
Anyway, this dude had seen some battle during his service so he was less than thrilled to become a "recruit", learning how to march etc..
When trainers finally found out who he actually was, he got a immediate promoton to officer. Got to be one of the fastest no-war promotions, neh?
) about a dude who had served the minimum 5yrs in the foreign legion, then went home (finland), only to be drafted into the finnish compulsory 1yr service, which is all about drudge work.Anyway, this dude had seen some battle during his service so he was less than thrilled to become a "recruit", learning how to march etc..
When trainers finally found out who he actually was, he got a immediate promoton to officer. Got to be one of the fastest no-war promotions, neh?