Editing French Foreign Legion

{{Short description|Corps of the French Army, which is partly made up of foreign nationals}}
{{Redirect|Legionnaire}} {{other uses|French Legion}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name                     = French Foreign Legion
| native_name                   = {{lang|fr| Légion étrangère}}
| image                         = Grenade legion.svg
| image_size                    = 140px
| caption                       = The Foreign Legion's emblem
| dates                         = 10 March 1831 – present
| country                       = {{flag|France}}
| branch                        = {{flagicon image|Logo of the French Army (Armee de Terre).svg}} [[French Army]]
| type                          = [[Assault troops]]<br />[[Light Infantry]]<br />[[Foreign volunteers|Foreign legion]]
| role                          = [[Land warfare]]<br />[[Expeditionary warfare]]<br />[[Airborne forces]]<br />[[Special operations|Special Operations Capable]]
| size                          = 9,000 soldiers
| commander1                    = [[Brigadier General]] [[Cyrille Youchtchenko]]<ref name="FFLCommandant">{{cite web |title=The COMLE |url=https://www.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/pages.php?id=32&titre=Le-COMLE |website=Legion Etrangere |language=Fr}}</ref>
| commander1_label              = [[Foreign Legion Command|Commander]]
| garrison                      = 
| ceremonial_chief              = 
| ceremonial_chief_label        = 
| colonel_of_the_regiment       = 
| colours                       = Red and Green<br /><br />{{legend2|#155514|[[Green beret|Green]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}<ref name="FFLTraditions">{{cite web |title=French Foreign Legion Traditions |url=http://foreignlegion.info/traditions/ |website=Foreign Legion Info |date=30 June 2016}}</ref><ref name="Uniform1">{{cite web |title=French Foreign Legion Uniforms |url=http://foreignlegion.info/uniforms/ |website=Foreign Legion Info}}</ref>
| colours_label                 = Branch colours<br /><br />Colour of Beret
| nickname                      = {{lang|fr|La Légion}}<br />"The Legion"
| patron                        = [[Anthony the Great|Saint Anthony]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.archives.defense.gouv.fr/portail/dossiers/le-saviez-vous/le-saviez-vous-les-militaires-aussi-ont-leurs-saints-patrons|title=Le saviez-vous ? Les militaires aussi ont leurs saints patrons!|date=21 January 2022|website= Ministère des Armées}}</ref>
| motto                         = [[Honneur et Fidélité]]<br />[[Honneur et Fidélité|Legio Patria Nostra]]<ref name="auto">{{citation |url=http://www.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=80&idA=110&block=6&idA_SM=0&titre=legion-etrangere-aujourd-hui |title=Official Website of the General Command of the Foreign Legion }}</ref>
| identification_symbol         = [[File:Flag of legion.svg|100px]]
| identification_symbol_label   = Non-ceremonial flag
| identification_symbol_2       = 
| identification_symbol_2_label = Logotype
| identification_symbol_3       = 
| identification_symbol_3_label = 
| identification_symbol_4       = FFL (English)<br />L.É. (French)
| identification_symbol_4_label = Abbreviation
| march                         = [[Le Boudin]]<ref name="youtube.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QC6-AhOmnCk| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/QC6-AhOmnCk| archive-date=2021-12-11 | url-status=live|title=Le Boudin – Musique de la Légion étrangère (vidéo officielle)|last=Musique de la Légion étrangère|date=16 April 2013|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
| mascot                        = 
| battles                       = 
{{tree list}}
* [[French conquest of Algeria]]
* [[First Carlist War]]
* [[Crimean War]]
* [[Second Italian War of Independence]]
* [[Second French intervention in Mexico|French intervention in Mexico]]
* [[French campaign against Korea]]
* [[Franco-Prussian War]]
* [[Sino-French War]]
* [[Second Franco-Dahomean War]]
* [[Second Madagascar expedition]]
* [[Mandingo Wars]]
* [[World War I]]
* [[Army of the Levant|Levant Campaign]]
* [[Rif War]]
* [[World War II]]
** [[Syria–Lebanon Campaign]]
* [[Indochina War|First Indochina War]]
* [[Algerian War]]
* [[Chadian-Libyan conflict]]
* [[Shaba II]]
* [[Lebanese Civil War|Lebanese Civil War 1975–1990]]
** [[United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon|United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (1978–present)]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/unifil/|title=United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)}}</ref>
** [[Multinational Force in Lebanon|Multinational Force in Lebanon 1982–1984]]
* [[Gulf War]]
* [[War on terror]] (2001–2008)
** [[Operation Enduring Freedom]]
** [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|War in Afghanistan]]
* [[First Ivorian Civil War]]
* [[Second Ivorian Civil War]]
* [[Northern Mali conflict]]
* [[Central African Republic Civil War]] (2012–2021)
**[[Central African Republic conflict (2013–2014)]]
**[[Operation Sangaris]]<br>(2013–2016)
**[[European Union Military Operation in the Central African Republic]] (2014–2015)
{{tree list/end}}
| notable_commanders            = [[Général]] [[Paul-Frédéric Rollet]]
| anniversaries                 = [[Battle of Camarón|Camerone Day]] (30 April)
| website                       = {{url|https://legion-etrangere.com/}} (official website)<br />{{url|https://legion-recrute.com/}} (official recruitment website)
}}
The '''French Foreign Legion''' ({{langx|fr|Légion étrangère}}, also known simply as {{lang|fr|la Légion}}, "'''the Legion'''") is an elite [[corps]] of the [[French Army]] created to allow [[List of militaries that recruit foreigners|foreign nationals]] into French service.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Légion étrangère |url=https://www.legion-recrute.com/en |access-date=2022-03-10 |website=www.legion-recrute.com |language=en}}</ref> The Legion was founded in 1831 and today consists of several specialties, namely [[infantry]], [[Armoured Cavalry Arm|cavalry]], [[Military engineering|engineers]], and [[Airborne forces|airborne troops]].<ref>{{cite web|title=L'essentiel sur la Légion|url=https://www.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/test|access-date=2022-01-11|website=www.legion-etrangere.com|language=fr-FR}}{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> It formed part of the [[Army of Africa (France)|Armée d’Afrique]], French Army units associated with [[French colonial empire|France's colonial project in North Africa]], until the end of the [[Algerian War]] in 1962.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jean|first=Des Vallières |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/155659405 |title=Et voici la Legion Etrangere |date=1963 |publisher=Éditions André Bonne |oclc=155659405}}; Anthony Clayton, "France, Soldiers, and Africa," Brassey's, 1988.</ref>

Legionnaires are today renowned as highly trained soldiers whose training focuses on traditional military skills and on the Legion's strong ''[[Morale|esprit de corps]]'', as its men come from different countries with different cultures. Consequently, training is often described as not only physically challenging, but also very stressful psychologically. Legionnaires may apply for French citizenship after three years' service, or immediately after being wounded in the line of duty: This latter provision is known as "{{lang|fr|Français par le sang versé}}" ("French by spilled blood").<ref name="Tweedie" />

== History ==
{{Main|History of the French Foreign Legion}}

The Foreign Legion was created by [[Louis Philippe I|Louis Philippe]],<ref>[[Louis Philippe I|The Duke of Orleans]] was a former [[Lieutenant-General (France)|Lieutenant-General]].</ref> the [[List of French monarchs|King of the French]], on 10 March 1831 to allow the incorporation of [[List of militaries that recruit foreigners|foreign nationals]] into the [[French Army]] from the [[Origins of the French Foreign Legion|foreign regiments]] of the [[Kingdom of France]].<ref>{{cite web |date=2021-03-11 |title=Is Foreign Legion still an elite, international fighting force? |url=https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20210311-is-french-foreign-legion-still-an-elite-international-fighting-force-covid-19-diversity-military |access-date=2022-01-14 |website=RFI |language=en}}</ref> Recruits included soldiers from the recently disbanded Swiss and German foreign regiments of the [[Bourbon monarchy]].<ref>{{cite book| author=Douglas Porch| title=The French Foreign Legion: A Complete History| date= 1991| isbn=978-0-333-58500-9| pages=3–4| publisher=Macmillan}}</ref> The Royal Ordinance for the establishment of the new regiment specified that the foreigners recruited could only serve outside France.<ref>{{cite book| author=Douglas Porch| title=The French Foreign Legion: A Complete History| date= 1991| isbn=978-0-333-58500-9| page=1| publisher=Macmillan}}</ref> The French expeditionary force that had occupied [[Algiers]] in 1830 was in need of reinforcements, and the Legion was accordingly transferred by sea in detachments from [[Toulon]] to Algeria.<ref name="Tweedie">{{Cite web |last=Wharton |first=James |title=Can I run away and join the French Foreign Legion? |url=https://www.forces.net/stories/can-i-run-away-and-join-french-foreign-legion |access-date=2022-03-02 |website=Forces Network |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book| author=Douglas Porch| title=The French Foreign Legion: A Complete History| date= 1991| isbn=978-0-333-58500-9| pages=11–13| publisher=Macmillan}}</ref>
Since its establishment in 1831, the Legion has consisted of hundreds of thousands in active service at its peak, and suffered the aggregated loss of nearly 40,000 men<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/page.php?id=474&titre=La-Legion-ne-pleure-pas-ses-morts-elle-les-honore |language=fr |last=Maurin |first=Jean, Général |author-link=Jean Maurin |date=4 November 2016 |title=La Légion ne pleure pas ses morts, elle les honore ! |work=French Foreign legion |access-date=7 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191007183056/https://www.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/page.php?id=474&titre=La-Legion-ne-pleure-pas-ses-morts-elle-les-honore |url-status=live |archive-date=7 October 2019}}</ref> in [[France]], [[Algeria]], [[Morocco]], [[Tunisia]], [[Madagascar]], [[West Africa]], [[Mexico]], [[Italy]], [[Crimea]], [[Spain]], [[Indo-China]], [[Norway]], [[Syria]], [[Chad]], [[Zaïre]], [[Lebanon]], [[Central Africa]], [[Gabon]], [[Kuwait]], [[Rwanda]], [[Djibouti]], former [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]], [[Somalia]], the [[Republic of Congo]], [[Ivory Coast]], [[Afghanistan]], [[Mali]], as well as others. The Legion was primarily used to help protect and expand the [[French colonial empire]] during the 19th century. The Foreign Legion was initially stationed only in [[French Algeria|Algeria]], where it took part in the [[Pacification of Algeria|Algerian genocide]] and destruction of the natural habitat of the colony. Subsequently, the Foreign Legion was deployed in a number of conflicts, including the [[First Carlist War]] in 1835, the [[Crimean War]] in 1854, the [[Second Italian War of Independence]] in 1859, the [[Second French intervention in Mexico|French intervention in Mexico]] in 1863, the [[Franco-Prussian War]] in 1870, the [[Tonkin Campaign]] and [[Sino-French War]] in 1883, supporting growth of the [[French colonial empire]] in [[Sub-Saharan Africa]], the [[Second Franco-Dahomean War]] in 1892, the [[Second Madagascar expedition]] in 1895 and the [[Mandingo Wars]] in 1894. In [[World War I]], the Foreign Legion fought in many critical battles on the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]]. It played a smaller role in [[World War II]] than in World War I, however, participated in the [[Norwegian Campaign|Norwegian]], [[Syria-Lebanon Campaign|Syrian]] and [[North African Campaign|North African]] campaigns. During the [[First Indochina War]] (1946–1954), the Foreign Legion saw its numbers swell. In Vietnam, the Legion lost a large number of men in the catastrophic [[Battle of Dien Bien Phu]] against forces of the [[Viet Minh]].

Subsequent military campaigns included those during the [[Suez Crisis]], the [[Battle of Algiers (1957)|Battle of Algiers]] and various offensives in Algeria launched by [[Maurice Challe|General Maurice Challe]] including Operation Oranie and [[Operation Jumelles]]. During the [[Algerian War|Algerian War of Independence]] (1954–1962), the Foreign Legion came close to being disbanded after some officers, men, and the highly decorated [[List of French paratrooper units|1st Foreign Parachute Regiment]] (1<sup>er</sup> REP) took part in the [[Algiers putsch of 1961|Generals' putsch]]. In the 1960s and 1970s, Legion regiments had additional roles in sending units as a [[rapid deployment force]] to preserve French interests – in its former African colonies and in other nations as well; it also returned to its roots of being a unit always ready to be sent to conflict zones around the world.

Some notable operations include the [[Chadian–Libyan conflict]] in 1969–1972 (the first time that the Legion was sent in operations after the Algerian War), 1978–1979, and 1983–1987; [[Kolwezi]] in what is now the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]] in May 1978. In 1981, the [[1st Foreign Regiment]] and Foreign Legion regiments took part in the [[Multinational Force in Lebanon]]. In 1990, Foreign Legion regiments were sent to the [[Persian Gulf]] and participated in [[Opération Daguet]], part of [[Division Daguet]]. Following the [[Gulf War]] in the 1990s, the Foreign Legion helped with the evacuation of French citizens and foreigners in [[Rwanda]], Gabon and [[Zaire]]. The Foreign Legion was also deployed to [[Cambodia]], [[Somalia]], [[Sarajevo]], Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the mid-to late 1990s, the Foreign Legion was deployed to the [[Central African Republic]], [[Republic of the Congo|Congo-Brazzaville]] and in [[Kosovo]]. The French Foreign Legion also took part in operations in Rwanda in 1990–1994; and the [[Ivory Coast]] from 2002 to the present. In the 2000s, the Foreign Legion was deployed to [[Operation Enduring Freedom]] in Afghanistan, [[Opération Licorne]] in Ivory Coast, the [[EUFOR Tchad/RCA]] in Chad, and [[Operation Serval]] in the [[Northern Mali conflict]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324235104578242993426029234 |url-access=subscription|title=France Widens Military Effort in Mali |first=Drew |last=Hinshaw |author2=Gauthier-Villars, David |date=15 January 2013| work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]}}</ref> 

As discussed [[#Emulation by other countries|below]], other countries have attempted to emulate the French Foreign Legion model. The Foreign Legion was primarily used, as part of the ''[[Army of Africa (France)|Armée d'Afrique]]'', to protect and expand the [[French colonial empire]] during the 19th century, but it also fought in almost all French wars including the [[Franco-Prussian War]], World War I and World War II. The Foreign Legion has remained an important part of the French Army, and sea transport protected by the [[French Navy]] survived three Republics, the [[Second French Empire]], two World Wars, the rise and fall of mass [[Conscription|conscript armies]], the dismantling of the French colonial empire, and the loss of the Foreign Legion's base, Algeria.

===Conquest of Algeria 1830–1847===
{{Main|Origins of the French Foreign Legion|2nd Foreign Legion (2LE)|1st Foreign Regiment|2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment}}

Created to fight "outside [[Metropolitan France|mainland France]]", the Foreign Legion was stationed in [[French Algeria|Algeria]], where it took part in the [[Pacification of Algeria|Algerian genocide]] and destruction of the natural habitat of the colony, notably by drying the marshes in the region of [[Algiers]]. The Foreign Legion was initially divided into six "national battalions" (Swiss, Poles, Germans, Italians, Spanish, and Dutch-Belgian).<ref>{{cite book| author=Douglas Porch| title=The French Foreign Legion: A Complete History| date= 1991| isbn=978-0-333-58500-9| page=14| publisher=Macmillan}}</ref> Smaller national groups, such as ten Englishmen recorded in December 1832, appear to have been placed randomly.

In late 1831, the first legionnaires landed in Algeria, the country that shaped its character and became the Foreign Legion's homeland for 130 years. The early years in Algeria were hard on the legion because it was often sent to the worst postings and received the worst assignments, and its members were generally uninterested in the new colony of the French.<ref name="Algeria">Porch pp. 17–18</ref> The Legion served alongside the [[Bat' d'Af'|Battalions of Light Infantry of Africa]], formed in 1832, which was a [[penal military unit]] made up of men with prison records who still had to do their military service or soldiers with serious disciplinary problems.

The Foreign Legion's first service in Algeria came to an end after only four years, as it was needed elsewhere.

===Carlist War 1835–1839===
{{Main|Origins of the French Foreign Legion|2nd Foreign Legion (2LE)|First Carlist War}}

The French government sent the Foreign Legion to Spain to support [[Isabella II]]’s claim to the Spanish throne against her uncle. On 28 June 1835, the unit was handed over to the Spanish government. The Foreign Legion landed via sea at [[Tarragona]] on 17 August with around 1,400 who were quickly dubbed ''Los Argelinos'' (the Algerians) by locals because of their previous posting.

The Foreign Legion's commander immediately dissolved the national battalions to improve the ''esprit de corps''. Later, he also created three squadrons of lancers and an artillery battery from the existing force to increase independence and flexibility. The Foreign Legion was dissolved on 8 December 1838, when it had dropped to only 500 men. The survivors returned to France, many reenlisting in the new Foreign Legion along with many of their former [[Carlism|Carlist]] enemies.

===Crimean War===
{{Main|Crimean War}}

On 9 June 1854, the [[French ship Jean Bart (1852)|French ship ''Jean Bart'']] [[French Navy|embarked]] four battalions of the Foreign Legion for the [[Crimean Peninsula]]. A further battalion was stationed at [[Gallipoli]] as brigade depot.<ref name="Douglas Porch page 124">{{cite book| author=Douglas Porch| title=The French Foreign Legion: A Complete History| date= 1991| isbn=978-0-333-58500-9| page=124| publisher=Macmillan}}</ref> Eight companies drawn from both regiments of the Foreign Legion took part in the [[Battle of Alma]] (20 September 1854). Reinforcements by sea brought the Legion contingent up to brigade strength. As the "Foreign Brigade", it served in the [[Siege of Sevastopol (1854–1855)|Siege of Sevastopol]], during the winter of 1854–1855.<ref>{{cite book| author=Pierre Montagnon| title=L'Armee d'Afriqu2| date= 2012| isbn=978-2-7564-0574-2| pages=56–57 | publisher=Pygmalion}}</ref> 

The lack of equipment was particularly challenging and [[cholera]] hit the Allied expeditionary force. Nevertheless, the "leather bellies" (the nickname given to the legionnaires by the Russians because of the large cartridge pouches that they wore attached to their waist-belts), performed well. On 21 June 1855, the Third Battalion, left Corsica for Crimea.

On 8 September the final assault was launched on [[Sevastopol]]. Two days later, the Second Foreign Regiment with flags and band playing ahead, marched through the streets of Sevastopol. Although initial reservations had been expressed about whether the Legion should be used outside Africa,<ref name="Douglas Porch page 124" /> the Crimean experience established its suitability for service in European warfare, as well as making a cohesive single entity of what had previously been two separate foreign regiments.<ref>{{cite book| author=Douglas Porch| title=The French Foreign Legion: A Complete History| date= 1991| isbn=978-0-333-58500-9| pages=127–128 | publisher=Macmillan}}</ref> Legion casualties in the Crimea were 1,703 killed and wounded out of total French losses by battle and disease of 95,615.<ref>{{cite book| author=Pierre Montagnon| title=L'Armee d'Afrique| date= 2012| isbn=978-2-7564-0574-2| page=63 | publisher=Pygmalion}}</ref>

===Italian Campaign 1859===
{{Main|Second Italian War of Independence}}

Like the rest of the "[[Army of Africa (France)|Army of Africa]]", the Foreign Legion provided detachments in the campaign of Italy. Two foreign regiments, grouped with the 2nd Regiment of [[Zouave]]s, were part of the Second [[Brigade]] of the Second [[Division (military)|Division]] of [[Patrice de Mac-Mahon, Duke of Magenta|Mac Mahon]]'s [[Corps]]. The Foreign Legion acquitted itself particularly well against the [[Austrian Empire|Austrians]] at the [[battle of Magenta]] (4 June 1859) and at the [[Battle of Solferino]] (24 June). Legion losses were significant and the [[2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (France)|2nd Foreign Regiment]] lost Colonel Chabrière, its commanding officer. In gratitude, the city of [[Milan]] awarded, in 1909, the "commemorative medal of deliverance", which still adorns the regimental flags of the Second Regiment.<ref>In ''Le livre d'or de la Légion étrangère'', p. 66.</ref>

===Mexican Expedition 1863–1867===
{{Main|Second French intervention in Mexico|Battle of Camarón}}

[[File:Légionnaire-Mexique.JPG|thumb|upright|Uniform of a legionnaire during the 1863 Mexican campaign]]

The 38,000 strong French expeditionary force dispatched to Mexico via sea between 1862 and 1863 included two battalions of the Foreign Legion, increased to six battalions by 1866. Small cavalry and artillery units were raised from legionnaires serving in Mexico. The original intention was that Foreign Legion units should remain in Mexico for up to six years to provide a core for the Imperial Mexican Army.<ref>René Chartrand, ''The Mexican Adventure 1861–67'', p. 19, {{ISBN|978-1855324305}}</ref> However the Legion was withdrawn with the other French forces during February–March 1867.

It was in Mexico on 30 April 1863 that the Legion earned its legendary status. A company led by Captain [[Jean Danjou]], numbering 62 Legionnaires and 3 Legion officers, was escorting a convoy to [[Siege of Puebla (1863)|the besieged city of Puebla]] when it was [[Battle of Camarón|attacked and besieged]] by three thousand Mexican loyalists,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/life/microsites/E/escape_to_the_legion/legion.html|title=About the Foreign Legion|access-date=9 March 2007}}</ref> organised in two [[battalion]]s of infantry and cavalry, numbering 2,200 and 800 respectively.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}} The Legion detachment under Danjou, [[Ranks in the French Army|Sous-Lieutenant]] {{ill|Jean Vilain|fr|vertical-align=sup}}, and Sous-Lieutenant {{ill|Clément Maudet|fr|vertical-align=sup}}<ref name="2rei.legion-etrangere.com">{{citation |url=http://2rei.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=143&idA=28&block=15&idA_SM=0&titre=historique-du-2e-rei |work=Official Website of the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment |title=Historique du 2 REI, La Creation (Creation) |access-date=13 July 2015 |archive-date=30 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630212436/http://2rei.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=143&idA=28&block=15&idA_SM=0&titre=historique-du-2e-rei |url-status=dead }}</ref> made a stand in the ''Hacienda de la Trinidad'' – a farm near the village of Camarone.  When only six survivors remained, out of ammunition, a [[Bayonet|bayonet assault]] was launched in which three of the six were killed. The remaining three wounded men were brought before the Mexican commander Colonel [[Francisco de Paula Milán|Milán]], who allowed them to return to the French lines as an honor guard for the body of Danjou. The captain had a wooden hand, which was later returned to the Legion and is now kept in a case in the Legion Museum at Aubagne and paraded annually on Camerone Day. It is the Foreign Legion's most precious relic.

[[File:Main Danjou.gif|thumb|left|[[Jean Danjou]]'s prosthetic wooden hand]]

During the Mexican Campaign, 6,654 French died. Of these, 1,918 were from a single regiment of the Legion.<ref name="neeno">{{cite web |url=http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/19thcentury/articles/frenchinmexico.aspx |title=The French Intervention in Mexico (1862–67) |last=Neeno |first=Timothy |publisher=Military History Online |access-date=26 February 2011 |archive-date=30 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330000851/http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/19thcentury/articles/FrenchInMexico.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Franco-Prussian War 1870===
{{Main|Franco-Prussian War|Alsace-Lorraine}}

According to French law, the Foreign Legion was not to be used within [[Metropolitan France]] except in the case of a national invasion,<ref>Martin Windrow, p. 5, ''Our Friends Beneath the Sands'',  {{ISBN|978-0-297-85213-1}}</ref> and was consequently not a part of Napoleon III's Imperial Army that capitulated at [[Battle of Sedan (1870)|Sedan]]. With the defeat of the Imperial Army, the [[Second French Empire]] fell and the [[French Third Republic|Third Republic]] was created.

The new Third Republic was desperately short of trained soldiers following Sedan, so the Foreign Legion was ordered to provide a contingent. On 11 October 1870 two provisional battalions disembarked via sea at [[Toulon]], the first time the Foreign Legion had been deployed in France itself. It attempted to lift the [[Siege of Paris (1870–1871)|Siege of Paris]] by breaking through the German lines. It succeeded in retaking [[Second Battle of Orléans (1870)|Orléans]], but failed to break the siege. In January 1871, France capitulated but civil war soon broke out, which led to revolution and the short-lived [[Paris Commune]]. The Foreign Legion participated in the suppression of the Commune,<ref>{{cite book|last=Lepage|first=Jean-Denis G.G. |title=The French Foreign Legion: An Illustrated History|year=2008|publisher=Mc Farland & Co. Inc|location=US|isbn=978-0786432394|page=60|url=https://www.google.ie/search?tbm=bks&hl=en&q=The+French+Foreign+Legion%3A+An+Illustrated+History&btnG=}}</ref> which was crushed with great bloodshed.

===Tonkin Campaign and Sino-French War 1883–1888===
{{Main|Tonkin Campaign|Sino-French War}}

[[File:Legion sniper, Tuyen Quang.jpg|thumb|upright|A Legionnaire sniper at [[Siege of Tuyên Quang|Tuyên Quang]]]]

The Foreign Legion's First Battalion (Lieutenant-Colonel Donnier) [[French Navy|sailed]] to Tonkin in late 1883, during the period of undeclared hostilities that preceded the [[Sino-French War]] (August 1884 to April 1885), and formed part of the attack column that stormed the western gate of [[Sơn Tây Campaign|Sơn Tây]] on 16 December. The Second and Third Infantry Battalions (''chef de bataillon'' Diguet and Lieutenant-Colonel Schoeffer) were also deployed to Tonkin shortly afterwards, and were present in all the major campaigns of the Sino-French War. Two Foreign Legion companies led the defence at the celebrated [[Siege of Tuyên Quang]] (24 November 1884 to 3 March 1885). In January 1885 the Foreign Legion's 4th Battalion (''chef de bataillon'' Vitalis) was deployed to the French bridgehead at Keelung (Jilong) in Formosa (Taiwan), where it took part in the later battles of the [[Keelung Campaign]]. The battalion played an important role in Colonel [[Jacques Duchesne]]'s offensive in March 1885 that captured the key Chinese positions of La Table and Fort Bamboo and disengaged Keelung.

In December 1883, during a review of the Second Legion Battalion on the eve of its departure for Tonkin to take part in the [[Bắc Ninh Campaign]], General [[Oscar de Négrier|François de Négrier]] pronounced a famous ''mot'': ''Vous, légionnaires, vous êtes soldats pour mourir, et je vous envoie où l'on meurt!'' ('You, Legionnaires, you are soldiers in order to die, and I'm sending you to where one dies!')

===Colonization of Africa===
[[File:Bonifacio Légion JPG1.jpg|thumb|upright|Monument commemorating the soldiers of the Foreign Legion killed on duty during the South-Oranese campaign (1897–1902).]]

As part of the [[Army of Africa (France)|Army of Africa]], the Foreign Legion contributed to the expansion of the [[French colonial empire]] in [[Sub-Saharan Africa]]. Simultaneously, the Legion took part to the [[pacification of Algeria]], suppressing various tribal rebellions and [[Ghazi (warrior)#Razzia|razzias]].

====Second Franco-Dahomean War 1892–1894====
{{Main|Second Franco-Dahomean War}}

In 1892, [[Béhanzin|King Béhanzin]] ordered his soldiers to attack villages near [[Grand Popo]] and [[Porto-Novo]] (in modern-day [[Benin]]) in an effort to reassert the older boundaries of Dahomey. King Béhanzin rejected complaints by the French, who proceeded to declare war

A battalion, led by commandant Faurax Montier, was formed from two companies of the First Foreign Regiment and two others from the second regiment. From [[Cotonou]], the legionnaires marched to seize [[Abomey]], the capital of the [[Dahomey|Kingdom of Dahomey]]. Two and a half months were needed to reach the city, at the cost of repeated battles against the Dahomean warriors, especially the [[Dahomey Amazons|Amazons of the King]]. King Behanzin surrendered and was captured by the legionnaires in January 1894.

====Second Madagascar Expedition 1894–1895====
{{Main|Second Madagascar expedition}}

In 1895, a battalion formed by the First and Second Foreign Regiments was sent to the [[Merina Kingdom|Kingdom of Madagascar]] as part of an expeditionary force whose mission was to conquer the island. The foreign battalion formed the backbone of the column launched on [[Antananarivo]], the capital of Madagascar. After a few skirmishes, Queen [[Ranavalona III]] promptly surrendered.<ref name="books.google.com">{{cite book| author=Philip D. Curtin| title=Disease and Empire: The Health of European Troops in the Conquest of Africa| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jVRF8hDyhpgC&pg=PA186| date=
1998| publisher=Cambridge University Press| isbn=978-0-521-59835-4| page=186}}</ref><ref>''Cambridge history of Africa'', p. 530</ref> The Foreign Legion lost 226 men, only a tenth of whom died during actual combat. Others, like much of the expeditionary force, died from tropical diseases.<ref name="books.google.com"/> Despite the success of the expedition, the quelling of sporadic rebellions would take another eight years until 1905, when the island was completely pacified by the French under [[Joseph Gallieni]].<ref name="books.google.com" /> During that time, insurrections against the Malagasy Christians of the island, missionaries and foreigners were particularly terrible.<ref>{{cite book| author=Herbert Ingram Priestly| title=France Overseas: A Study Of Modern Imperialism, 1938| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BOopmtvrsOAC&pg=PA308| date=1967| publisher=Routledge| isbn=978-0-7146-1024-5| page=308}}</ref> Queen [[Ranavalona III]] was deposed in January 1897 and was exiled to [[Algiers]] in Algeria, where she died in 1917.<ref>[[Musée de l'Armée]] exhibit, Paris</ref>

====Mandingo War 1898====
{{Main|Mandingo Wars}}

From 1882 until his capture, [[Samori Ture]], ruler of the [[Wassoulou Empire]], fought the French colonial army, defeating them on several occasions, including a [[Battles of Woyowoyanko|notable victory at Woyowayanko]] (2 April 1882), in the face of French heavy [[artillery]]. Nonetheless, Samori was forced to sign several treaties ceding territory to the French between 1886 and 1889. Samori began a steady retreat, but the fall of other resistance armies, particularly [[Babemba Traoré]] at [[Sikasso]], permitted the colonial army to launch a concentrated assault against his forces. A battalion of two companies from the 2nd Foreign Regiment was created in early 1894 to pacify the [[Niger]]. The Legionnaires' victory at the fortress of Ouilla and police patrols in the region accelerated the submission of the tribes. On 29 September 1898, Samori Ture was captured by the French [[Henri Gouraud (French Army officer)|Commandant Gouraud]] and exiled to [[Gabon]], marking the end of the Wassoulou Empire.

===Marching Regiments of the Foreign Legion===
{{Main|Joseph Joffre|Ferdinand Foch|Moroccan Division (France)}}

[[File:RMLE - 1918.jpg|thumb|right|Review of the [[Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion]], RMLE at the end of November 1918]]

====World War I 1914–1918====
{{Main|1st Foreign Regiment|Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion|Paul-Frédéric Rollet}}

[[File:Americans in French Foreign Legion 1916.jpg|thumb|left|Americans in the Foreign Legion, 1916]]
[[File:Alan seeger foreign legion.jpg|thumb|upright=0.55|American poet [[Alan Seeger]] (1888–1916),<br /> in his [[Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion|Marching Regiment]] uniform]]
The annexation of [[Alsace]] and [[Lorraine]] by Germany in 1871 led to numerous volunteers from the two regions enlisting in the Foreign Legion, which gave them the option of French citizenship at the end of their service.<ref name="legion-etrangere.com">{{citation  |url=http://www.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=413&block=17&titre=legio-patria-nostra |work= Official Website of General Command of Foreign Legion |title= (C.O.M.L.E), Editorial of C.O.M.L.E in ''Képi Blanc''}}</ref>

With the declaration of war on 29 July 1914, a call was made for foreigners residing in France to support their adopted country. While many would have preferred direct enlistment in the regular French Army, the only option immediately available was that of the Foreign Legion. On 3 August 1914 a reported 8,000 volunteers applied to enlist in the Paris recruiting office of the Legion.

In World War I, the Foreign Legion fought in many critical battles on the Western Front, including [[Second Battle of Artois|Artois]], [[Second Battle of Champagne|Champagne]], [[Battle of the Somme|Somme]], [[Second Battle of the Aisne|Aisne]], and [[Battle of Verdun|Verdun]] (in 1917), and also suffered heavy casualties during 1918. The Foreign Legion was also in the [[Gallipoli Campaign|Dardanelles]] and [[Macedonian front (World War I)|Macedonian front]], and was highly decorated for its efforts. Many young foreigners volunteered for the Foreign Legion when the war broke out in 1914. There were marked differences between the idealistic volunteers of 1914 and the hardened men of the old Legion, making assimilation difficult. Nevertheless, the old and the new men of the Foreign Legion fought and died in vicious battles on the Western front, including [[Belloy-en-Santerre]] during the [[Battle of the Somme]], where the poet [[Alan Seeger]], after being mortally wounded by machine-gun fire, cheered on the rest of his advancing battalion.<ref>Shortly before his death, Seeger wrote, "I have a rendez-vous with Death, at some disputed barricade. ... And I to my pledged word am true, I shall not fail that rendezvous."</ref>

====Interwar period 1918–1939====
{{Main|1st Foreign Regiment|Paul-Frédéric Rollet|Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion|}}
[[File:Paul-Frédéric Rollet.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Paul-Frédéric Rollet]] (1875–1941)<br />''[[Foreign Legion Command|The Father of the Legion]]'']]

While suffering heavy casualties on the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]] the [[Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion|Legion]] had emerged from World War I with an enhanced reputation and as one of the most highly decorated units in the [[French Army]].<ref name="RifPorch1">Porch pp. 382–383</ref> In 1919, the government of Spain raised the [[Spanish Legion|Spanish Foreign Legion]] and modeled it after the French Foreign Legion.<ref name=RifPorch1 /> General [[Jean Jules Henri Mordacq|Jean Mordacq]] intended to rebuild the Foreign Legion as a larger military formation, doing away with the legion's traditional role as a solely infantry formation.<ref name=RifPorch1 /> General Mordacq envisioned a Foreign Legion consisting not of regiments, but of divisions with cavalry, engineer, and artillery regiments in addition to the legion's infantry mainstay.<ref name=RifPorch1 /> In 1920, decrees ordained the establishment of regiments of cavalry and artillery.<ref name=RifPorch1 /> Immediately following the [[armistice]] the Foreign Legion experienced an increase of enlistments.<ref name="RifWindrow1">Windrow</ref> The Foreign Legion began the process of reorganizing and redeploying to Algeria.<ref name=RifPorch1 />

[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 102-00723, Marokko, Fremdenlegionäre.jpg|thumb|Legionnaires in Morocco, c.&nbsp;1920]]

The Legion played a major part in the [[Rif War]] of 1920–25. In 1932, the Foreign Legion consisted of 30,000 men, serving in six multi-battalion regiments including the [[1st Foreign Regiment (France)|1st Foreign Infantry Regiment]] 1<sup>er</sup> REI – [[Algeria]], [[Syria]] and [[Lebanon]]; [[2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (France)|2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment]] 2<sup>ème</sup> REI, [[3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment]] 3<sup>ème</sup> REI, and [[4th Foreign Regiment (France)|4th Foreign Infantry Regiment]] 4<sup>ème</sup> REI – [[Morocco]], Lebanon; [[5th Foreign Infantry Regiment|5th Foreign Infantry]] 5<sup>ème</sup> REI – [[Indochina]]; and [[1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment]] 1<sup>er</sup> REC – Lebanon, [[Tunisia]] and Morocco.
In 1931, [[Général]] [[Paul-Frédéric Rollet]] assumed the role of [[Inspection of the Foreign Legion|1st Inspector of the Foreign Legion]], a post created at his initiative. While serving as [[colonel]] of the 1st Foreign Infantry Regiment (1925–1931), [[Paul-Frédéric Rollet|Rollet]] was responsible for planning the centennial celebrations of the Legion's foundation; scheduling this event for [[Battle of Camarón|Camarón]] Day 30 April 1931. He was subsequently credited with creating much of the modern mystique of the Legion by restoring or creating many of its traditions.

====World War II 1939–1945====
{{Main|Jean de Lattre de Tassigny|Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion|Raoul Magrin-Vernerey}}

[[File:Free French Foreign Legionnairs.jpg|thumb|[[Free France|Free French]] Legionnaires assaulting an [[Axis powers|Axis]] strong point at the [[battle of Bir Hakeim]], 1942]]

The Foreign Legion played a smaller role in [[World War II]] in mainland Europe than in World War I, though it saw involvement in many exterior theatres of operations, notably [[French Navy|sea-transport protection]] through to the [[Norwegian campaign|Norwegian]], [[Syria–Lebanon campaign|Syria-Lebanon]], and [[North African campaign]]s. The [[13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion|13th Demi-Brigade]], formed for service in Norway, found itself in the UK at the time of the [[Armistice of 22 June 1940|French Armistice]] (June 1940), was deployed to the British 8th Army in North Africa and distinguished itself in the [[Battle of Bir Hakeim]] (1942). Reflecting the divisions of the time, part of the Foreign Legion joined the [[Free French Forces|Free French]] movement while another part served the [[Vichy France|Vichy]] government. Germany incorporated German legionnaires into the [[Wehrmacht]]'s [[90th Light Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)|90th Light Infantry Division]] in North Africa.<ref name="LJohn_Pg199">{{cite book|last= Littlejohn|first= David |title= Foreign Legions of the Third Reich: Volume 1: Norway, Denmark and France|year=1979|publisher= R. James Bender|location=San Jose|isbn=0912138173|page=199}}</ref>

The [[Syria–Lebanon Campaign]] of June 1941 saw legionnaire fighting legionnaire as the [[13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion|13<sup>e</sup> D.B.L.E]] clashed with the [[6th Foreign Infantry Regiment]] 6<sup>e</sup> REI at [[Battle of Damascus (1941)|Damascus]]. Nevertheless, many legionnaires of the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment 6<sup>e</sup> (dissolved on 31 December 1941) integrated into the [[Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion]] R.M.L.E in 1942. Later, a thousand of the rank-and-file of the [[Vichy France|Vichy Legion]] unit joined the 13<sup>e</sup> D.B.L.E. of the [[Free French]] forces which were also part (as of September 1944) of [[Jean de Lattre de Tassigny]]'s successful amalgam of the French Liberation Army ({{langx|fr|[[Armée française de la Libération]]}}), the (400,000 men) amalgam consisted of the [[Armistice Army]], the [[Free France|Free French Forces]] and the [[French Forces of the Interior]] which formed Army B and later became part of the [[First Army (France)|French 1st Army]] with forces also issued from the [[French Resistance]].

==== Alsace-Lorraine ====
{{Main|Alsace-Lorraine}}

Following World War II, many French-speaking former German soldiers joined the Foreign Legion to pursue a military career, an option no longer possible in Germany, including French German soldiers of [[Malgré-nous]]. It would have been considered problematic if the men from [[Alsace-Lorraine]] had not spoken French. These French-speaking former German soldiers made up as much as 60 percent of the Legion during the war in Indochina. Contrary to popular belief however, French policy was to exclude former members of the [[Waffen-SS]], and candidates for induction were refused if they exhibited the tell-tale blood type tattoo, or even a scar that might be masking it.<ref name="DPorch">{{cite book|last=Porch|first=Douglas|title=The French Foreign Legion: A Complete History of the Legendary Fighting Force|year=1991|publisher=HarperCollins Canada, Limited|isbn=978-1616080686|page=531}}</ref>

The high percentage of Germans was contrary to normal policy concerning a single dominant nationality, and in more recent times Germans have made up a much smaller percentage of the Foreign Legion's composition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://secretdefense.blogs.liberation.fr/defense/2008/11/la-lgion-saccro.html|title=Secret Défense – La Légion étrangère s'accroche à ses effectifs – Libération.fr|author=Jean-Dominique Merchet|work=liberation.fr|access-date=6 November 2008|archive-date=11 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211121609/http://secretdefense.blogs.liberation.fr/defense/2008/11/la-lgion-saccro.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===First Indochina War 1946–1954===
{{Main|Jacques Lefort|Pierre Darmuzai|Paul Arnaud de Foïard|Bernard Goupil|}}

[[File:Cie para 3REI.JPG|thumb|left|upright|[[List of French paratrooper units|Parachute company]] of the [[3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment]]]]

During the [[First Indochina War]] (1946–54) the Foreign Legion saw its numbers swell due to the incorporation of World War II veterans. Although the Foreign Legion distinguished itself in a territory where it had served since the 1880s, it also suffered a heavy toll during this war. Constantly being deployed in operations, units of the Legion suffered particularly heavy losses in the climactic [[Battle of Dien Bien Phu]], before the fortified valley finally fell on 7 May 1954. No fewer than 72,833 served in Indochina during the eight-year war. The Legion suffered the loss of 10,283 of its own men in combat: 309 officers, 1082 sous-officiers and 9092 legionnaires.

While only one of several Legion units involved in Indochina, the [[1st Foreign Parachute Battalion]] (1<sup>er</sup> BEP) particularly distinguished itself, while being annihilated twice. It was renamed the [[1st Foreign Parachute Regiment]] (1<sup>er</sup> REP) after its third reformation.<ref name="ReferenceB">{{citation |url=http://2rep.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=102&idA=45&block=16&idA_SM=43&titre=1er-bep-1948-1955 |work=Official Website of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment |title=History of the 2e REP, the 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion ''1er Bataillon Etranger de Parachutistes'' |access-date=10 August 2015 |archive-date=1 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701122834/http://2rep.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=102&idA=45&block=16&idA_SM=43&titre=1er-bep-1948-1955 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The 1<sup>er</sup> BEP sailed to Indochina on 12 November and was then engaged in combat operations in Tonkin.<ref name="ReferenceB"/> On 17 November 1950 the battalion parachuted into That Khé and suffered heavy losses at Coc Xa. Reconstituted on 1 March 1951, the battalion participated in combat operations at Cho Ben, on the Black River and in Annam.<ref name="ReferenceB"/> On 21 November 1953 the reconstituted 1<sup>er</sup> BEP was parachuted into Dien Bien Phu.<ref name="ReferenceB"/> In this battle, the unit lost 575 [[killed in action|killed]] and [[missing in action|missing]].<ref name="ReferenceB"/> Reconstituted for the third time on 19 May 1954, the battalion left Indochina on 8 February 1955.<ref name="ReferenceB"/> The 1<sup>er</sup> BEP received five citations and the [[fourragère]] of the colors of the [[Médaille militaire]]<ref name="ReferenceB"/> for its service in Indochina. The 1<sup>er</sup> BEP became the [[1st Foreign Parachute Regiment]] (1<sup>er</sup> REP) in [[Algeria]] on 1 September 1955.
 
Dien Bien Phu fell on 7 May 1954 at 17:30.<ref name="rcp1.terre.defense.gouv.fr">{{citation |url=http://www.rcp1.terre.defense.gouv.fr/index.php?page=12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303170727/http://www.rcp1.terre.defense.gouv.fr/index.php?page=12 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-03-03 |work=Official Website of the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment 1st RCP |title=Section Historique, L'Indochine of the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment }}</ref> The couple of [[hectare]]s that were the battlefield today are corn fields surrounding a [[stele]] which commemorates the sacrifices of those who died there. While the garrison of Dien Bien Phu included French regular, North African, and locally recruited (Indochinese) units, the battle has become associated particularly with the paratroops of the Foreign Legion.

During the Indochina War, the Legion operated several [[Armored Train of the Foreign Legion|armoured trains]] which were an enduring ''Rolling Symbol'' during the chartered course duration of [[French Indochina]]. The Legion also operated various [[Passage Company of the Foreign Legion (CPLE)|Passage Companies]] relative to the continental conflicts at hand.

===Algerian War 1954–1962===

==== Foreign Legion paratroops ====
{{Main|French Air and Space Force|List of French paratrooper units|10th Parachute Division (France)|25th Parachute Division (France)}}

[[File:Insigne du 1° REP.jpg|thumb|upright|1st Foreign Parachute Regiment formed and commanded by<br /> [[List of French paratrooper units|Legion]] Lieutenant Colonel [[Pierre Jeanpierre|Pierre Paul Jeanpierre]] (1912–1958)<ref name="2rep.legion-etrangere.com">{{citation |url=http://2rep.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=105&idA=48&block=16&idA_SM=43&titre=1er-rep-1955-1961 |work=Official Website of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment |title=History of the 2e REP, the 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment ''1er Régiment Etranger de Parachutiste'' |access-date=10 August 2015 |archive-date=1 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701122200/http://2rep.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=105&idA=48&block=16&idA_SM=43&titre=1er-rep-1955-1961 |url-status=dead }}</ref>]]

The legion was heavily engaged in fighting against the [[National Liberation Front (Algeria)|National Liberation Front]] and the [[Armée de Libération Nationale|Armée de Libération Nationale (ALN)]]. The main activity during the period 1954–1962 was as part of the operations of the [[10th Parachute Division (France)|10th Parachute Division]] and [[25th Parachute Division (France)|25th Parachute Division]]. The [[1st Foreign Parachute Regiment]], 1<sup>er</sup> REP, was under the command of the [[10th Parachute Division (France)]], 10<sup>ème</sup> DP, and the [[2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment]], 2<sup>ème</sup> REP, was under the command of the [[25th Parachute Division (France)]], 25<sup>ème</sup> DP. While both the 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment (1<sup>er</sup> REP), and the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2<sup>ème</sup> REP), were part of the operations of [[List of French paratrooper units|French parachute divisions]] (10<sup>ème</sup> DP and 25<sup>ème</sup> DP established in 1956), the Legion's [[1st Foreign Parachute Regiment]] (1<sup>er</sup> REP), and the Legion's [[2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment]] (2<sup>ème</sup> REP), are older than the French divisions. The 1<sup>er</sup> REP was the former thrice-reconstituted [[1st Foreign Parachute Battalion]] ([[List of French paratrooper units|1<sup>er</sup> BEP]]) and the 2<sup>ème</sup> REP was the former [[2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion]] ([[List of French paratrooper units|2<sup>ème</sup> BEP]]). Both battalions were renamed and their Legionnaires transferred from [[First Indochina War|Indochina]] on 1 August 1954 to [[Algerian War|Algeria]] by 1 November 1954. Both traced their origins to the [[Parachute Company of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment]] commanded by Legion Lieutenant [[Jacques Morin]] attached to the [[1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment|III/1<sup>er</sup> R.C.P]].<ref name="ReferenceA">{{citation |url=http://2rep.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=101&idA=43&block=16&idA_SM=0&titre=historique-du-2e-rep |work=Official Website of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment |title=History of the 2e REP, The origins |access-date=10 August 2015 |archive-date=29 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150829080600/http://2rep.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=101&idA=43&block=16&idA_SM=0&titre=historique-du-2e-rep |url-status=dead }}</ref>

With the start of the [[Algerian War|War in Algeria]] on 1 November 1954, the two foreign participating parachute battalions back from [[Indochina]], the [[1st Foreign Parachute Battalion]] (1<sup>er</sup> BEP, III Formation) and the [[2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion]] (2<sup>ème</sup> BEP), were not part of any French [[List of French paratrooper units|parachute divisions]] yet and were not designated as regiments until September and 1 December 1955 respectively.[[File:Paschal_002.jpg|thumb|right|Good Conduct Certificate, Lt Col Paul Paschal (1919–1994), 1er REP, 15 August 1960]]

Main operations during the [[Algerian War]] included the Battle of Algiers and the Bataille of the Frontiers, fought by 60,000 soldiers including [[List of French paratrooper units|French]] and [[List of French paratrooper units|Legion paratroopers]]. For paratroopers of the Legion, the 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment (1<sup>er</sup> REP) and [[2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment]] (2<sup>ème</sup> REP), were the only known foreign active parachute regiments, exclusively commanded by [[Pierre Jeanpierre|Pierre Paul Jeanpierre]] for the 1<sup>er</sup> REP<ref name="2rep.legion-etrangere.com"/> and the [[2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment|paratrooper commanders]] of the [[2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment|2<sup>ème</sup> REP]].<ref>{{citation |url=http://2rep.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=112&idA=24&block=17&idA_SM=0&titre=ils-ont-commande-le-2eme-rep |work=Official Website of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment |title=Ils ont commandé le 2éme REP, Regimental Commanders |access-date=19 August 2015 |archive-date=29 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150829080615/http://2rep.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=112&idA=24&block=17&idA_SM=0&titre=ils-ont-commande-le-2eme-rep |url-status=dead }}</ref> The remainder of [[list of French paratrooper units|French paratrooper units]] of the [[French Armed Forces]] were commanded by [[Jacques Massu]], [[9th Parachute Chasseur Regiment|Buchond]], [[Marcel Bigeard]], [[Paul Aussaresses]]. Other [[List of French paratrooper units|Legion]] offensives in the mountains in 1959 included operations [[Operation Jumelles|Jumelles]], [[1st Foreign Parachute Regiment|Cigales]], and [[1st Foreign Parachute Regiment|Ariège]] in the Aures and the last in Kabylie.<ref name="2rep.legion-etrangere.com"/>

The image of the Legion as a professional and non-political force was tarnished when the elite [[1st Foreign Parachute Regiment]] [[List of French paratrooper units|1<sup>er</sup> REP]], which was also part of the [[10th Parachute Division (France)|10th Parachute Division]] played a leading role in the generals' putsch of 1961<ref name="2rep.legion-etrangere.com"/> and was subsequently disbanded.

==== Generals' putsch and reduction of Foreign Legion ====
{{Main|Jean Olié|Paul Gardy|Hélie de Saint Marc}}

[[File:Monument aux morts legion para.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[1st Foreign Parachute Regiment|Marche ou Crève]] and [[2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment|More Majorum]] for Legion [[List of French paratrooper units|Officers]], [[List of French paratrooper units|Sous-Officiers]] and [[List of French paratrooper units|Legionnaires]] of the [[List of French paratrooper units|CEP]]s, [[2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment|BEP]]s and [[2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment|REP]]s of the [[List of French paratrooper units|Legion]]<ref name="auto2">{{citation |url=http://2rep.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=110&idA=23&block=16&idA_SM=22&titre=le-chant-du-2e-rep |work=Official Website of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment |title=Traditions, Chant du 2e REP |access-date=5 August 2015 |archive-date=13 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150613063637/http://2rep.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=110&idA=23&block=16&idA_SM=22&titre=le-chant-du-2e-rep |url-status=dead }}</ref>]]

[[File:CSPLE-tenue-parade.jpg|thumb|Tenue of a Legionnaire of the ''[[Saharan Méharistes Companies (méharistes sahariennes)|Saharan Mounted Companies of the Foreign Legion]]'' (CSPLE). Often blue or red and worn by all the soldiers of the [[Army of Africa (France)|Army of Africa]]; the Legion however, officially adopted the ''Ceinture Bleue'' (blue sash) in 1882.]]

Coming out of a difficult Indochinese conflict, the Foreign Legion reinforced cohesion by extending the duration of basic training. Efforts exerted were successful during this transit; however, entering into December 1960 and the generals' putsch, a crisis hit the legion putting its faith at the corps of the Army.<ref>Comor André-Paul, ''"La Légion étrangère dans la guerre d'Algérie, 1954–1962"'', Guerres mondiales et conflits contemporains, 1/2010 (n° 237), pp. 81–93.</ref>

For having rallied to the [[Algiers putsch of 1961|generals' putsch]] of April 1961, the [[1st Foreign Parachute Regiment]] of the [[List of French paratrooper units|10th Parachute Division]] was dissolved on 30 April 1961 at [[Zeralda]].

In 1961, at the issue of the putsch, the [[Saharan Méharistes Companies (méharistes sahariennes)|1st Mounted Saharan Squadron of the Foreign Legion]]<ref>Note that in the French language, the designation of "Mounted Company" ({{langx|fr|Compagnie Portée}}) means mounted and could be applied for both Motorized or Mounted by other means. The designation of "Motorized Company" ({{langx|fr|Compagnie Motorisée}}) would be strictly limited to being motorized which is not the word being used even if it was motorized. The referral of "Mounted" Saharan Companies ({{langx|fr|Compagnie Saharienne "Portée"}}) is used instead of motorized strictly, even if these units were motorized, to also describe the packing of [[Canon de 75 modèle 1897|artillery]]. The companies could be described as Motorized Saharan Companies of the Legion; however their strict French limitation to motorized only in terms of translation and function would be incorrect as they should be referred to as "Mounted" which would apply for both Motorized or mounting other means.</ref> ({{langx|fr|1<sup>er</sup> Escadron Saharien Porté de la Légion Etrangère, 1<sup>er</sup> ESPLE}}) received the missions to assure [[military police|surveillance]] and [[military police|policing]].

The independence of Algeria from the [[French Algeria|French]] in 1962 was traumatising since it ended with the enforced abandonment of the barracks command center at [[Sidi Bel Abbès]] established in 1842. Upon being notified that the elite regiment was to be disbanded and that they were to be reassigned, legionnaires of the 1<sup>er</sup> REP burned the Chinese pavilion acquired following the [[Siege of Tuyên Quang]] in 1884. The relics from the Legion's history museum, including the wooden hand of Captain [[Jean Danjou]], subsequently accompanied the Legion to France. Also removed from Sidi Bel Abbès were the symbolic Legion remains of [[Ranks in the French Army|General]] [[Paul-Frédéric Rollet]] ( [[Foreign Legion Command|The Father of the Legion]] ), [[Foreign Legion Command|Legion officer]] Prince [[Count Aage of Rosenborg]], and Legionnaire Heinz Zimmermann (last fatal casualty in Algeria).

[[File:Prince Aage.png|thumb|upright|[[Foreign Legion Command|Legion Officer]] [[Ranks in the French Army|Lieutenant-colonel]] Prince [[Count Aage of Rosenborg]] (1887–1940)]]

The Legion acquired its parade song "[[Non, je ne regrette rien]]" ("No, I regret nothing"), a 1960 [[Édith Piaf]] song sung by Sous-Officiers and legionnaires as they left their barracks for re-deployment following the [[Algiers putsch of 1961]]. The song has remained a part of Legion heritage since.

The [[1st Foreign Parachute Regiment]] 1<sup>er</sup> REP was disbanded on 30 April 1961.<ref name="2rep.legion-etrangere.com"/> However, the [[2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment]] 2<sup>ème</sup> REP prevailed in existence, while most of the personnel of the [[Saharan Companies of the French Foreign Legion|Saharan Companies]] were integrated into the [[1st Foreign Regiment (France)|1st Foreign Infantry Regiment]], [[2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (France)|2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment]] and [[4th Foreign Regiment (France)|4th Foreign Infantry Regiment]] respectively.

===Post-colonial Africa===
[[File:Legion1PW.jpg|thumb|left|The [[13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion]] parading through Roman ruins in [[Lambaesis]], Algeria (c. 1958)]]

By the mid-1960s the Legion had lost its traditional and spiritual home in [[French Algeria]] and elite units had been dissolved.<ref name="ReferenceB"/> President de Gaulle considered disbanding it altogether but, being reminded of the [[Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion|Marching Regiments]], and that the [[13th Demi-Brigade of Foreign Legion|13th Demi-Brigade]] was one of the first units to declare for him in 1940 and taking also into consideration the effective service of various [[Saharan Méharistes Companies (méharistes sahariennes)|Saharan units]] and performances of other Legions units, he chose instead to downsize the Legion from 40,000 to 8,000 men and relocate it to metropolitan France.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legionofthelost.com/gallery.html |title=Gallery |publisher=Legion of the Lost |access-date=20 October 2010 |archive-date=23 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180823080854/http://legionofthelost.com/gallery.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Legion units continued to be assigned to overseas service, although not in North Africa (see below).

=== 1962–present ===

In the early 1960s, and besides ongoing global rapid deployments, the Legion also stationed forces on various continents while operating different function units.

The main Disciplinary Company of the Foreign Legion (CDLE), based on [[Honneur et Fidélité|rules and regulations]] set by [[général]] [[Paul-Frédéric Rollet|Rollet]] in 1931, received serious offenders sent from Legion regiments garrisoned or operating in Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, the Levant and Tonkin (special section of the [[5th Foreign Infantry Regiment]] and later in 1963, part of a Saharan disciplinary section unit of the 5e REI and [[2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (France)|2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment]]). It was dissolved on July 1, 1964.

From 1965 to 1967, the Legion operated several companies, including the [[5th Heavy Weight Transport Company (CTGP)]], mainly in charge of evacuating the Sahara. The area of responsibility of some of these units extended from the confines of the in-between of the [[Sahara]] to the Mediterranean. Ongoing interventions and rapid deployments two years later and the following years included in part:

* 1969–1971 : interventions in [[Chad]]
* 1978–present : [[Peacekeeping]] operations around the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]], including the [[United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon]] during the Global [[War on Terror]]
* 1978–1978 : [[Battle of Kolwezi]] ([[Zaire|Zaïre]])
* 1981–1984 : [[Peacekeeping]] operations in [[Lebanon]] at the corps of the [[Multinational Force in Lebanon|United Nations Multinational Force]] during the [[Lebanese Civil War]] along with the [[31st Brigade (France)|31<sup>ème</sup> Brigade]] which included the [[1st Foreign Regiment (France)|1st Foreign Regiment]] 1<sup>er</sup> RE. [[Operation Épaulard I]] was spearheaded by [[Ranks in the French Army|Lieutenant-colonel]] [[Bernard Janvier]]. The Multinational Force also included the [[British Armed Forces]] [[1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards]], U.S. American contingents of [[United States Marine Corps]] and the [[United States Navy]], the [[French Navy]] and 28 exclusive [[French Armed Forces]] regiments including [[List of French paratrooper units|French paratroopers regiments]], [[List of French paratrooper units|companies]], [[List of French paratrooper units|units]] of the [[11th Parachute Brigade (France)|11th Parachute Brigade]] along with the [[2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment]] 2<sup>e</sup> REP. The multinational force also included the [[Irish Armed Forces]] and units of the French [[National Gendarmerie]], [[Italian Armed Forces|Italian]] paratroopers from the [[Folgore Brigade]], and [[infantry]] units from the [[Bersaglieri]] regiments and [[United States Marine Corps|Marines]] of the [[San Marco Regiment|San Marco Battalion]].

====Gulf War 1990–1991====

[[File:DesertStormMap v2.svg|thumb|left| The [[6th Light Armoured Division (France)|6th Light Armoured Division]] operating the left flank of the [[Coalition of the Gulf War|34 nations]] [[coalition]] during the [[Gulf War]]]]

In September 1990, the [[1st Foreign Regiment (France)|1st Foreign Regiment]], the [[1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment]], the [[2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment]], the [[2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (France)|2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment]], and the [[6th Foreign Engineer Regiment]] were sent to the [[Persian Gulf]] as a part of [[Opération Daguet]] along with the [[1st Spahi Regiment]], the [[11th Marine Artillery Regiment]], the [[3rd Marine Infantry Regiment]], the [[21st Marine Infantry Regiment]], the [[French Army Light Aviation]], the [[Régiment d'infanterie-chars de marine]], and components of the [[35th Parachute Artillery Regiment]], the [[1st Parachute Hussar Regiment|1st Parachute Hussard Regiment]], and the [[17th Parachute Engineer Regiment]]. [[Division Daguet]] was commanded by [[Général de brigade]] [[Bernard Janvier]].
[[File:Foreign Legion Bastille Day 2013 Paris t092629.jpg|thumb|250x250px|Legionnaires at the Bastille Day military parade on the [[Champs-Élysées]] in Paris]]
The Legion force, made up of 27 different nationalities, was attached to the French [[6th Light Armoured Division (France)|6th Light Armoured Division]] whose mission was to protect the [[Coalition of the Gulf War|Coalition's]] left flank.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kent|first1=Arthur|last2=Brokaw|first2=Tom|title=French Foreign Legion Prepares for Persian Gulf War|url=http://archives.nbclearn.com/portal/site/k-12/flatview?cuecard=58510|access-date=7 December 2014|work=NBC Nightly News|publisher=NBCUniversal Media, LLC.|date=13 November 1990|format=Video News Report|quote=Glen Slick is an American bearing arms for President Mitterrand, not President Bush. He's one of 27 nationalities here with the French Foreign Legion.}}</ref>

After the four-week [[Gulf War#Air campaign|air campaign]], coalition forces launched the ground offensive. They quickly penetrated deep into [[Iraq]], with the Legion taking the As-Salman Airport, meeting little resistance. The war ended after a hundred hours of fighting on the ground, which resulted in very light casualties for the Legion. During war, French Foreign Legion engineers operated in support of the [[U.S. Army]]'s [[82nd Airborne Division]], and provided the EOD services to the division. After the ceasefire, they conducted a joint mine clearing operation with a [[Royal Australian Navy]] [[Clearance Diving Team (RAN)|clearance divers]].

==== Post 1991 ====

* 1991: Evacuation of French citizens and foreigners in [[Rwanda]], Gabon and [[Zaire]].
* 1992: [[Cambodia]] and [[Somalia]]
* 1993: [[Sarajevo]], Bosnia and Herzegovina
* 1995: [[Rwanda]]
* 1996: [[Central African Republic]]
* 1997: [[Republic of the Congo|Congo-Brazzaville]]
* Since 1999: [[Kosovo Force|KFOR]] in [[Kosovo]] and [[North Macedonia]]

===2001–present===

* 2001–2014: [[Operation Enduring Freedom]] phase of the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|War in Afghanistan]]
* 2002–2003: [[Opération Licorne]] in [[Ivory Coast]]
* 2008: [[EUFOR Tchad/RCA]] in Chad
<!-- * 2011: in [[Libya]].-->
* 2013–2014: [[Operation Serval]] in the [[Northern Mali conflict]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324235104578242993426029234|url-access=subscription |work=The Wall Street Journal|title=France Widens Military Effort in Mali|author1=Drew Hinshaw |author2=David Gauthier-Villars |date=15 January 2013}}</ref> 
*2015–present: [[Opération Sentinelle]] in [[Metropolitan France]].

==Organization==
{{Main|Foreign Legion Command}}

Regarding the operational aspect, the units of the Legion belong to different [[brigade]]s or [[Structure of the French Army|territorial commands]] of the [[French Army]].<ref name="legion-etrangere1">{{cite web|title=Régiments et unités composant la Légion étrangère|url=https://www.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/test|access-date=2022-01-29|website=www.legion-etrangere.com|language=fr-FR}}{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> On the other hand, with regard to the administrative management (including recruitment, traditions and training), these units depend on the [[Foreign Legion Command|Foreign Legion Command (COMLE)]], which itself is subordinate to the Army.<ref>{{cite web|title=Foreign Legion Command {{!}} French Foreign Legion Information|url=http://foreignlegion.info/units/foreign-legion-command/|access-date=2022-01-29|language=en-US}}</ref>

The regiments are now mainly stationed in [[Metropolitan France]], with some units in the overseas departments and territories (mainly in [[French Guiana]]).<ref name="legion-etrangere1"/>

* Mainland France
**[[1st Foreign Regiment (France)|1er Régiment Étranger]] (1<sup>er</sup> RE), based in [[Aubagne]], France (HQ, selection and administration, other specific missions)
***[[Foreign Legion Pioneers (Pionniers)|Pionniers Sections of Tradition]]
** [[1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment|1er Régiment Étranger de Cavalerie]] (1<sup>er</sup> REC), based in {{ill|Camp de Carpiagne|fr|vertical-align=sup}}, France
** [[1st Foreign Engineer Regiment|1er Régiment Étranger de Génie]] (1<sup>er</sup> REG), based in [[Laudun-l'Ardoise|Laudun]], France
***[[Foreign Legion Pioneers (Pionniers)|Pionniers Groups]]
** [[2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (France)|2e Régiment Étranger d’Infanterie]] (2<sup>ème</sup> REI), based in [[Nîmes]], France
** [[2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment|2e Régiment Étranger de Génie]] (2<sup>ème</sup> REG), based in [[Saint-Christol, Vaucluse|St Christol]], France
***[[Foreign Legion Pioneers (Pionniers)|Pionniers Groups]]
** [[2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment|2e Régiment Étranger de Parachutistes]] (2<sup>ème</sup> REP), based in [[Calvi, Haute-Corse|Calvi]], Corsica
** [[4th Foreign Regiment (France)|4e Régiment Étranger]] (4<sup>ème</sup>RE), based in [[Castelnaudary]], France
***[[Foreign Legion Pioneers (Pionniers)|Pionniers Groups]]
** [[Foreign Legion Recruiting Group|Groupement de Recrutement de la Légion Etrangère]] (G.R.L.E), based at [[Fort de Nogent]], France
** [[13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion|13e Demi-Brigade de Légion Étrangère]] (13<sup>ème</sup> DBLE), based in [[La Cavalerie]], France
* [[Overseas territory (France)|French Overseas Territories]] and [[Overseas collectivity|Overseas Collectives]], France
** [[3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment|3e Régiment Étranger d’Infanterie]] (3<sup>ème</sup> REI), based in [[French Guiana]]
***[[Foreign Legion Pioneers (Pionniers)|Pionniers Groups]]
** [[Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte|Détachement de Légion Étrangère de Mayotte]] (DLEM)

===Current deployments===
These are the following deployments:<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web |title=Les missions de l'armée de Terre {{!}} Sengager.fr |url=https://www.sengager.fr/les-missions-de-larmee-de-terre |access-date=2022-03-27 |website=www.sengager.fr |language=fr}}</ref>

Note: English names for countries or territories are in parentheses.
* ''Opérations extérieures'' (other than at home bases or on standard duties)
** [[French Guiana|Guyane (French Guiana)]] Mission de presence sur l'Oyapok – '''Protection''' – [[3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment|3<sup>ème</sup> REI]] Protection CSG; [[2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment|2<sup>ème</sup> REP]] / CEA; [[2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (France)|2<sup>ème</sup> REI]] / 4<sup>ème</sup> compagnie<ref name="auto1"/>
** [[Afghanistan]] '''Intervention''' [[1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment|1<sup>er</sup> REC]] / 3° escadron (1 peloton); [[2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (France)|2<sup>ème</sup> REI]] / 4° compagnie OMLT; [[2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment|2<sup>ème</sup> REG]] / 1ère compagnie<ref name="auto1"/>
** [[Mayotte]] '''Prevention''' [[Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte|DLEM]] Mission de souveraineté
** [[Gabon]] '''Prevention''' [[2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment|2<sup>ème</sup> REP]] / 3<sup>ème</sup> compagnie – 4<sup>ème</sup> compagnie

{|class="wikitable"
|+Units
|-
!Acronym !!French name !!English meaning
|-
| CEA || Compagnie d'éclairage et d'appuis || Reconnaissance and Support Company
|-
| CSS || Compagnie de Soutien et de Service || Support and Service Company
|-
| CAC || Compagnie anti-char || Anti-Tank Company
|-
| UCL || Unité de commandement et de logistique || Unit of Command and Logistics
|-
| EMT || État-major tactique || Tactical Command Post
|-
| NEDEX || Neutralisation des explosifs || Explosive Ordnance Disposal
|-
| OMLT || colspan=2|[[Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team]] ''(The official name for this branch is in English)''
|}

{{Multiple image
| mode         =packed-hover
| style        =padding: 0;
| align        =center
| image1 = ERC 90 ER.JPG
| caption1 =[[ERC 90 Sagaie|ERC 90]] [[light tank]] of the [[13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion]] (13<sup>ème</sup>DBLE) in Djibouti
| image2 = Exercise Wessex Storm 2020 MOD 45167358.jpg
| caption2 = Paratroopers of 2<sup>ème</sup> REP during Exercise wessex storm
| image3 =TE 2REI Afghanistan.jpg
| caption3 = [[Sniper]]s of the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2<sup>ème</sup>REI) using a [[PGM Hécate II|PGM Hécate]] and a [[FR F2 sniper rifle|FR-F2]] during [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|War in Afghanistan]] (2005)
| image4 = FRF2 Afghanistan.JPG
| caption4= Legionnaire using an [[FR F2 sniper rifle|FR F2]] during [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|War in Afghanistan]] (2007)
}}

=== DINOPS, PCG and Commandos ===
{{Main|List of French paratrooper units}}

* [[2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment|2<sup>ème</sup> REP]] [[Commando Parachute Group]] ([[Commando Parachute Group|GCP]]); Pathfinders qualified in Direct Actions, Special Reconnaissance and IMEX.
* [[1st Foreign Engineer Regiment|1er Régiment Étranger de Génie]] 1<sup>er</sup> REG; [[1st Foreign Engineer Regiment|Parachute]] Underwater Demolition [[1st Foreign Engineer Regiment|P.C.G]] Teams (Combat Engineer Divers, {{langx|fr|Plongeurs Commando group}}), [[List of French paratrooper units|DINOPS]] Teams of Nautical Subaquatic Intervention Operational Detachment ({{langx|fr|Détachement d'Intervention Nautique Operationnelle Subaquatique}}). 
* [[2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment|2e Régiment Étranger de Génie]] 2<sup>ème</sup> REG; [[2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment|Parachute]] Underwater Demolition [[2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment|P.C.G]] Teams (Combat Engineer Divers, {{langx|fr|Plongeurs du Combat du Génie}}), [[List of French paratrooper units|DINOPS]] Teams of Nautical Subaquatic Intervention Operational Detachment ({{langx|fr|Détachement d'Intervention Nautique Operationnelle Subaquatique}}) and [[List of French paratrooper units|Mountain Commando Group]] ([[2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment|GCM]]) in some cases as double specialties.<ref>{{citation |url=http://2reg.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=271&idA=28&block=15&idA_SM=0&titre=structure-du-regiment |work=Official Website of the 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment |title=2e Regiment Etranger de Genie (2e REG); Structure du 2ème Régiement Etranger de Génie |access-date=30 July 2015 |archive-date=3 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003152852/http://2reg.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=271&idA=28&block=15&idA_SM=0&titre=structure-du-regiment |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Composition==
The [[Legionnaire (disambiguation)|legionnaires]] are an integral part of the [[French Army]]. Today, they constitute some 7–8% of its strength (or 11% of the Ground Operational Forces, FOT, French Army operational units).<ref>{{Cite web |title=French Foreign Legion structure in 2018 {{!}} French Foreign Legion Information |url=https://foreignlegion.info/2018/01/16/french-foreign-legion-structure-in-2018/ |access-date=2022-03-02 |language=en-US}}</ref>

The Foreign Legion is the only unit of the French Army open to people of any nationality. Most legionnaires still come from European countries but a growing percentage comes from [[Latin America]] and [[Asia]].<ref>{{cite web|title=French Foreign Legion structure in 2018 {{!}} French Foreign Legion Information|url=http://foreignlegion.info/2018/01/16/french-foreign-legion-structure-in-2018/|access-date=2022-01-29|language=en-US}}</ref> Most of the Foreign Legion's [[Ranks in the French Army#Officers|commissioned officers]] are French with approximately 10% being Legionnaires who have risen through the ranks.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ranks {{!}} French Foreign Legion Information|url=http://foreignlegion.info/ranks/|access-date=2022-01-29|language=en-US}}</ref>

Members come from 140 countries. In the past, legionnaires were forced to enlist under a pseudonym ("declared identity"). This policy was designed to allow recruits who wanted to restart their lives to enlist. The Legion held the belief that it was fairer to make all new recruits use declared identities.<ref name="Tweedie" /> French citizens can enlist under a declared, fictitious, foreign citizenship (generally, a [[francophone countries|francophone]] one, often that of Belgium, Canada, or Switzerland).<ref name="Martin. 2013">{{Cite book |first=Martin |last=Windrow |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/881163349 |title=The Foreign Legion. |date=2013 |publisher=Osprey Publishing Ltd |isbn=978-1-4728-0636-9 |oclc=881163349}}</ref> As of 20 September 2010, new recruits may enlist under their real identities or under declared identities. Recruits who do enlist with declared identities may, after one year's service, regularise their situations under their true identities.<ref name="FAQEN">{{cite web |date=2021-03-11 |title=Is Foreign Legion still an elite, international fighting force? |url=https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20210311-is-french-foreign-legion-still-an-elite-international-fighting-force-covid-19-diversity-military |access-date=2022-01-29 |website=RFI |language=en}}</ref> After serving in the Foreign Legion for three years, a legionnaire may apply for French [[citizenship]].<ref name="Tweedie" /> He must be serving under his real name, must have no problems with the authorities, and must have served with "honour and fidelity".<ref name="FAQEN" />

The Foreign Legion does not accept women in its ranks, however, there has been one official female legionnaire, [[Susan Travers]], an [[English people|Englishwoman]] who joined the Free French Forces during World War II. She became a member of the Foreign Legion after the war, and subsequently served in Vietnam during the First Indochina War.<ref name="Martin. 2013"/> In October 2000, it was announced women would no longer be barred from service.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/women-can-run-off-and-join-the-legion-635055.html|work=The Independent|title=Women can run off and join the Legion|author=Joy Lichfield|date=13 October 2000}}</ref> However, this announcement was retracted one month later and blamed on a "miscommunication"; a spokesman confirmed the policy barring women from the Legion would remain unchanged.<ref>{{cite web | last=Daley | first=Suzanne | title=Who Says Sexism Is Legion? Not France. | website=The New York Times | date=2000-11-05 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/11/05/weekinreview/who-says-sexism-is-legion-not-france.html | access-date=2024-06-13}}</ref>

===Membership by country===
As of 2008, legionnaires came from 140 countries. The majority of enlisted men originate from outside France, while the majority of the officer corps consists of Frenchmen. Many recruits originate from Eastern Europe{{where?|date=January 2023}} and Latin America{{where?|date=January 2023}}. Neil Tweedie of ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' said that Germany traditionally provided many recruits, "somewhat ironically given the Legion's bloody role in two world wars."

As of 2024, Belarusian and Russian citizens are no longer allowed to join the legion due to the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240531-foreign-legion-proud-to-provide-security-at-paris-olympics | title=Foreign legion 'proud' to provide security at Paris Olympics | date=31 May 2024 }}</ref>

==== Alsace-Lorraine ====
{{Main| Honneur et Fidélité|Alsace-Lorraine|Malgré-nous}}

Original nationalities of the Foreign Legion reflect events in history at the time they joined. Many former [[Wehrmacht]] personnel joined in the wake of World War II<ref>Sharpe, Michael. (2008) ''Waffen SS Elite Forces 1: Leibstandarte and Das Reich'' (p. 183) {{ISBN|978-0-7858-2323-0}}.</ref> as many soldiers returning to civilian life found it hard to find reliable employment. Jean-Denis Lepage reports that "The Foreign Legion discreetly recruited from German P.O.W. camps",<ref>{{cite book |author=Jean-Denis G. G. Lepage |title=The Foreign Legion: An Illustrated History |year= 2008 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-0-7864-3239-4 |page=170}}</ref> but adds that the number of these recruits has been subsequently exaggerated. [[Bernard B. Fall]], who was a supporter of the French government, writing in the context of the [[First Indochina War]], questioned the notion that the Foreign Legion was mainly German at that time, calling it:

<blockquote>[a] canard...with the sub-variant that all those Germans were at least SS generals and other much wanted war criminals. As a rule, and in order to prevent any particular nation from making the Foreign Legion into a [[Praetorian Guard]], any particular national component is kept at about 25 percent of the total. Even supposing (and this was the case, of course) that the French recruiters, in the eagerness for candidates would sign up Germans enlisting as Swiss, Austrian, Scandinavian and other nationalities of related ethnic background, it is unlikely that the number of Germans in the Foreign Legion ever exceeded 35 percent. Thus, without making an allowance for losses, rotation, discharges, etc., the maximum number of Germans fighting in Indochina at any one time reached perhaps 7,000 out of 278,000. As to the ex-Nazis, the early arrivals contained a number of them, none of whom were known to be war criminals. French intelligence saw to that.<br />
Since, in view of the rugged Indochinese climate, older men without previous tropical experience constituted more a liability than an asset, the average age of the Foreign Legion enlistees was about 23. At the time of the battle of Dien Bien Phu, any legionnaire of that age group was at the worst, in his "Hitler Youth" shorts when the [Third] Reich collapsed.<ref>{{cite book| author=Bernard B. Fall| title=Street Without Joy: The French Debacle in Indochina| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GkHH8OoCTtAC&pg=PA279| year=1994| publisher=Stackpole Books| isbn=978-0-8117-1700-7| page=279}}</ref></blockquote>

The Foreign Legion accepts people enlisting under a nationality that is not their own. A proportion of the Swiss and Belgians are actually likely to be Frenchmen who wish to avoid detection.<ref>{{Citation |last=Moudjahid |first=El |title=La Légion étrangère démoralisée |date=2018-05-03 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.3917/dec.fanon.2018.01.0557 |work=Écrits sur l'aliénation et la liberté |pages=557–564 |publisher=La Découverte |doi=10.3917/dec.fanon.2018.01.0557 |isbn=9782348036262 |access-date=2022-02-28}}</ref> In addition many Alsatians are said to have joined the Foreign Legion when [[Alsace]] was part of the [[German Empire]], and may have been recorded as German while considering themselves French.

Regarding recruitment conditions within the Foreign Legion, see the official page (in English) dedicated to the subject:<ref>{{cite web |title=Foreign Legion – Recruiting |url=http://www.legion-recrute.com/en/condition.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131122095354/http://www.legion-recrute.com/en/condition.php |archive-date=22 November 2013 |publisher=Legion-recrute.com}}</ref> With regard to age limits, recruits can be accepted from ages ranging from 17½ (with parental consent) to 39½ years old.

===Countries that allow post-Foreign Legion contract===

In the European Union framework, post Legion enlistment is less clear. Denmark, Norway, Germany and Portugal allow post-Legion enlistment. The European Union twin threads seem to be recognized [[dual nationality]] status or restricting constitutional article.

The United States allows post-Legion enlistment in its [[National Guard of the United States|National Guard]] of career soldiers (up to the rank of captain) who are [[Permanent residence (United States)|Green Card]] holders.{{cn|date=September 2023}}

Israel allows post-Legion enlistment.{{cn|date=September 2023}}

One of the biggest national groups in the Legion are [[Poland|Poles]]. Polish law allows [[service in a foreign army]], but only after written permission from the [[Polish Ministry of National Defence]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Uzyskaj zgodę na służbę w obcym wojsku lub w obcej organizacji wojskowej - Ministerstwo Obrony Narodowej - Portal Gov.pl |url=https://www.gov.pl/web/obrona-narodowa/uzyskaj-zgode-na-sluzbe-w-obcym-wojsku-lub-w-obcej-organizacji-wojskowej |access-date=2024-09-04 |website=Ministerstwo Obrony Narodowej |language=pl-PL}}</ref>

==Recruitment process==

{|class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Arrival''' || 1 to 3 days in a Foreign Legion Information Center. Reception, information, and terms of contract. Afterwards transferred to Paris, Foreign Legion Recruitment Center.
|-
|'''Pre-selection''' || 1 to 4 days in a Foreign Legion Recruitment Center (Paris). Confirmation of motivation, initial medical check-up, finalising enlistment papers and signing of 5-year service contract.
|-
|'''Selection''' || 7 to 30 days in the Recruitment and Selection Center in Aubagne. Psychological and personality tests, logic tests (no education requirements), medical exam, physical condition tests, motivation and security interviews. Confirmation or denial of selection.
|-
|'''Passed Selection''' || Signing and handing-over of the five-year service contract. Incorporation into the Foreign Legion as a trainee.
|}

===Basic training===
[[File:CEFE 6.jpg|thumb|Legionnaires training in [[French Guiana]]]]
While all rank and file members of the Legion are required to serve under "Foreign Status" (''à titre étranger''), even if they are French nationals, non-commissioned and commissioned officers can serve under either French or Foreign Status.<ref name="Tweedie"/> Foreign Status NCOs and officers are exclusively promoted from the ranks and represent 10% of the officers corps of the Legion.<ref name="officier">{{cite web|url=http://www.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=478&titre=Officier-servant-a-titre-etranger|title= Officier servant à titre étranger |date=2 December 2016|website=French Foreign Legion}}</ref> French Status officers are either members of other units of the [[French Army]] attached to the Legion or promoted Legionnaires who have chosen to become French nationals.

Basic training for the Foreign Legion is conducted in the [[4th Foreign Regiment (France)|4th Foreign Regiment]]. This is an operational combat regiment which provides a training course of 15–17 weeks, before recruits are assigned to their operational units:

* Initial training of 4–6 weeks at "The Farm" (''La Ferme'') – introduction to military lifestyle; outdoor and field activities.
* ''Képi Blanc'' March (''Marche Képi Blanc'') – a 50-kilometer two-day march (25&nbsp;km per day) in full kit, followed by the ''Képi Blanc'' ceremony on the 3rd day.
* Technical and practical training (alternating with barracks and field training) – three weeks.
* Mountain training (at [[Formiguères]] in the French [[Pyrenees]]) – one week.
* Technical and practical training (alternating barracks and field training) – three weeks.
* Examinations and obtention of the elementary technical certificate (CTE) – one week.
* Raid March (''Marche Raid'') – a 120-kilometer final march, which must be completed in three days.
* Light vehicle drivers education (drivers license) – one week.
* Return to Aubagne before reporting to the assigned operational regiment – one week.

Education in the French language (reading, writing and pronunciation) is taught on a daily basis throughout all of basic training.

{{Multiple image
| mode         =packed-hover
| align        =left
| style        =padding: 0; 
| image1 = Aerocordage-calvi.jpg
| caption1 = Legionnaires roping from a [[Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma|Puma]] over [[Calvi, Haute-Corse|Calvi]].
| image2 = DLEM tir.JPG
| caption2 = Legionnaires at [[Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte|Mayotte]].
| image3 = Exercise Wessex Storm 2020 MOD 45167358.jpg
| caption3 = Legionnaires boarding a [[Chinook helicopter]].
| image4 = Largage parachutistes.JPG
| caption4 = Legionnaires parachute from a [[Transall C-160|C-160]] while training at [[Camp Raffalli]] in Corsica.
}}
{{clear}}

==Traditions==
{{Main|Honneur et Fidélité}}

As the Foreign Legion is composed of soldiers of different nationalities and backgrounds, it is necessary to develop an intense ''[[wikt:esprit de corps|esprit de corps]]'',<ref name="ReferenceA"/> which is achieved through the development of [[wikt:camaraderie|camaraderie]],<ref name="ReferenceA"/> specific traditions, the loyalty of its legionnaires, the quality of their training, and the pride of being a soldier in an elite unit.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

===Code of honour===
The "Legionnaire's Code of Honour"<ref name="auto3">{{citation |url=http://www.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=92&idA=134&block=6&idA_SM=112&titre=le-code-d-honneur |work=Official Website of General Command of Foreign Legion (COMLE) |title= Code d'honneur du Légionnaire}}</ref><ref name="4re.legion-etrangere.com">{{citation |url=http://4re.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=44&idA=20&block=17&idA_SM=0&titre=code-d-honneur |title=4th Foreign Regiment, Code d'honneur du Légionnaire |access-date=5 August 2015 |archive-date=28 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928161838/http://4re.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=44&idA=20&block=17&idA_SM=0&titre=code-d-honneur |url-status=dead }}</ref> is the Legion's [[wikt:creed|creed]], recited in French only.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/CIGquKXtxgw Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20190129015127/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIGquKXtxgw&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIGquKXtxgw| title = Remise Képi Blanc | website=[[YouTube]]| date = 5 December 2010 }}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/e8z3pCTw1ag Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20190129013825/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8z3pCTw1ag&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8z3pCTw1ag| title = Code d'honneur du légionnaire | website=[[YouTube]]| date = 13 March 2013 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> The Code of Honour was adopted in the 1980s.<ref name="auto3"/>

{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto;"
|-
! !! ''Code d'honneur du légionnaire'' !! Legionnaire's Code of Honour
|-
|Art. 1|| ''Légionnaire, tu es un volontaire, servant la France avec honneur et fidélité.'' || Legionnaire, you are a volunteer serving France with honour and loyalty.
|-
|Art. 2 || ''Chaque légionnaire est ton frère d'armes, quelle que soit sa nationalité, sa race ou sa religion. Tu lui manifestes toujours la solidarité étroite qui doit unir les membres d'une même famille.'' || Each legionnaire is your brother in arms whatever his nationality, his race or his religion might be. You show him the same close solidarity that links the members of the same family.
|-
|Art. 3 || ''Respectueux des traditions, attaché à tes chefs, la discipline et la camaraderie sont ta force, le courage et la loyauté tes vertus.'' || Respect for traditions, devotion to your leaders, discipline and comradeship are your strengths, courage and loyalty your virtues.
|-
|Art. 4 || ''Fier de ton état de légionnaire, tu le montres dans ta tenue toujours élégante, ton comportement toujours digne mais modeste, ton casernement toujours net.'' || Proud of your status as legionnaire, you display this in your always impeccable uniform, your always dignified but modest behaviour, and your clean living quarters.
|-
|Art. 5 || ''Soldat d'élite, tu t’entraînes avec rigueur, tu entretiens ton arme comme ton bien le plus précieux, tu as le souci constant de ta forme physique.''|| An elite soldier, you train rigorously, you maintain your weapon as your most precious possession, and you take constant care of your physical form.
|-
|Art. 6 || ''La mission est sacrée, tu l'exécutes jusqu’au bout et, s'il le faut, en opérations, au péril de ta vie.'' || The mission is sacred, you carry it out until the end and, if necessary in the field, at the risk of your life.
|-
|Art. 7 || ''Au combat, tu agis sans passion et sans haine, tu respectes les ennemis vaincus, tu n’abandonnes jamais ni tes morts, ni tes blessés, ni tes armes.''|| In combat, you act without passion and without hate, you respect defeated enemies, and you never abandon your dead, your wounded, or your arms.
|}

[[File:ORANGE Camerone2010.jpg|thumb|Commemoration of the [[Battle of Camarón]] by the [[1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment]] at the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] Theatre of [[Orange, Vaucluse|Orange]]]]
[[File:Drapeaux 1RE et 2REI Paris 2003.jpg|thumb|right|Regimental flags of the [[1st Foreign Regiment]] and [[2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment|2nd Regiments]] in Paris, 2003<ref name="youtube.com"/>]]

=== Mottos ===

====''Honneur et Fidélité''====
In contrast to all other French Army units, the motto embroidered on the Foreign Legion's regimental flags is not ''Honneur et Patrie'' (Honour and Fatherland) but ''[[Honneur et Fidélité]]'' (Honour and Fidelity).<ref name="auto4">{{citation |url=http://www.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=413&block=17&titre=legio-patria-nostra |work=Official Website of the General Command of the Foreign Legion (COMLE) |title= Legio patria nostra}}</ref>

====''Legio Patria Nostra''====
''[[Honneur et Fidélité|Legio Patria Nostra]]'' (in French ''La Légion est notre Patrie'', in English ''The Legion is our Fatherland'') is the Latin motto of the Foreign Legion.<ref name="auto4"/> The adoption of the Foreign Legion as a new "Fatherland" does not imply the repudiation by the legionnaire of his original nationality. The Foreign Legion is required to obtain the agreement of any legionnaire before he is placed in any situation where he might have to serve against his country of birth.

====Regimental mottos====
*[[1st Foreign Regiment (France)|1<sup>er</sup> R.E]]: ''Honneur et Fidélité''
* [[Foreign Legion Recruiting Group|G.R.L.E]]: ''Honneur et Fidélité''
*[[1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment|1<sup>er</sup> REC]]:  ''Honneur et Fidélité'' and ''[[Nec pluribus impar|Nec Pluribus Impar]]'' (''No other equal'')
*[[2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment|2<sup>e</sup> REP]]: ''Honneur et Fidélité'' and ''More Majorum''<ref name="ReferenceC">{{cite web|url=https://www.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/page.php?id=361&titre=More-Majorum |title=More Majorum|publisher=[[Général de division]] [[Jean Maurin]] [[Foreign Legion Command|Commandant la Légion étrangère]] ([[Képi Blanc (publication)|Képi-blanc Magazine]])|website=French Foreign Legion}}</ref> (''in the manner, ways and traditions of our [[French Foreign Legion Veteran Societies Federation (Légion étrangère)|veterans]]<ref>The French word "Anciens" means literary in English, that which is old (as in more senior) or ancient. In the context word in reference, the use of "Anciens" (plural form, singular form being "Ancien") is referring to that which is old and senior. For the Legion, the context word in reference is referencing the [[French Foreign Legion Veteran Societies Federation (Légion étrangère)|veterans]] ({{langx|fr|Anciens legionnaires}}) and veteran foreign regiments ({{langx|fr|Anciens régiment étranger}}) of the Legion, in case of the [[List of French paratrooper units|CEP]]s, [[List of French paratrooper units|BEP]]s and [[List of French paratrooper units|REP]]s, the context reference is referring to the paratrooper veterans ({{langx|fr|Anciens legionnaires parachusites}}) and veteran foreign paratrooper companies (CEP)s, battalions (BEP)s ({{langx|fr|Anciens bataillons étrangers de parachutistes}}) and regiments (REP)s ({{langx|fr|Anciens régiments étrangers de parachutistes}}) of the Legion, in this case the 2<sup>e</sup> [[List of French paratrooper units|REP]] ({{langx|fr|2<sup>e</sup> Régiment étrangers de parachutistes}}) of the Legion.</ref> foreign regiments) ''
*[[2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (France)|2<sup>e</sup> REI]]: ''Honneur et Fidélité'' and ''Être prêt'' (''Be ready'')
*[[2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment|2<sup>e</sup> REG]]: ''Honneur et Fidélité'' and ''Rien n'empêche'' (''Nothing prevents'')
*[[3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment|3<sup>e</sup> REI]]: ''Honneur et Fidélité'' and ''Legio Patria Nostra''
*[[4th Foreign Regiment (France)|4<sup>e</sup> R.E]]: ''Honneur et Fidélité'' and ''Creuset de la Légion et Régiment des fortes têtes'' (''The crucible of the Legion and the strong right minded regiment'')
*[[1st Foreign Engineer Regiment|1e REG]]: ''Honneur et Fidélité'' and ''Ad Unum'' (''All to one end'' – for the regiment ''until the last one'')
*[[13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion|13<sup>e</sup> DBLE]]: ''Honneur et Fidélité'' and ''More Majorum''<ref name="ReferenceC"/> ("in the manner, ways and traditions of our [[French Foreign Legion Veteran Societies Federation (Légion étrangère)|veterans]] foreign regiments")
*[[Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte|DLEM]]: ''Honneur et Fidélité'' and ''Pericula Ludus'' (''Dangers game'' – for the regiment ''To Danger is my pleasure'' of the [[2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment]])

===Insignia===
The Legion's emblem consists of a flaming [[heraldic grenade]] in the shape of a French ''[[fleur-de-lis]]''.

{| class="wikitable"
!Regiment||Colors||Insignia||Beret Insignia||Tenure||Notable Commandants
|-
|''[[Foreign Legion Command|Le Commandement<br />de la Légion étrangère]]'' (C.O.M.L.E)||[[File:Flag of legion.svg|90px]]||||[[File:COMLE-béret.jpg|60x60px]]||1931–present||[[général]] [[Paul-Frédéric Rollet]]<br />[[général]] [[Raoul Magrin-Vernerey]]<br />[[général]] [[Jean-Claude Coullon]]
|-
|[[1st Foreign Regiment]] (1<sup>er</sup> R.E.)||<br />[[File:Drapeau-1RE-verso.jpg|90px]] ||[[File:Insigne 1er régiment étranger-transparent.png|84x84px]]<br />||[[File:Insign de béret 1er RE Type 3.jpg|60px]]|| 1841–[[1st Foreign Regiment|present]]||[[François Achille Bazaine]]<br />Colonel [[Raphaël Vienot]]<br />[[Pierre Joseph Jeanningros]]<br />Captain [[Jean Danjou]]<br />[[Peter I of Serbia]]<br />[[Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener]]{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}<br />[[Paul-Frédéric Rollet]] 
<br />Commandant [[Pierre Segrétain]]<br />Lieutenant Colonel [[Pierre Jeanpierre|Pierre Paul Jeanpierre]]
|-
||[[4th Foreign Regiment]] (4<sup>ème</sup> R.E.)||[[File:Flag of legion.svg|90px]]<br />*||[[File:Insigne régimentaire du 4e régiment étranger.jpg|82x82px]]||[[File:4REI-béret.jpg|60x60px]]||1920–1940<br />1941–1943<br />1948–1963<br />1976 –[[4th Foreign Regiment|present]]<br />|| 
|-
||[[Foreign Legion Recruiting Group]] (G.R.L.E)||[[File:Flag of legion.svg|90px]]<br />*||[[File:Insigne-GRLE.jpg|60px]]||[[File:GRLE-béret.jpg|60x60px]]||2007–[[Foreign Legion Recruiting Group|present]]||
|-
|Legion [[Foreign Legion Pioneers (Pionniers)|Pionniers]]<br />(Pionniers de La Légion Etrangère)<br /> [[1st Foreign Regiment]]<br /> [[1st Foreign Regiment|Pionniers Sections of Tradition]]<br />[[1st Foreign Engineer Regiment]]<br />[[Foreign Legion Pioneers (Pionniers)|Pionniers Groups]] <br />[[2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment]]<br /> Pionniers Groups<br />[[3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment]]<br />Pionniers Groups<br />[[4th Foreign Regiment]]<br />Pionniers Groups<br />[[Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte]]<br /> Pionniers Groups||[[File:Flag of legion.svg|90px]]||[[File:Pionniers.png|90px]]||[[Foreign Legion Pioneers (Pionniers)|1e RE]]<br />[[Foreign Legion Pioneers (Pionniers)|1e REG]]<br />[[Foreign Legion Pioneers (Pionniers)|2e REG]]<br />[[Foreign Legion Pioneers (Pionniers)|3e RE]]<br />[[Foreign Legion Pioneers (Pionniers)|4e RE]]<br />[[Foreign Legion Pioneers (Pionniers)|D.L.E.M]]||1831–[[1st Foreign Regiment|present]]||
|-
| [[Communal Depot of the Foreign Regiments]] (D.C.R.E)||[[File:Drapeau-1RE-verso.jpg|90px]]||[[File:DCRE.png|60px]]||*||1933–1955<br />1955–[[1st Foreign Regiment|present]]|| Colonel [[Louis-Antoine Gaultier]]
|-
|[[1st Foreign Regiment|1st Foreign Infantry Regiment]] (1<sup>er</sup> R.E.I)||[[File:Drapeau-1RE-verso.jpg|90px]]||[[File:Insigne du 1° REI.JPG|60px]]||||1950–1955||
|-
|[[1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment]] (1<sup>er</sup> R.E.C)||[[File:1er régiment étranger de cavalerie-drapeau.svg|90px]]||[[File:1rec SVG.svg|69x69px]]<br />'' [[Nec pluribus impar|Nec Pluribus Impar]]''||[[File:1REC-béret.jpg|74x74px]]|| 1921–[[1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment|present]] || 
|-
|[[Foreign Air Supply Company]] (C.E.R.A)||*||[[File:CERA.JPG|90px]]|||| 1951|| 
|-
|[[Parachute Company of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment]] (Para Co. du 3<sup>ème</sup> R.E.I)||*||[[File:Cie para 3REI.JPG|60px]]||||1948–1949<br />[[1st Foreign Parachute Battalion]] 1er BEP (1948–1955)|| [[Ranks in the French Army|Lieutenant]] [[Jacques Morin]] ([[Company (military unit)|Company]] Commander)<ref name="ReferenceA"/><br />Lieutenant [[Paul Arnaud de Foïard]] (Section-[[Platoon]], Commander)
|-
|[[1st Foreign Parachute Battalion]] (1<sup>er</sup> B.E.P)||*||[[File:Insigne1erBEP.jpg|60px]]|||| 1948–1955|| Commandant [[Pierre Segrétain]]<ref name="ReferenceB"/><br />(1<sup>er</sup> BEP, I formation)<br />Lieutenant Colonel [[Pierre Jeanpierre]]<ref name="2rep.legion-etrangere.com"/><br />(1<sup>er</sup> BEP, I, II and III formations)<br /> Captain {{ill|Pierre Sergent|fr|Pierre Sergent (militaire)|vertical-align=sup}}<br />
|-
|[[1st Foreign Parachute Regiment]] (1<sup>er</sup> R.E.P)||*||[[File:Insigne du 1° REP.jpg|60px]]<br />''Marche ou Creve''||||1955–1961|| Lieutenant Colonel [[Pierre Jeanpierre]]<ref name="2rep.legion-etrangere.com"/>
<br /> Commandant [[Hélie de Saint Marc]]<br /> Captain {{ill|Pierre Sergent|fr|Pierre Sergent (militaire)|vertical-align=sup}}<br /> Guy Rubin de Cervens<br />
|-
|[[1st Foreign Parachute Heavy Mortar Company]] (1<sup>ère</sup> C.E.P.M.L)||*||[[File:Insigne 1°CEPML.jpg|60px]]||||1953–1954|| Lieutenant Jacques Molinier<br /> Lieutenant Paul Turcy <br />Lieutenant [[Erwan Bergot]]<br /> Lieutenant Jean Singland
|-
|[[1st Foreign Engineer Regiment]] (1<sup>er</sup> R.E.G)||[[File:1er régiment étranger de génie-drapeau.svg|90px]]|||<br />''Ad Unum''||[[File:Insigne de béret du 1er REG.jpg|60px]] || 1999–[[1st Foreign Engineer Regiment|present]] ||
|-
|[[2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment]] (2<sup>ème</sup> R.E.G)||[[File:1er régiment étranger de génie-drapeau.svg|90px]]||<br />''Rien n'empêche ''||[[File:Insigne de béret du 2e REG.jpg|60x60px]]||1999–[[2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment|present]]||
|-
|[[2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment]] (2<sup>ème</sup> R.E.C)||*||[[File:2e REC.jpg|60px]]|| ||1939–1940<br />1945–1962||
|-
|[[2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment]] (2<sup>ème</sup> R.E.I)||[[File:2REI.jpg|90px]]||<br />''Être Prêt''||[[File:2REI-béret.jpg|68x68px]]|| 3 April 1841 – 1 April 1943<br />1 August 1945 – 1 January 1968<br />1 September 1972 – [[2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment|present]]||[[Patrice de MacMahon, Duke of Magenta]]<br />[[François Certain Canrobert]]<br />[[Jean-Luc Carbuccia]]<br />Colonel [[Marie Louis Henry de Granet-Lacroix de Chabrières|de Chabrières]]<br />[[Pierre Joseph Jeanningros]]<br />Captain [[Jean Danjou]]<br /> Commandant [[Pierre Segrétain]]<br /> Lieutenant Colonel [[Pierre Jeanpierre|Pierre Paul Jeanpierre]]
|-
||[[2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion]] (2<sup>ème</sup> B.E.P)||*||[[File:2rep.jpg|60px]]||||1948–1955|| Commandant [[Rémy Raffalli|Barthélémy Rémy Raffali]]<ref>{{citation |url=http://2rep.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=103&idA=46&block=16&idA_SM=43&titre=2e-bep-1948-1955 |work=Official Website of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment |title=History of the 2e REP, 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion,''2e Bataillon Etranger de Parachutistes'' |access-date=10 August 2015 |archive-date=1 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701121930/http://2rep.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=103&idA=46&block=16&idA_SM=43&titre=2e-bep-1948-1955 |url-status=dead }}</ref><br /> Captain [[Georges Hamacek]] 
|-
|[[2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment]] (2<sup>ème</sup> R.E.P)||[[File:2e régiment étranger de parachutistes-drapeau.svg|90px]]||<br />''More Majorum''||||1955–[[2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment|present]]|| Lieutenant Colonel [[Paul Arnaud de Foïard]]
|-
|[[2nd Marching Regiment of the 1st Foreign Regiment]]- 2<sup>ème</sup>RM.1<sup>er</sup> RE (1914–1915)<br />[[3rd Marching Regiment of the 1st Foreign Regiment]]- 3<sup>ème</sup>RM.1<sup>er</sup>RE (1914–1915)<br />[[4th Marching Regiment of the 1st Foreign Regiment]]- 4<sup>ème</sup>RM.1<sup>er</sup>RE (1914–1915)<br />[[2nd Marching Regiment of the 2nd Foreign Regiment]]- 2<sup>ème</sup>RM.2<sup>ème</sup>RE (1914–1915)<br />[[Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion]] ([[Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion|R.M.L.E]])||*|| [[File:RMLE.jpg|60px]]<br />[[File:3rei.jpg|60px]]|| ||1915–1920<br />1942–1945<br />[[3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment]]-present|| Colonel [[Paul-Frédéric Rollet]]<br />Lieutenant-Colonel [[Peppino Garibaldi]]<br />Colonel Alphonse Van Hecke <br />[[Eugene Bullard]]<br /> American poet [[Alan Seeger]]<br /> Swiss poet, French naturalized [[Blaise Cendrars]]<br /> Lieutenant Colonel Prince [[Count Aage of Rosenborg]]<br /> Italian writer, [[Curzio Malaparte]]<br />[[Lazare Ponticelli]]

|-
|[[3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment]] (3<sup>ème</sup> R.E.I)||*||[[File:RMLE.jpg|60px]]<br />''Legio Patria Nostra''<br /><br />||||11 November 1915 – [[3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment|present]]||
|-
|[[Marching Regiments of Foreign Volunteers]] (RMVE)<br />[[21st Marching Regiment of Foreign Volunteers]]- 21<sup>e</sup> R.M.V.E (1939–1940)<br />[[22nd Marching Regiment of Foreign Volunteers]]- 22<sup>e</sup> R.M.V.E (1939–1940)<br />[[23rd Marching Regiment of Foreign Volunteers]]- 23<sup>e</sup> R.M.V.E (1940)||*||[[File:1° - 21° RMVE.JPG|60px]]<br />[[File:2° - 22° RMVE.JPG|60px]]||||1939–1940||
|-
||[[3rd Foreign Parachute Battalion]] (3<sup>ème</sup> B.E.P) ||*||[[File:Insigne3REP.jpg|60px]]||||1948–1955|| Captain Darmuzai<ref name="auto5">{{cite web| url = http://2rep.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=104&idA=47&block=16&idA_SM=43&titre=3e-bep| title = Official Website of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment, History of the 2e REP, the 3rd Foreign Parachute Battalion "3e Bataillon Etranger de Parachutistes"| access-date = 10 August 2015| archive-date = 1 July 2015| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150701162913/http://2rep.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=104&idA=47&block=16&idA_SM=43&titre=3e-bep| url-status = dead}}</ref> 
|-
||[[3rd Foreign Parachute Regiment]] (3<sup>ème</sup> R.E.P)||*||[[File:Insigne3REP.jpg|60px]]||||1955–1955|| Captain Darmuzai<ref name="auto5"/> 
|-
|[[5th Foreign Infantry Regiment]] (5<sup>ème</sup> R.E.I)||[[File:5e régiment étranger d'infanterie-drapeau.svg|90px]]||[[File:5° REI Type 1.jpg|60px]]||[[File:5° REI béret Type 2.jpg|60px]] ||1930–2000|| 
|-
|[[6th Foreign Infantry Regiment]] (6<sup>ème</sup> R.E.I)||[[File:6e régiment étranger d'infanterie-drapeau.svg|90px]]||[[File:6° régiment étranger d'infanterie.jpg|60px]]<br />''Ad Unum''|| ||1939–1940; 1949–1955|| Commandant [[Pierre Segrétain]]<br /> Lieutenant Colonel [[Pierre Jeanpierre]]
|-
|[[6th Foreign Engineer Regiment]] (6<sup>ème</sup> R.E.G)||[[File:6e régiment étranger d'infanterie-drapeau.svg|90px]]||[[File:6° REG Type 1.jpg|60px]]<br />''Ad Unum''||||1984–1999<br />1999–[[1st Foreign Engineer Regiment|1e REG]]<br />||
|-
|[[11th Foreign Infantry Regiment]] (11<sup>ème</sup> R.E.I)||*||[[File:11° Régiment étranger d'Infantrie.JPG|60px]]||||1939–1940||
|-
|[[12th Foreign Infantry Regiment]] (12<sup>ème</sup> R.E.I)||*||[[File:12° Régiment étranger d'Infantrie.JPG|60px]]||||1939–1940||
|-
||[[13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion]] (13<sup>ème</sup> D.B.L.E)||[[File:13e demi-brigade de légion étrangère-drapeau.svg|90px]]||[[File:Insigne régimentaire de la 13e Demi-brigade de Légion étrangère SVG.svg|76x76px]]<br />'' More Majorum''||[[File:13DBLE-béret.jpg|68x68px]]|| 1940–[[13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion|present]]||
|-
|[[Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte]] (D.L.E.M)||*||[[File:Dlem.jpg|60px]]<br />''Pericula Ludus''<br />[[File:2e REC.jpg|60px]]||[[File:Insigne de béret du DLEM.JPG|60px]]||1973–[[Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte|present]]||
|}

==Ranks==
{{Main|Foreign Legion Command|Foreign Legion Pioneers (Pionniers)|Honneur et Fidélité}}

All volunteers in the Foreign Legion begin their careers as basic legionnaires with one in four eventually becoming a ''sous-officier'' ([[non-commissioned officer]]).<ref name="legion-recrute1">{{cite web|title=Contracts & career within the legion {{!}} Légion étrangère|url=https://www.legion-recrute.com/en/contracts-career-within-legion|access-date=2022-01-12|website=www.legion-recrute.com|language=en}}</ref> On joining, a new recruit receives a monthly salary of €1,572 in addition to food and lodgings.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.legion-recrute.com/en/salaires.php?SM=0|title=Examples}}</ref> He is also given his own new rifle, which according to the lore of the ''Legion'' must never be left on a battlefield.<ref name="Tweedie"/> Promotion is concurrent with the [[ranks in the French Army]].

[[File:Foreign Legion bugler Bastille Day 2008.jpg|thumb|right|A ''Caporal-chef'', with 3 [[Chevron (insignia)|chevrons]] of seniority, bugling during the [[Bastille Day Military Parade]].<ref name="auto6">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1CmPajXOSA| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/x1CmPajXOSA| archive-date=2021-12-11 | url-status=live|title=Légion Etrangère – Le salut au Caïd|last=AuPasCamarade|date=8 October 2012|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>]]

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; width: 825px; height: 500px;"
|-
!Foreign Legion rank
!Equivalent rank
![[Ranks and insignia of NATO armies enlisted|NATO Code]]
!Period of service
!Insignia
|-
|align=center|''Engagé Volontaire''
|align=center|Recruit
| –
|align=center|15 weeks basic training.
|align=center| None
|-
|align=center|''[[Ranks in the French Army|Legionnaire 2e Classe]]''
|align=center|Private / 2nd Class Legionnaire
|OR-1
|align=center|Promoted after completion of training and ''Marche képi blanc'' (White Kepi march).
|align=center| None
|-
|align=center|''[[Ranks in the French Army|Legionnaire 1e Classe]]''
|align=center|Private / 1st Class Legionnaire
|OR-2
|align=center|Promoted after ten months of service.
|align=center|[[File:Première classe Légion.PNG|80px]]
|-
|align=center|''[[Ranks in the French Army|Caporal]]''
|align=center|Corporal
|OR-3
|align=center|Promotion possible after one year of service and completion of the ''Fonctionnaire Caporal'' (or Caporal "Fut Fut") course. Recruits selected for this course need to show good leadership skills during basic training.
|align=center|[[File:Caporal Légion.png|80px]]
|-
|align=center|''[[Ranks in the French Army|Caporal-Chef]]''
|align=center|Senior Corporal
|OR-4
|align=center|Promotion after six years of service.
|align=center|[[File:Caporal-chef Legion.png|80px]]
|-
|colspan=5|Table note: Command insignia in the Foreign Legion use gold lace or braid indicating [[Ranks in the French Army#Foot arms and horse arms|infantry troops]] in the [[Ranks in the French Army|French Army]]. The ''Légion étrangère'' service color is green (for the now-defunct colonial ''[[Army of Africa (France)|Armée d'Afrique]]'') instead of red (regular infantry).
|}

===Non-commissioned and warrant officers===
{{Main|Foreign Legion Command|Foreign Legion Pioneers (Pionniers)|Honneur et Fidélité}}

[[File:SCH manchegauche.jpg|thumb|right|upright=.4|A dress uniform insignia for a ''Sous-officier'']]

A ''dress uniform''<nowiki/>'s insignia is composed of three components; rank emblem, regimental patch, and seniority chevrons. In the one pictured, the three upward pointing gold chevrons indicate a ''Sergent-chef''. The diamond-shaped regimental patch (''Écusson'') is formed of three green diamond shapes surrounding a grenade emblem, with the three diamonds indicating a Colonial unit, in comparison to one diamond for a unit of Regulars, or two diamonds for a Reserves unit. The Légion [[Grenade (insignia)|grenade]] emblem has seven flames rather than the usual five, and the two downward pointing [[#Chevrons d'ancienneté (chevrons of seniority)|seniority chevrons]] indicate at least 10 years of service. Some ''Caporal''s-''Chef'' may have as many as six seniority chevrons for 30 or more years of service. This style of insignia is worn only on the left sleeve of the dress uniform, while a similar-sized insignia without the regimental diamond and seniority chevrons is worn on the right sleeve. An exception exists for the right sleeve insignia for the Pioneer units, which incorporates a gold or green Pioneer emblem, depending on rank, but not the seniority chevrons, which are worn on the left sleeve insignia below the regimental diamond as previously described.

''Sous-officiers'' (NCOs) including [[warrant officer]]s account for 25% of the current Foreign Legion's total manpower.
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; width: 850px; height: 350px;"
|-
!Foreign Legion rank
!Equivalent rank
![[Ranks and insignia of NATO armies enlisted|NATO Code]]
!Period of service
!Insignia
|-
|align=center|''[[Ranks in the French Army|Sergent]]''
|align=center|Sergeant
|OR-5
|align=center|Promotion after three years of service as ''Caporal''.
|align=center|[[File:Sergent.png|80px]]
|-
|align=center|''[[Ranks in the French Army|Sergent-Chef]]''
|align=center|Senior Sergeant
|OR-6
|align=center|Promotion after three years as ''Sergent'' and from seven to fourteen years of service.
|align=center|[[File:Sergent-chef.png|80px]]
|-
|align=center|''[[Adjudant]]''
|align=center|[[Warrant Officer]]
|OR-8
|align=center|Promotion after three years as ''Sergent-Chef''.
|align=center|[[File:adjudant.png|80px]]
|-
|align=center|''[[Ranks in the French Army|Adjudant-Chef]]''{{efn|group=table|No further promotions are given to non-French Legionnaires on attaining the rank of ''Adjudant-Chef'', unless they become [[Naturalization|naturalized]] citizens of France. In 2016, of those [[Foreign Legion Command|Foreign Legion Officers]] serving at [[Foreign Legion Command|Foreign Titles]] ({{langx|fr|Officiers servant à titre étranger}}), 10% were [[Mustang (military officer)|seconded officers]] from the ranks.<ref name="officier"/>}}
|align=center|[[Chief Warrant Officer]]
|OR-9
|align=center|Promotion after four years as ''Adjudant'' and at least fourteen years of service.
|align=center|[[File:adjudant-chef.png|80px]]
|-
|align=center|''[[Ranks in the French Army|Major]]''{{efn|group=table|Since 1 January 2009, the French military rank of ''[[Ranks in the French Army#Sous-officiers – Sub-officers|major]]'' has been included under the heading of ''sous-officiers''. Previously, ''[[Major (France)|Major]]'' had been an independent rank positioned between NCOs and commissioned officers. It is an executive position within a regiment or demi-brigade having responsibility for administrative and disciplinary issues}}
|align=center|[[Major (France)|Major]]<ref>French rank [[Ranks in the French Army|Sergent-Major]] (similar to [[sergeant major]]), existed until 1971 and could come close to but is not like the French rank of [[Major (France)|major]]. The last Sergent-Major retired in 1985</ref> 
|OR-9
|align=center|Promotion after either passing an examination or without an examination after a minimum of fourteen years service.
|align=center|[[File:Major-French-Army.png|80px]]

|-
|colspan=5|
{{notelist|group=table}}
|}

===Commissioned officers===
{{Main|Foreign Legion Command}}
Most officers are regulars of the French Army though roughly 10% are former non-commissioned officers promoted from the ranks.<ref name="legion-recrute1"/>
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; width: 875px; height: 500px;"
|-
!Foreign Legion rank
!Equivalent rank
![[Ranks and insignia of NATO armies officers|NATO Code]]
!Command responsibility
!Insignia
|-
|align=center|''[[Ranks in the French Army|Aspirant]]''
|align=center|[[Officer Designate]]
|OF-D
|align=center|Officer Designate. Technically it is not a commissioned rank but it is still treated in all respects as one. Aspirants are either officers in training or volunteers serving as temporary officers. S/He may afterwards apply to obtain permanent commissioned status as a Sous-lieutenant.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://foreignlegion.info/ranks/ | title=Ranks &#124; French Foreign Legion Information }}</ref>
|align=center|[[File:Army-FRA-OF-01c.svg|50px]]
|-
|align=center|''[[Ranks in the French Army|Sous-Lieutenant]]''
|align=center|[[Second lieutenant]]
|OF-1
|align=center|Junior section leader
|align=center|[[File:sous-lieutenant.png|80px]]
|-
|align=center|''[[Ranks in the French Army|Lieutenant]]''
|align=center|[[First lieutenant]]
|OF-1
|align=center|[[Platoon]] commander
|align=center|[[File:lieutenant.png|80px]]
|-
|align=center|''[[Ranks in the French Army|Capitaine]]''
|align=center|[[Captain (OF-2)|Captain]]
|OF-2
|align=center|[[company (military unit)|Company]] commander
|align=center|[[File:capitaine.png|80px]]
|-
|align=center|''[[Ranks in the French Army|Commandant]]''
|align=center|[[Major (rank)|Major]]
|OF-3
|align=center|[[Battalion]] commander
|align=center|[[File:commandant.png|80px]]
|-
|align=center|''[[Ranks in the French Army|Lieutenant-Colonel]]''
|align=center|[[Lieutenant colonel]]
|OF-4
|align=center|Junior commander of a ''régiment'' or ''demi-brigade''
|align=center|[[File:lieutenant-colonel.png|80px]]
|-
|align=center|''[[Ranks in the French Army|Colonel]]''
|align=center|[[Colonel]]
|OF-5
|align=center| ''[[regiment|Régiment]]'' or ''[[demi-brigade]]'' commander
|align=center|[[File:colonel.png|80px]]
|-
|align=center|''[[Ranks in the French Army|Général de brigade]]''
|align=center|[[Brigadier general]]
|OF-6
|align=center|Commander of a [[brigade]] composed of ''régiment''s or ''demi-brigade''s.
|align=center|[[File:Insigne général de brigade.svg|80px]]
|-
|align=center|[[Ranks in the French Army#Généraux - general officers|''Général de division'']]
|align=center|[[Divisional general#France|Divisional general]]
|OF-7
|align=center| Entire [[Division (military)|division]] or Army Corps of the French Foreign Legion<br />(''[[Foreign Legion Command|Commandement de la Légion étrangère]]'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=187&idA=150&block=17&idA_SM=0&titre=presentation-du-comle|title= Official Website of the Commandement de la Légion Etrangère|publisher=legion-etrangere.com|access-date=14 January 2016}}</ref>
|align=center|[[File:Insigne général de division.svg|80px]]
|}

===Seniority chevrons===
The Foreign Legion uses gold coloured [[Chevron (insignia)|chevrons]] (''chevrons d'ancienneté'') pointed downward to indicate seniority. Worn by ordinary legionnaires and non-commissioned officers beneath the rank insignia and regimental emblem only on the left sleeve of the dress uniform,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://traditions.legion-etrangere.cc/les-chevrons-d-anciennete/|title=Chevrons d'ancienneté|publisher=legion-etrangere.cc|access-date=15 July 2011}}</ref> each chevron denotes five years of service in the Legion. Seniority chevrons are not worn by commissioned officers.

===Honorary ranks===
Honorary ranks have been awarded by the French Army to individuals credited with exceptional acts of courage since 1796. In the Foreign Legion, General [[Paul-Frédéric Rollet]] introduced the practice of awarding honorary Legion ranks to distinguished individuals, both civilian and military, in the early 20th century.

Recipients of these honorary appointments had participated with units of the Legion on active service in an exemplary manner, or had rendered exceptional service to the Legion in non-combat situations.<ref name=LE>[http://www.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=399&block=17&titre=l-honorariat-a-la-legion-etrangere Official Website of the General Command COMLE], Section L’honorariat à la Légion Etrangère (Honorary rank induction in the Foreign Legion)</ref> More than 1,200 individuals have been granted honorary ranks in the Legion ''pour services éminent''. The majority of these awards have been made to military personnel in wartime, earning titles such as ''Legionnaire d'Honneur'' or ''Sergent-Chef de Légion d'honneur'', while other recipients have included nurses, journalists, painters, and ministers who have rendered meritorious service to the Foreign Legion.<ref name=LE/>

==Pioneers==
{{Main| Foreign Legion Command| Foreign Legion Pioneers (Pionniers)}}
[[File:Foreign Legion Bastille Day 2013 Paris t112145.jpg|thumb|300x300px|The [[Pioneer (military)|Pioneers]] of the [[1st Foreign Regiment]]]]
The ''Pionniers'' ([[Pioneer (military)|pioneers]]) are the [[combat engineer]]s and a [[Military tradition|traditional unit]] of the Foreign Legion. The [[sapper]] traditionally sport large [[beard]]s, wear leather aprons and gloves and hold axes. The sappers were very common in European armies during the Napoleonic Era but progressively disappeared during the 19th century. The French Army, including the Legion disbanded its regimental sapper platoons in 1870. However, in 1931 one of a number of traditions restored to mark the hundredth anniversary of the Legion's founding was the reestablishment of its bearded ''Pionniers''.<ref name="Douglas Porch page 418">Douglas Porch, page 418, The French Foreign Legion. A Complete History, {{ISBN|0-333-58500-3}}</ref>

In the French Army, since the 18th century, every infantry regiment included a small detachment of pioneers. In addition to undertaking road building and entrenchment work, such units were tasked with using their axes and shovels to clear obstacles under enemy fire opening the way for the rest of the infantry. The danger of such missions was recognised by allowing certain privileges, such as being authorised to wear beards.

The current pioneer platoon of the Foreign Legion is provided by the Legion depot and headquarters regiment for public ceremonies.<ref>{{cite book| author=Martin Windrow| title=Uniforms of the French Foreign Legion 1831–1981| year=1981| publisher=Blandford| isbn=978-0-7137-1010-6}}</ref> The unit has reintroduced the symbols of the [[Napoleonic era|Napoleonic]] sappers: the beard, the axe, the leather apron, the crossed-axes insignia and the leather gloves. When parades of the Foreign Legion are opened by this unit, it is to commemorate the traditional role of the sappers "opening the way" for the troops.<ref name="Douglas Porch page 418"/>

==Marching cadences and songs==
[[File:Foreign Legion Bastille Day 2013 Paris t102020.jpg|thumb|Because of its slower pace, the Foreign Legion is always the last unit marching in any parade]]
Also notable is the marching pace of the Foreign Legion. In comparison to the 116-step-per-minute pace of other French units, the Foreign Legion has an 88-step-per-minute marching speed. It is also referred to by Legionnaires as the "crawl". This can be seen at ceremonial parades and public displays attended by the Foreign Legion, particularly while parading in Paris on 14 July ([[Bastille Day Military Parade]]). Because of the impressively slow pace, the Foreign Legion is always the last unit marching in any parade. The Foreign Legion is normally accompanied by its own band, which traditionally plays the march of any one of the Foreign Legion's regiments, except that of the unit actually on parade. The regimental song of each unit and "[[Le Boudin]]" is sung by legionnaires standing at attention. Also, because the Foreign Legion must always stay together, it does not break formation into two when approaching the presidential grandstand, as other French military units do, in order to preserve the unity of the Legion.

Contrary to popular belief, the adoption of the Foreign Legion's slow marching speed was not due to a need to preserve energy and fluids during long marches under the hot Algerian sun. Its exact origins are unclear, but the official explanation is that although the pace regulation does not seem to have been instituted before 1945, it hails back to the slow marching pace of the [[Ancien Régime]], and its reintroduction was a "return to traditional roots".<ref name="Le Grand Livre des Insignes de la Légion Etrangère">Szecsko, p. 17</ref> This was in fact, the march step of the Foreign Legion's ancestor units – the ''Régiments Étrangers'' or Foreign Regiments of the ''Ancien Régime'' French Army, the ''Grande Armée''{{'}}s foreign units, and the pre-1831 foreign regiments.

===Marching songs===

===="''Le Boudin''"====
[[File:French Foreign Legion Music Band.jpg|right|thumb|255x255px|The Foreign Legion has its own [[military band]]]]

"''[[Le Boudin]]''"<ref name="youtube.com"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXoYaHPYxr0| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/WXoYaHPYxr0| archive-date=2021-12-11 | url-status=live|title=Marche de la Légion / Le Boudin|last=TheMarches09|date=8 February 2010|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> is the marching song of the Foreign Legion.

====Other songs====
{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
* "''[[Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien]]''", [[1st Foreign Parachute Regiment]]
* "''Sous Le Ciel de Paris''", ''The Choir of the French Foreign Legion''
* "''Anne Marie du 3<sup>e</sup>''" REI (in German)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://3rei.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=54&idA=139&block=19&idA_SM=112&titre=le-chant-du-3rei|title=Chant du régiment|access-date=5 August 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304185924/http://3rei.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=54&idA=139&block=19&idA_SM=112&titre=le-chant-du-3rei|url-status=dead}}</ref> 
* "''Adieu, adieu''"
* "''Aux légionnaires''"
* "''Anne Marie du 2<sup>e</sup> REI''"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://2rei.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=148&idA=33&block=15&idA_SM=28&titre=le-chant-du-2eme-rei|title=Le chant du 2ème REI|work=legion-etrangere.com|access-date=5 August 2015|archive-date=30 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630190121/http://2rei.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=148&idA=33&block=15&idA_SM=28&titre=le-chant-du-2eme-rei|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* "''{{ill|Adieu vieille Europe|fr|Adieu vieille Europe|vertical-align=sup}}''"
* "''Chant de l'Oignon''"
* "''Chant du quatrième escadron''"
* "''Chez nous au 3e''"
* "''C'est le 4''"
* "''Connaissez-vous ces hommes''"
* "''[[1st Foreign Parachute Regiment|Contre les Viêts]]''" (song of the [[13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion]] after having been the marching song adopted by the [[List of French paratrooper units|1st Foreign Parachute Regiment]]) 
* "''Cravate verte et Képi blanc''"
* "''Dans la brume, la rocaille''"
* "''Défilé du 3<sup>e</sup> REI''"
* "''C'était un Edelweiss''"
* "''Écho''"
* "''En Afrique''"
* "''En Algérie''" (1<sup>er</sup> RE)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://1re.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=457|title=Les chants du 1er RE et des compagnies|access-date=5 August 2015|archive-date=3 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003103756/http://1re.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=457|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* "''Es steht eine Mühle''" (in German)
* "''Eugénie''"
* "''Les Képis Blancs''" (1<sup>e</sup> RE)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://1re.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=458&block=11&titre=les-chants-du-1er-re-et-des-compagnies|title=Les chants du 1er RE et des compagnies: Les Képis Blancs|access-date=5 August 2015|archive-date=18 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918001010/http://1re.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=458&block=11&titre=les-chants-du-1er-re-et-des-compagnies|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* "''Honneur, Fidélité''"
* "''[[Ich hatt' einen Kameraden]]''" (in German)
* "''Il est un moulin''"
* "''J'avais un camarade''"
* "''Kameraden (in German)''"
* "''La colonne''" (1<sup>er</sup> REC)
* "''La Légion marche''" (2<sup>e</sup> REP)<ref name="auto2"/>
* "''La lune est claire''"
* "''Le Caïd''"
* "''{{ill|Le Chant Des Marais|fr|Chant des marais|vertical-align=sup}}''"
* "''Il y a des cailloux sur toutes les routes''"
* "''Le fanion de la Légion''"
* "''Le Soleil brille''"
* "''Le front haut et l'âme fière''" (5<sup>e</sup> RE)
* "''Légionnaire de l'Afrique''"
* "''{{ill|Massari Marie|fr|Sarie Marais|vertical-align=sup}}''"
* "''Monica''"
* "''Sous le Soleil brûlant d'Afrique''" (13<sup>e</sup> DBLE)
* "''Nous sommes tous des volontaires''" (1<sup>er</sup> RE)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://1re.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=455|title=Les chants du 1er RE et des compagnies|access-date=5 August 2015|archive-date=3 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003152211/http://1re.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=455|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* "''Nous sommes de la Légion''"
* "''La petite piste''"
* "''Pour faire un vrai légionnaire''"
* "''Premier chant du 1<sup>er</sup> REC''"
* "''Quand on an une fille dans l'cuir''"
* "''Rien n'empêche''" (2<sup>er</sup> REG)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://2reg.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=246&idA=20&block=15&idA_SM=0&titre=les-chants|title=Les chants du 2e REG et des compagnies|access-date=5 August 2015|archive-date=3 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003123815/http://2reg.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=246&idA=20&block=15&idA_SM=0&titre=les-chants|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* "''Sapeur, mineurs et bâtisseurs''" (6<sup>e</sup> REG)
* "''Soldats de la Légion étrangère''"
* "''Souvenirs qui passe''"
* "''Suzanna''"
* "''The Windmill''"
* "''Venu volontaire''"
* "''Véronica''"
{{div col end}}

==Uniform==

From its foundation until World War I the Foreign Legion normally wore the uniform of the French line infantry for parade with a few special distinctions.<ref>''Encyclopædia Britannica'' 1911 Edition, page 587, Vol. 27</ref> Essentially this consisted of a dark blue coat (later tunic) worn with [[Pantalon rouge|red trousers]]. The field uniform was often modified under the influence of the extremes of climate and terrain in which the Foreign Legion served. [[Shako]]s were soon replaced by the light cloth [[kepi]], which was far more suitable for North African conditions. The practice of wearing heavy ''capotes'' (greatcoats) on the march and ''vestes'' (short hip-length jackets) as working dress in barracks was followed by the Foreign Legion from its establishment.<ref>{{cite book| author=Martin Windrow| title=Uniforms of the French Foreign Legion 1831–1981| year=1981| publisher=Blandford| isbn=978-0-7137-1010-6| page=16}}</ref>
One short lived aberration was the wearing of green uniforms in 1856 by Foreign Legion units recruited in Switzerland for service in the [[Crimean War]].<ref>{{cite book| author=Martin Windrow| title=Uniforms of the French Foreign Legion 1831–1981| year=1981| publisher=Blandford| isbn=978-0-7137-1010-6| page=42}}</ref> In the Crimea itself (1854–59) a hooded coat and red or blue waist sashes were adopted for winter dress,<ref>{{cite book| author=Martin Windrow| title=Uniforms of the French Foreign Legion 1831–1981| year=1981| publisher=Blandford| isbn=978-0-7137-1010-6| page=39}}</ref> while during the Mexican Intervention (1863–65) straw hats or sombreros were sometimes substituted for the kepi.<ref>{{cite book| author=Martin Windrow| title=Uniforms of the French Foreign Legion 1831–1981| year=1981| publisher=Blandford| isbn=978-0-7137-1010-6| page=43}}</ref><ref>Pages 26–29 "La Legion Etrangere 1831/1945, Raymond Guyader, Hors Serie No. 6 Gazette des Uniformes 1997</ref> When the latter was worn it was usually covered with a white "havelock" (linen cover) – the predecessor of the white kepi that was to become a symbol of the Foreign Legion. Foreign Legion units serving in France during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–71 were distinguishable only by minor details of insignia from the bulk of the French infantry. However subsequent colonial campaigns saw an increasing use of special garments for hot weather wear such as collarless ''keo'' blouses in [[Tonkin]] 1884–85, [[khaki drill]] jackets in Dahomey (1892)<ref>{{cite book| author=Martin Windrow| title=The French Foreign Legion 1872–1914| year=2010| publisher=Osprey| isbn=978-1-84908-326-3| pages=43–44}}</ref> and drab covered [[Pith helmet|topees]] worn with all-white fatigue dress in Madagascar<ref>Pages 38–41 "La Legion Etrangere 1831/1945, Raymond Guyader, Hors Serie No. 6 Gazette des Uniformes 1997</ref> (1895).<ref>{{cite book| author=Martin Windrow| title=Uniforms of the French Foreign Legion 1831–1981| year=1981| publisher=Blandford| isbn=978-0-7137-1010-6| page=26}}</ref>
[[File:Légion Étrangère 1852.png|thumb|The Légion étrangère in 1852|282x282px]]

In the early 20th century the legionnaire wore a red kepi with blue band and piping, dark blue tunic with red collar, red cuff patches, and red trousers.<ref>Page 41 "La Legion Etrangere 1831/1945", Raymond Guyader, Hors Serie No. 6 Gazette des Uniformes 1997</ref> Distinctive features were the green [[epaulette]]s (replacing the red of the line) worn with red woollen fringes;<ref>Frederic Martyn, ''Life in the Legion: from a Soldier's Point of View'' (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1911), pp. 83–84. [https://archive.org/stream/lifeinlegionfrom00martiala#page/58/mode/2up Read online at archive.org]</ref> plus the embroidered Legion badge of a red flaming grenade, worn on the kepi front instead of a regimental number.<ref>{{cite book| author=Martin Windrow| title=Uniforms of the French Foreign Legion 1831–1981| year=1981| publisher=Blandford| isbn=978-0-7137-1010-6| page=58}}</ref> In the field a light khaki cover was worn over the kepi, sometimes with a protective neck curtain attached. The standard medium-blue double breasted greatcoat (''capote'') of the French infantry was worn, usually buttoned back to free the legs for marching.<ref>{{cite book|first=Andre|last=Jouineau|page=58|title=French Army Volume 1: 1914|isbn=978-2-35250-104-6|year=2008|publisher=Amber Books Limited }}</ref> From the 1830s the legionnaires had worn a broad blue woollen [[sash]] around the waist,<ref>{{cite book| author=Martin Windrow| title=Uniforms of the French Foreign Legion 1831–1981| year=1981| publisher=Blandford| isbn=978-0-7137-1010-6| page=18}}</ref> like other European units of the [[Army of Africa (France)|French Army of Africa]] (such as the [[Zouave]]s or the [[Chasseurs d'Afrique]]), while indigenous units of the Army of Africa ([[spahi]]s and [[tirailleurs]]) wore red sashes. White linen trousers tucked into short leather leggings were substituted for red serge in hot weather.<ref>{{cite book| author=Martin Windrow| title=Uniforms of the French Foreign Legion 1831–1981| year=1981| publisher=Blandford| isbn=978-0-7137-1010-6| pages=54–55}}</ref> This was the origin of the "[[Beau Geste]]" image.

In barracks a white bleached kepi cover was often worn together with a short dark blue jacket ("veste") or white blouse plus white trousers. The original kepi cover was khaki and due to constant washing turned white quickly. The white or khaki kepi cover was not unique to the Foreign Legion at this stage but was commonly seen amongst other French units in North Africa. It later became particularly identified with the Foreign Legion as the unit most likely to serve at remote frontier posts (other than locally recruited tirailleurs who wore [[Fez (hat)|fezzes]] or [[turban]]s). The variances of climate in North Africa led the French Army to the sensible expedient of letting local commanders decide on the appropriate "tenue de jour" (uniform of the day) according to circumstances. Thus a legionnaire might parade or walk out in blue tunic and white trousers in hot weather, blue tunic and red trousers in normal temperatures or wear the blue greatcoat with red trousers under colder conditions. The sash could be worn with greatcoat, blouse or veste but not with the tunic. Epaulettes were a detachable dress item worn only with tunic or greatcoat for parade or off duty wear.<ref>Pages 44–46  "La Legion Etrangere 1831/1945", Raymond Guyader, Hors Serie No. 6 Gazette des Uniformes 1997</ref>

[[File:Fflmorocco.png|thumb|A drawing showing French Foreign Legion troops in action against tribesmen in [[Morocco]] in 1908]]
Officers wore the same dark blue (almost black) tunics as those of their colleagues in the French line regiments, except that black replaced red as a facing colour on collar and cuffs.<ref>Pages 47–49 "La Legion Etrangere 1831/1945, Raymond Guyader, Hors Serie No. 6 Gazette des Uniformes 1997</ref> Gold fringed epaulettes were worn for full dress and rank was shown by the number of gold rings on both kepi and cuffs. Trousers were red with black stripes or white according to occasion or conditions. All-white or light khaki uniforms (from as early as the 1890s) were often worn in the field or for ordinary duties in barracks.<ref>Page 42 "La Legion Etrangere 1831/1945", Raymond Guyader, Hors Serie No. 6 Gazette des Uniformes 1997</ref> [[Non-commissioned officer]]s were distinguished by red or gold diagonal stripes on the lower sleeves of tunics, vestes and greatcoats.<ref>Page 46 "La Legion Etrangere 1831/1945, Raymond Guyader, Hors Serie No. 6 Gazette des Uniformes 1997</ref> Small detachable stripes were buttoned on to the front of the white shirt-like blouse.

Prior to 1914 units in Indo-China wore white or khaki [[''Troupes coloniales''|Colonial Infantry]] uniforms with Foreign Legion insignia, to overcome supply difficulties.<ref>{{cite book| author=Martin Windrow| title=The French Foreign Legion 1872–1914| year=2010| publisher=Osprey| isbn=978-1-84908-326-3| pages=44–45}}</ref> This dress included a white [[pith helmet|sun helmet]] of a model that was also issued to Foreign Legion units serving in the outposts of Southern Algeria, though never popular with its wearers.<ref>{{cite book| author=Martin Windrow| title=Uniforms of the French Foreign Legion 1831–1981| year=1981| publisher=Blandford| isbn=978-0-7137-1010-6| page=75 }}</ref> During the initial months of World War I, Foreign Legion units serving in France wore the standard blue greatcoat and red trousers of the French line infantry, distinguished only by collar patches of the same blue as the capote, instead of red.<ref>{{cite book|first=Laurent|last=Mirouze|page=223|title=The French Army in the First World War – to Battle 1914|isbn=978-3-902526-09-0|year=2007|publisher=Militaria }}</ref> After a short period in sky-blue the Foreign Legion adopted khaki,  in common with other units of the ''[[Army of Africa (France)|Armée d'Afrique]]'', with steel helmets, from early 1916.<ref>{{cite book|first=Andre|last=Jouineau|pages=54 & 55|title=Officers and Soldiers of the French Army Volume 2: 1915–18|year=2009|publisher=Amber Books Limited |isbn=978-2-35250-105-3}}</ref><ref name="Uniformes09dec1914">{{cite web  | title = Notice descriptive des nouveaux uniformes. (Décision ministérielle du 9 décembre 1914 mise à jour avec le modificatif du 28 janvier 1915) |publication-place= Paris |institution=Ministère de la Guerre |via= Bibliothèque Nationale de France |year=1915 |url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k8588418 | language = fr | access-date =2021-07-30 }}</ref> A mustard shade of khaki drill had been worn on active service in Morocco from 1909, replacing the classic blue and white.<ref>{{cite book| author=Martin Windrow| title=Uniforms of the French Foreign Legion 1831–1981| year=1981| publisher=Blandford| isbn=978-0-7137-1010-6| pages=85–89}}</ref> The latter continued to be worn in the relatively peaceful conditions of Algeria throughout World War I, although increasingly replaced by khaki drill. The pre-1914 blue and red uniforms could still be occasionally seen as garrison dress in Algeria until stocks were used up about 1919.

During the early 1920s plain khaki drill uniforms of a standard pattern became universal issue for the Foreign Legion with only the red and blue kepi (with or without a cover) and green collar braiding to distinguish the Legionnaire from other French soldiers serving in North African and Indo-China. The neck curtain ceased to be worn from about 1915, although it survived in the newly raised Foreign Legion Cavalry Regiment into the 1920s. The white blouse (''bourgeron'') and trousers dating from 1882 were retained for fatigue wear until the 1930s.<ref>{{cite book|first=Martin |last=Windrow|page=40|title=French Foreign Legion 1814–1945|isbn=1-85532-761-9|date=26 March 1999|publisher=Bloomsbury USA }}</ref>

At the time of the Foreign Legion's centennial in 1931, a number of traditional features were reintroduced at the initiative of the then commander Colonel Rollet.<ref>{{cite book| author=Douglas Porch| title=The French Foreign Legion: A Complete History| date=1 January 1991| isbn=978-0-333-58500-9| page=422 | publisher=Macmillan}}</ref> These included the blue sash and green/red epaulettes. In 1939 the white covered kepi won recognition as the official headdress of the Foreign Legion to be worn on most occasions, rather than simply as a means of reflecting heat and protecting the blue and red material underneath. The Third Foreign Infantry Regiment adopted white tunics and trousers for walking-out dress during the 1930s<ref>{{cite book|first=Martin |last=Windrow|page=42|title=French Foreign Legion 1814–1945|isbn=1-85532-761-9|date=26 March 1999|publisher=Bloomsbury USA }}</ref>
and all Foreign Legion officers were required to obtain full dress uniforms in the pre-war colours of black and red from 1932 to 1939.

During World War II the Foreign Legion wore a wide range of uniform styles depending on supply sources. These ranged from the heavy capotes and [[Adrian helmet]]s of 1940 through to British battledress and American field uniforms from 1943 to 1945. The white kepi was stubbornly retained whenever possible.

[[File:Képi Blanc profile.jpg|thumb|White kepi (''Képi blanc'') of the Foreign Legion]]
From 1940 until 1963 the Foreign Legion maintained four Saharan Companies (''Compagnies Sahariennes'') as part of the French forces used to patrol and police the desert regions to the south of Morocco and Algeria. Special uniforms were developed for these units, modeled on those of the French officered Camel Corps (''[[Méhariste]]s'') having prime responsibility for the Sahara. In full dress these included black or white zouave style trousers, worn with white tunics and long flowing cloaks. The Legion companies maintained their separate identity by retaining their distinctive kepis, sashes and fringed epaulettes.

The white kepis, together with the sash<ref>{{cite book|first=Paul|last=Galliac|page=88|title=L'Armee Française|isbn=978-2-35250-195-4|year=2012|publisher=Histoire & Collections }}</ref> and epaulettes survive in the Foreign Legion's modern parade dress. Since the 1990s the modern kepi has been made wholly of white material rather than simply worn with a white cover. Officers and senior noncommissioned officers still wear their kepis in the pre-1939 colours of dark blue and red. A green tie and (for officers) a green waistcoat recall the traditional branch colour of the Foreign Legion. From 1959 a green [[beret]] (previously worn only by the legion's paratroopers) became the universal ordinary duty headdress, with the kepi reserved for parade and off duty wear.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://lib.ru/TXT/franclegion.txt_Piece100.01| title = Lib.ru}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://lib.ru/TXT/franclegion.txt_Piece100.02| title = Lib.ru}}</ref> Other items of currently worn dress are the standard issue of the [[French Army]].

==Equipment==
{{Further|Modern equipment and uniform of the French Army}}
The Legion is basically equipped with the same equipment as similar units elsewhere in the French Army. These include:
* The [[FAMAS]] assault rifle, a French-made automatic [[bullpup]]-style rifle, chambered in the 5.56×45mm NATO round. The FAMAS is being replaced by the [[Heckler & Koch HK416]]. The 13e DBLE, was the first French Army regiment to use the new rifle.
* The [[SPECTRA helmet|SPECTRA]] is a [[Combat helmet|ballistic helmet]], designed by the [[French Armed Forces|French military]], fitted with real-time positioning and information system, and with light amplifiers for night vision.
* The [[FÉLIN]] suit, an infantry combat system that combines ample pouches, reinforced body protections and a portable electronic platform.

== Command ==
{{Main|Foreign Legion Command|1st Foreign Regiment|Honneur et Fidélité}}

=== French Foreign Legion command (1931–1984) ===
{|
|-
| valign=top |

==== Inspector Tenure ====
;''Inspection de la Légion étrangère (I.L.E)''
{| class="wikitable"
!Name!!Portrait!!Rank!!Tenure!!Note
|-
|[[Paul-Frédéric Rollet]]||[[File:Paul-Frédéric Rollet.jpg|100px]] ||[[Général]]|| 1931–1935||
|-
|[[Raoul Magrin-Vernerey]]|| ||[[Général]]|| 1948–1950||
|}

==== Autonomous Group Tenure ====
; ''Groupement autonome de la Légion étrangère (G.A.L.E)''
{| class="wikitable"
!Name!!Portrait!!Rank!!Tenure!!Note
|-
|[[Jean Olié]]||[[File:Jean Olié (1961).jpg|100px]]||[[Général]]||1950||
|-
|[[Paul Gardy]]||–||[[Général]]||1951||
|}

==== Command Tenure ====
; ''Commandement de la Légion étrangère (C.O.L.E)''
{| class="wikitable"
!Name!!Portrait!!Rank!!Tenure!!Note
|-
|[[René Lennuyeux]]||–||[[Général]]||1955||<small>[[colonel]] then Général</small> 
|}

==== Technical Inspection Tenure ====
;''Inspection technique de la Légion étrangère (I.T.L.E)''
{| class="wikitable"
!Name!!Portrait!!Rank!!Tenure!!Note
|-
|[[René Lennuyeux]]||–||[[Général]]||1957||
|-
|[[Paul Gardy]]||–||[[Général]]||1958||
|-
|[[René Morel (Légion étrangère)]]||–||[[Général]]||1960||
|-
|[[Jacques Lefort]]||–||[[Général]]||1962||
|}
| valign=top |

==== Groupment Tenure ====
; ''Groupement de la Légion étrangère (G.L.E)''
{| class="wikitable"
!Name!!Portrait!!Rank!!Tenure!!Note
|-
|[[Marcel Letestu]]||–||[[Général]]||1972||
|-
|[[Gustave Fourreau]]||–||[[Général]]||1973||
|-
|[[Bernard Goupil]]||–||[[Général]]||1976||
|-
|[[Paul Lardry]]||–||[[Général]]||1980||
|-
|[[Jean-Claude Coullon]]<ref name="legion-etrangere.com"/> ||–||[[Général]]||1982|| 
|}

=== Commandement de la Légion Étrangère (1984–present) ===

==== Command Tenure ====
; ''Commandement de la Légion étrangère (C.O.M.L.E)''

{| class="wikitable"
!#!!Name!!Portrait!!Rank!!Tenure!!Note
|-
|1||[[Jean-Claude Coullon]]<ref name="legion-etrangere.com"/>||–||[[Général]]||1984||
|-
|2||[[Jean Louis Roué]]<ref name="legion-etrangere.com"/> ||–||[[Général]]||1985|| 
|-
|3||[[Raymond Le Corre]]<ref name="legion-etrangere.com"/> ||–||[[Général]]||1988||
|-
|4||[[Bernard Colcomb]] ||–||[[Général]]||1992||
|-
|5||[[Christian Piquemal]]<ref name="legion-etrangere.com"/>||–||[[Général]]||1994||
|-
|6||[[Bernard Grail]]<ref name="legion-etrangere.com"/> ||–||[[Général]]||1999||
|-
|7||[[Jean-Louis Franceschi]]<ref name="legion-etrangere.com"/> ||–||[[Général]]||2002||
|-
|8||[[Bruno Dary]]<ref name="legion-etrangere.com"/> ||[[File:GMP Bastille Day 2008-crop.jpg|100px]]||[[Général]]||2004||
|-
|9||[[Louis Pichot de Champfleury]]<ref name="legion-etrangere.com"/> ||–||[[Général]]||2006||
|-
|10||[[Alain Bouquin]]<ref name="legion-etrangere.com"/>||–||[[Général]]||2009||
|-
|11||[[Christophe de Saint-Chamas]]<ref name="legion-etrangere.com"/>||–||[[Général]]||2011||
|-
|12||[[Jean Maurin]]<ref name="legion-etrangere.com"/>||–||[[Général]]||2014||
|-
|13||[[Denis Mistral]]||-||[[Général]]||2018||
|-
|14||[[Alain Lardet]]||-||[[Général]]||2020||
|-
|15||[[Cyrille Youchtchenko]]||-||[[Général]]||2023||
|}
|}

{{Multiple image
| mode              = packed-hover
| align             = center
<!--|
|[[Foreign Legion Command|Le Commandement de la Légion étrangère]] (1931–present)-->| image1            = HK416N.png
| caption1          = The [[Heckler & Koch HK416|HK416F]] is the new service rifle of the French Armed Forces
| image2            = Legion-béret (old version).jpg
| caption2          = Beret badge of the Foreign Legion (old model).
| image3            = Drapeau 2REI verso.jpg
| caption3          = ''[[Honneur et Fidélité]]'' is the motto of the Foreign Legion in the French Armed Forces, inscribed on its flags from 1920.
| image4            = Monument morts legion.JPG
| caption4          = The monument to the ''Legionnaires'' at [[Aubagne]]. The gold portions of the globe mark countries where the legion has previously been deployed. It is inscribed ''La Legion A Ses Morts'' ''(From The Legion to its dead)''
}}

==Legacy==
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{{See also|List of films featuring the French Foreign Legion}}
Beyond its reputation as an elite unit often engaged in serious fighting, the recruitment practices of the Foreign Legion have also led to a somewhat romanticised view of it being a place for disgraced or "wronged" men looking to leave behind their old lives and start new ones. This view of the legion is common in literature, and has been used for dramatic effect in many films, not the least of which are the several versions of ''Beau Geste''. Three songs by [[Edith Piaf]], most notably "[[Non, je ne regrette rien]]" (No, I regret nothing), became associated with the legion, during the 1960s when members of the Legion were accused of being implicated in a failed [[coup d'état]] during the [[Algerian War]].<ref>Porch, Douglas (1991). The French Foreign Legion: A Complete History. London: Macmillan. {{ISBN|0-333-43427-7}}</ref> Today it is still a popular Legion "chant" sung when on parade, adapting it to their unique marching cadence of 88 steps to the minute. Various fictional portrayals and references to the legion have been made over the years, such as in film, television, music, video games<ref name="hitman">{{cite web |last=Rowley |first=Jim |date=2021-01-22 |title=The Entire Hitman Timeline Explained |url=https://www.looper.com/317672/the-entire-hitman-timeline-explained/ |access-date=2021-10-16 |website=Looper.com |language=en-US}}</ref> and art. The comic strip ''[[Crock (comic strip)|Crock]]'', which depicted life in the legion, ran from 1975 to 2012.

===Emulation by other countries===
====Chinese Ever Victorious Army====
The [[Ever Victorious Army]] was the name given to a Chinese imperial army in the late 19th century. Commanded by [[Frederick Townsend Ward]], the new force originally comprised about 200 mostly European mercenaries, recruited in the [[Shanghai]] area from sailors, deserters and adventurers. Many were dismissed in the summer of 1861, but the remainder became the officers of the Chinese soldiers recruited mainly in and around Sungkiang (Songjiang). The Chinese troops were increased to 3,000 by May 1862, all equipped with Western firearms and equipment by the British authorities in Shanghai. Throughout its four-year existence the Ever Victorious Army was mainly to operate within a thirty-mile radius of Shanghai. It was disbanded in May 1864 with 104 foreign officers and 2,288 Chinese soldiers being paid off. The bulk of the artillery and some infantry transferred to the Chinese Imperial forces. It was the first Chinese army trained in European techniques, tactics, and strategy.

====Israeli Mahal====
In Israel, [[Mahal (Israel)|Mahal]] ({{langx|he|מח"ל}}, an acronym for ''Mitnadvei Ḥutz LaAretz'', which means ''Volunteers from outside the Land [of Israel]'') is a term designating non-Israelis serving in the Israeli military. The term originates with the approximately 4,000 both Jewish and non-Jewish volunteers who went to [[Israel]] to fight in the [[1948 Arab–Israeli War]] including [[Aliyah Bet]].<ref>Benny Morris, ''1948'', 2008, p.85.</ref> The original Mahalniks were mostly World War II [[veteran]]s who had previously served in the [[United States Armed Forces|American]] and [[British Armed Forces|British armed forces]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Weiss |first=Amy |date=2020 |title=1948's Forgotten Soldiers?: The Shifting Reception of American Volunteers in Israel's War of Independence |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2979/israelstudies.25.1.07 |journal=Israel Studies |volume=25 |issue=1 |pages=149–173 |doi=10.2979/israelstudies.25.1.07 |jstor=10.2979/israelstudies.25.1.07 |issn=1084-9513}}</ref>

Today, there is a program, [[Garin Tzabar]], within the Israeli Ministry of Defense that administers the enlistment of non-Israeli citizens in the country's armed forces. Programs enable foreigners to join the [[Israel Defense Forces]] if they are of Jewish descent (which is defined as at least one grandparent).

====Netherlands KNIL Army====
Though not named "Foreign Legion", the Dutch [[Royal Netherlands East Indies Army|Koninklijk Nederlandsch-Indische Leger (KNIL)]], or Royal Dutch (East) Indies Army (in reference to the [[Dutch East Indies]], now [[Indonesia]]), was created in 1830, a year before the French Foreign Legion, and is therefore not an emulation but an entirely original idea and had a similar recruitment policy. It stopped being an army of foreigners around 1900 when recruitment was restricted to Dutch citizens and to the indigenous peoples of the Dutch East Indies. The KNIL was finally disbanded on 26 July 1950, seven months after the Netherlands formally recognised Indonesia as a sovereign state, and almost five years after Indonesia declared its independence.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Colonial Counterinsurgency and Mass Violence: The Dutch Empire in Indonesia (Routledge Studies in the Modern History of Asia Book 99)|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=iHp0DwAAQBAJ|publisher = Taylor & Francis|date = 2014|isbn = 9781317663157|first = Dirk|last = Moses}}</ref>

====Rhodesian Light Infantry and 7 Independent Company====
{{see also|Rhodesian Light Infantry|7 Independent Company (Rhodesia)}}
During the [[Rhodesian Bush War]] of the 1960s and 1970s, the [[Rhodesian Security Forces]] enlisted volunteers from overseas on the same pay and conditions of service as locally based regulars.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Rhodesian War: A Military History|last1=Moorcraft|first1=Paul L.|author-link1=Paul Moorcraft|last2=McLaughlin|first2=Peter|author-link2=Peter McLaughlin|date=April 2008|orig-year=1982|location=Barnsley|publisher=[[Pen and Sword Books]]|isbn=978-1-84415-694-8|page=52}}</ref> The vast majority of the Rhodesian Army's foreigners joined the [[Rhodesian Light Infantry]] (RLI), a heliborne commando regiment with a glamorous international reputation;<ref>{{cite book|title=Modern African Wars: Rhodesia, 1965–80|last1=Abbott|first1=Peter|last2=Botham|first2=Philip|location=Oxford|publisher=[[Osprey Publishing]]|date=June 1986|isbn=978-0-85045-728-5|page=17}}</ref> this unit became colloquially known as the "Rhodesian foreign legion" as a result, even though foreigners never made up more than about a third of its men. According to Chris Cocks, an RLI veteran, "the RLI was a mirror of the French Foreign Legion, in that recruiters paid little heed as to a man's past and asked no questions. ... And like the Foreign Legion, once in the ranks, a man's past was irrelevant."<ref name="binda126">{{cite book|title=The Saints: The Rhodesian Light Infantry |last=Binda |first=Alexandre |location=Johannesburg|publisher=30° South Publishers|date=May 2008|isbn=978-1-920143-07-7|page=126}}</ref> Just as French Foreign Legionnaires must speak French, the Rhodesian Army required its foreigners to be English-speakers. Many of them were professional soldiers, attracted by the regiment's reputation—mostly former [[British Armed Forces|British soldiers]], or [[Vietnam veteran]]s from the [[United States Armed Forces|United States]], [[Australian Defence Force|Australian]] and [[New Zealand Defence Force|New Zealand]] forces—and these became a key part of the unit.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Saints: The Rhodesian Light Infantry |last=Binda|first=Alexandre|location=Johannesburg|publisher=30° South Publishers|date=May 2008|isbn=978-1-920143-07-7|pages=186–188}}</ref> Others, with no military experience, were often motivated to join the Rhodesian Army by [[Anti-communism|their opposition to communism]], or a desire for adventure or to escape the past.<ref name=binda126 />

After the Rhodesians' overseas recruiting campaign for English-speakers, started in 1974, proved successful, they began recruiting French-speakers as well, in 1977. These francophone recruits were placed in their own unit, [[7 Independent Company (Rhodesia)|7 Independent Company]], [[Rhodesia Regiment]], which was commanded by French-speaking officers and operated entirely in French. The experiment was not generally considered a success by the Rhodesian commanders, however, and the company was disbanded in early 1978.<ref>{{cite journal|first=Robert|last=Montfort|editor-first=Eric|editor-last=Micheletti|title=La Septième Compagnie indépendante: les volontaires français en Rhodésie|trans-title=The Seventh Independent Company: the French volunteers in Rhodesia|journal=RAIDS|location=Paris|publisher=Histoire et Collections|issue=16|pages=16–20|date=September 1987|language=fr}}; {{cite journal|first=Robert|last=Montfort|editor-first=Eric|editor-last=Micheletti|title=La Septième Compagnie indépendante: les volontaires français en Rhodésie (II)|trans-title=The Seventh Independent Company: the French volunteers in Rhodesia (part II)|journal=RAIDS|location=Paris|publisher=Histoire et Collections|issue=17|pages=28–31|date=October 1987|language=fr}}</ref>

====Russian "Foreign Legion"====
In 2010 the service conditions of the [[Armed Forces of the Russian Federation]] changed to allow foreigners. The actual term Russian "Foreign Legion" is a colloquial expression without any official recognition. Under the plan, foreigners without dual citizenship are able to sign up for five-year contracts and will be eligible for Russian citizenship after serving three years. Experts say the change opens the way for [[Commonwealth of Independent States]] citizens to get fast-track Russian citizenship, and counter the effects of Russia's [[Demographic crisis of Russia|demographic crisis]] on its army recruitment.<ref>{{cite news|last=Okorokova|first=Lidia|title=Russia's new Foreign Legion|url=http://themoscownews.com/news/20101125/188233351.html?referfrommn|access-date=17 July 2011|newspaper=The Moscow News|date=25 November 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405225214/http://themoscownews.com/news/20101125/188233351.html?referfrommn|archive-date=5 April 2012}}</ref>

'''Donetsk & Luhansk Peoples Republic "Novo-Russia Foreign Legion"'''

After the [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|2014 Russian Annexation of Crimea]] and the succeeding war in the Donbass, the separatist states of Donetsk and Luhansk peoples republics had a manpower shortage in their [[Russian people's militias in Ukraine|army]] which resulted in a campaign to recruit foreigners who were ideologically aligned to Russia to come fight for them. this resulted in the formation of the Novo-Russia Foreign legion which was made as "the new French foreign legion"<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=2015-09-21 |title=Hundreds of foreign fighters join pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-22/foreign-fighters-join-pro-russian-rebels-in-eastern-ukraine/6792696 |access-date=2023-01-19}}</ref> and resulted in "Hundreds flocking"<ref name=":0" /> to the Donbass to fight, prominent separatist figure and American, Russell Bentley or "Tex", stated that "We have Spaniards, we have guys from Colombia, India, Italy, France. I'm not the only American here either. There are also many Serbian fighters". Ukraine reported that in 2015 around 30,000<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Madrid |first=Agence France-Presse in |date=2015-02-27 |title=Spain arrests eight nationals for fighting with pro-Russia separatists in Ukraine |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/feb/27/eight-spaniards-arrested-fighting-ukraine-pro-russian-separatists |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref> foreign fighters were fighting for the separatist with the main nationalities being Russian and Serbian, with westerners making up a minority of fighters. many of whom have faced prosecution upon returning to their home countries such as in February 2015 eight Spanish's nationals were arrested upon returning to Spain from the Donbass.<ref name=":1" />  after the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine]] it is unclear if this unit still exists.

====Spanish "Foreign Legion"====
{{Main|Spanish Legion}}

The Spanish ''Tercio de Extranjeros'' was created in 1920, in direct emulation of the French Foreign Legion. It subsequently had a significant role in Spain's colonial wars in [[Morocco]] and in the [[Spanish Civil War]] on the Nationalist side. The Spanish Foreign Legion recruited foreigners until 1986 but unlike its French model, the number of non-Spanish recruits never exceeded 25%, most of these from Latin America. It is now called the ''Spanish Legion'' and has been involved in several modern conflicts and operations, including Afghanistan and the UN Mission in Lebanon [[United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon|UNIFIL]] .<ref>{{Cite web |last=20minutos |date=2006-10-31 |title=La Legión asume el mando en Líbano tras culminar Infantería de Marina su misión |url=https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/167784/0/Libano/Legion/relevo/ |access-date=2022-05-02 |website=www.20minutos.es – Últimas Noticias |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=La Moncloa. 20/09/2017. "La Legión is one of the units most highly recognised and loved by the people of Spain", says María Dolores de Cospedal [Government/News] |url=https://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/lang/en/gobierno/news/Paginas/2017/20170920_legion.aspx |access-date=2022-05-02 |website=www.lamoncloa.gob.es |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-12-23 |title=..:: ---> LA LEGIÓN – ENTRA EN LA LEYENDA |url=http://www.ejercito.mde.es/organizacion/legion/principal.htm |access-date=2022-05-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051223220854/http://www.ejercito.mde.es/organizacion/legion/principal.htm |archive-date=23 December 2005 }}</ref>

====Ukrainian International Legion & Georgian Legion====
{{main|Georgian Legion (Ukraine)|International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine}}
The [[Georgian Legion (Ukraine)|Georgian Legion]] was formed  fighting on the side of [[Ukraine]] in the [[War in Donbas (2014–2022)|war in Donbas]] and the [[Russo-Ukrainian War]].<ref name="coffeeordie24Dec2021">{{Cite web|date=2021-12-24|title=Foreign Fighters Vow to Support Ukraine Against Russian Invasion|url=https://coffeeordie.com/foreign-fighters-ukraine-russian-invasion/|access-date=2022-01-20|website=Coffee or Die Magazine|language=en-US|archive-date=19 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220219000952/https://coffeeordie.com/foreign-fighters-ukraine-russian-invasion/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The unit was organized in 2014,<ref name="GT" /> and in 2016 it was transferred under the control of the [[Ukrainian Army]], under the 25th Mechanized Infantry Battalion "Kyiv Rus".<ref name=":2">{{cite news |title=Georgian Legion join Ukraine Armed Force |url=https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-other_news/1971360-georgian-legion-join-ukraine-armed-force.html |accessdate=3 February 2019 |work=Ukrinform |date=24 February 2016 |language=en}}</ref> Although formed by mostly ethnic [[Georgians|Georgian]] volunteers, and commanded by veteran Georgian officer [[Mamuka Mamulashvili]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ukrainer.net/georgians/|title=The Georgians of Ukraine. Who are they? • Ukraїner ∙ Expedition through Ukraine!|date=2019-08-11|website=Ukraїner ∙ Expedition through Ukraine!|access-date=2020-01-27}}</ref><ref name="GT">{{cite news |last1=Waller |first1=Nicholas |title=American Ex-Paratrooper Joins Georgian Legion Fighting in Ukraine |url=http://georgiatoday.ge/news/3112/American-Ex-Paratrooper-Joins-Georgian-Legion-Fighting-in-Ukraine |accessdate=3 February 2019 |work=Georgia Today |date=26 February 2016 |archive-date=1 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200401113157/http://georgiatoday.ge/news/3112/American-Ex-Paratrooper-Joins-Georgian-Legion-Fighting-in-Ukraine |url-status=dead }}</ref> the legion was noted as being particularly good at recruiting Americans;<ref>{{cite news |last1=Olmstead |first1=Molly |title=Who Are the Americans Who Went to Fight in Ukraine? |url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2022/03/americans-fighting-ukraine-russia.html |access-date=13 March 2022 |publisher=Slate |date=10 March 2022}}</ref> before the formation of the [[International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine|International Legion of Ukraine]] in 2022, most foreign fighters served the Georgian Legion.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Foreign Fighters Are Rushing to Join Ukraine's New International Battalion |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/akvyq4/russian-ukraine-invasion-foreign-fighters-battalion |access-date=2022-05-07 |website=www.vice.com |date=28 February 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

In response to the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]], the government of Ukraine quickly established a component of its [[Territorial Defense Forces (Ukraine)|Territorial Defense Forces]] consisting of volunteers from foreign countries.<ref name=Ukr>{{cite web|url=https://www.aol.com/americans-canadians-answer-ukraine-call-002203208-101740048.html|first1=Andrew|last1=Hay|first2=Rod|last2=Nickel|publisher=Reuters|date=1 Mar 2022|title=Americans, Canadians answer Ukraine call for foreign fighters}}</ref> Within the International Legion, some single nationality battalions were established to avoid [[language barrier]]s in order to facilitate their rapid response to the invasion.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/world/exclusive-so-many-canadian-fighters-in-ukraine-they-have-their-own-battalion-source-says|work=National Post|title=Exclusive: So many Canadian fighters in Ukraine, they have their own battalion, source says|first=Tom|last=Blackwell|date=March 9, 2022}}</ref>

== Notable members ==
{{Main|List of Foreign Legionnaires}}
''The following is a list of notable people who are or were members of the Foreign Legion:''

*[[Jean Danjou]] – Commander at the [[Battle of Camarón]].
*[[Mamady Doumbouya]] – [[Guinea]]n [[Republic of Guinea Armed Forces|military]] [[Officer (armed forces)|officer]] who led the [[2021 Guinean coup d'état]] and is currently Guinea's [[head of state]] acting as the [[List of presidents of Guinea|Chairman]] of the [[National Committee of Reconciliation and Development]].
*[[Roger Faulques]]
*[[Peter I of Serbia]]
*[[Ante Gotovina]] 
*[[Aarne Juutilainen]]
*[[Jean-Marie Le Pen]]
*[[Patrice MacMahon, duc de Magenta|Patrice MacMahon]]
*[[Peter Ortiz]]
*[[George Edward Massee]]
*[[Alan Seeger]]
*[[Susan Travers]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Holden|first=Wendy| title=The only woman in the French Foreign Legion | publisher=BBC News | date=24 September 2009 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8271773.stm |access-date=23 April 2023}}</ref>
*[[Aly Khan]]
*[[Ernst Jünger]]
*[[Henri, Count of Paris (1908–1999)]]
*[[Prince Aage, Count of Rosenborg]] – A Danish Prince who served in the Foreign Legion and died with the rank of lieutenant-colonel.
*[[Louis, Prince Napoléon]]

==See also==
{{Portal|France}}
* [[List of French paratrooper units|Airborne units of France]]
* [[Brigade of Gurkhas]]
* [[List of battles involving the French Foreign Legion|List of battles involving the Foreign Legion]]
* [[Foreign Legion Museum]]
* [[Flight of the Wild Geese|Wild Geese]] – Irish soldiers who fought for France
* [[List of militaries that recruit foreigners]]
* [[Spanish Legion]]
* [[International Legion]]
* [[International Brigades]]
* [[Place des États-Unis#Memorial to the American volunteers|Memorial to the American Volunteers, Paris]]
* [[Lafayette Escadrille]], a World War I volunteer air squadron
* ''[[Beau Geste]]'', a novel (with many film adaptations)
* [[James Waddell (army officer)|James Waddell]], a New Zealander, highly decorated officer

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book| author=Tony Geraghty| title=March or Die: A New History of the French Foreign Legion| year=1987| isbn=978-0-8160-1794-2| url-access=registration| url=https://archive.org/details/marchordienewhis00gera| publisher=New York: Facts on File}}
* {{cite book| author=Evan McGorman| title=Life in the French Foreign Legion: How to Join and What to Expect When You Get There| date=2002| publisher=Hellgate Press| isbn=978-1-55571-633-2}}
* {{cite book| author=Douglas Porch| title=The French Foreign Legion: Complete History of the Legendary Fighting Force|year=1992| publisher=Harper Perennial| isbn=978-0-06-092308-2}}
* [[Simon Murray (businessman)|Simon Murray]], ''Legionnaire: An Englishman in the French Foreign Legion'', Sidgwick & Jackson, 1978.
* Roger Rousseau, ''The French Foreign Legion in Kolwezi'', 2006. {{ISBN|978-2-9526927-1-7}}
* {{cite book| author=Tibor Szecsko| title=Le grand livre des insignes de la Légion étrangère| year=1991| isbn=978-2-9505938-0-1}}
* Chris Dickon, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=rqlNyQEACAAJ A Rendezvous with Death: Alan Seeger in Poetry, at War]'', 2019 {{ISBN|978-1689382588}}
* Edward Morlae, ''[https://www.gutenberg.org/files/46651/46651-h/46651-h.htm A Soldier of the Legion]'', 1916
* John Bowe, ''[https://www.gutenberg.org/files/54057/54057-h/54057-h.htm Soldiers of the Legion]'', 1918
* Paul Ayres Rockwell, ''[https://archive.org/details/americanfighters00paul American Fighters in the Foreign Legion]'', 1930
* Jatczak Z., Schramm K., ''I Regret Nothing'', Warsaw 2021, ISBN 978-83-66687-15-8
* [[Erwan Bergot]], ''The French Foreign Legion'', Allan Wingate, 1975.
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* [http://www.legion-etrangere.com Official Website] {{in lang|fr}}
* [http://en.legion-etrangere.com/ Official Website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120613181132/http://en.legion-etrangere.com/ |date=13 June 2012 }} {{in lang|en}}
* [https://legionstories.com/french-foreign-legion/ French Foreign Legion Blog] {{in lang|en}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080714000329/http://www.legion-etrangere.fr/fr/samle/index.php Le Musée de la Légion étrangère (Foreign Legion museum)]
* [http://www.amicale-daguet.com/ Website about the French Daguet Division (First Gulf War 1990–1991)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111229000229/http://www.amicale-daguet.com/ |date=29 December 2011 }}
* [https://en.legion-recrute.com Recrute Website] – Recrute Website{{in lang|en}}
* [http://foreignlegion.info/ Foreign Legion Information] – unofficial website about the French Foreign Legion {{in lang|en}}

;Books
* [https://archive.org/details/inforeignlegion00roserich In the Foreign Legion (1910)] – by Erwin Rosen (born 1876)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304090032/http://www.booksandwriters.co.uk/F/books-about-the-french-foreign-legion.html Books on Legion from 1905 to Present]

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[[Category:French Army]]
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[[Category:Arms of the French Army]]
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