Foreign Legion World War II. Advice to those wishing to get into the French Foreign Legion and serve in it. FAMAS assault rifle

History of the French Foreign Legion

First, a little history. The French Foreign Legion was founded under King Louis Philippe I in 1831. The reason for the creation of the Legion was the desire of France to include the territory of Algeria and, accordingly, the need for new combat-ready units.

The basis of the rank and file in the new combat unit was made up of natives of the countries of the South and Western Europe, officers formed from veterans of Napoleon's army. In this regard, traditions have been preserved to this day - only a citizen of France can receive an officer rank in a foreign legion, while privates and sergeants are recruited all over the world.

The French Legion took part in more than three dozen only major conflicts from Mexico to Vietnam. The most successful foreign legion showed itself in Africa and Indochina, where the positions and interests of France are traditionally strong. Nevertheless, there was one sensitive defeat in his history. In the spring of 1954, the superior troops of Ho Chi Minh managed to surround and defeat the French troops, among whom were units of the foreign legion, in the Dien Bien Phu region.

Legionnaires in "hot spots": Mali

Now the French Foreign Legion mainly performs peacekeeping functions. Although. If you want to test your strength, then try to join the foreign legion and get to the base in Djibouti. In addition to specific climatic conditions, which only a real man can withstand, is really dangerous in this small country. And the recent events around the conflict in Mali gave some parts of the French Foreign Legion a chance to prove themselves in battle with a serious enemy.

Some units of the legion are already in Mali and several are on alert to be sent to the conflict zone. The well-trained and well-armed formations of the Tuareg, who proclaimed the independent state of Azawad, and Islamic radical militants of the Salafist persuasion from Al-Qaeda of the Islamic Maghreb, Ansar Din and other groups will oppose the legionnaires in the war in Mali.

It cannot be said that there are a lot of Russian guys among the fighters of the foreign legion. They now face a difficult task - a new battle with world terrorism. One should not underestimate the capabilities of the Islamists in Africa and consider that Mali is too far from Russia. This African country has large deposits of uranium, and it is suicidal to allow extreme radicals, who are in principle incapable of dialogue with Christian civilization, to access the sources of such raw materials.

Therefore, we should now wish military luck to the Russian guys in the foreign legion. By waging war in Mali now, they are doing everything they can to ensure we don't have to fight it on the streets of Moscow and other Russian cities for the foreseeable future.

Legionary. Who is he?

There is a category of men for whom the adrenaline received in everyday life is not enough, even with the help of extreme sports. Young people who want to go through a real school that can forge men out of them, but for whom the armed forces of their home country are not exotic and sharp enough.

Former regular military men who have not reached the age of forty, who want to feel again the incomparable smell of weapon steel and powder gases. Or just tough guys who are tired of the daily hustle and bustle. All of these are potential legionnaires. By the way, in contrast to the early period, persons who have serious problems with the law in their country will not be able to enter the service in the French Foreign Legion. Nowadays, information about the background of candidates is checked through the channels of Interpol.

French Foreign Legion. How to get?

The Foreign Legion of France provides an opportunity to join its ranks for almost everyone. For this you must be:

• - a man (women are not accepted into the Legion under any circumstances);
• - between the ages of 17 and 40 (seventeen-year-olds will need permission from their parents certified by the French embassy);
• - physically fit for service in a foreign legion;
• - the holder of a valid passport and legally resides in France.

Immediately forget about all the offers of "help" when entering the foreign legion. The President of France himself will not be able to influence the decision to enroll a candidate. Those who know French can search for information themselves on the request "legion etrangere recrutement". First of all, you need to contact one of the information and recruitment points in mainland France.

They are in the following cities: Paris, Lille, Strasbourg, Nantes, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Perpignan and Aubagne. After that, you will have a preliminary interview and an initial medical examination at the selection center in Paris. Then the main stage of selection begins at the base in Aubagne near Marseille.

Candidates for admission to the foreign legion pass three types of tests: - Psychotechnical. You will be asked many questions on attention, memory and logical thinking, as well as about your background in additional tests. At this stage, it is extremely important to answer truthfully, believe me, experienced psychologists will quickly be able to recognize the deception and then your chances of admission will be close to zero. By the way, think again if you want to appear “too smart” on tests. After all, the Legion is not Oxford. - in-depth medical examination.

Be prepared for the fact that close attention will be paid to the health of your teeth, so we advise you to visit a dentist in advance. It is also mandatory to have a medical card with you. There are no chances for admission to the French Legion for candidates suffering from such serious diseases as hepatitis, HIV, diabetes and some others. - physical tests.

You will be offered to pass fairly easy standards, for example, pull yourself up on the bar at least 4 times, climb without the help of legs to a five-meter height on a rope, do 40 times a standard abdominal exercise, as well as a running standard: shuttle run or endurance run (at least 2800 meters in 12 minutes). As you can see, the standards are inferior even to the requirements adopted by the RF Armed Forces.

In case of non-receipt, you will be given monetary compensation - about 30 euros per day of being a candidate. If there are no problems at this stage, then you can be congratulated on finding a new family - Etrangere Legion! After signing a five-year contract, you will receive an "anonymous" document, in which your name, date and place of birth will be changed. By the end of the first year of service, those who wish can apply and, if approved, serve in the legion under their own surname.

material side. Salary, legionary benefits

Those who want to earn money are interested in a salary in a foreign legion. Do not believe if you are told about the golden mountains. Only an enlisted soldier will be able to earn at least 1043 euros, and will also receive free accommodation and meals. In addition, there are a number of allowances depending on the region of service, participation in hostilities, length of service, rank.

To date, the highest paid unit is the 13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion, stationed in Djibouti. An ordinary legionnaire 13 DBLE after a year of service can count on at least 3,500 euros per month of a "clean" salary. Although, the Russian legionnaires, who are now fighting the Islamists in Mali, may have even larger bonuses.

Legion fighters are entitled to annual leave - 45 working days. Those who have served for 3 years have the right to apply for French citizenship. Legionnaires who were wounded in a military operation have an unconditional right to receive French citizenship. For eight years of impeccable service, a solid bonus in the amount of two annual salaries is due. Those who served in the foreign legion of France for more than 19 years guarantee themselves a lifetime pension - at least a thousand euros.

Service in a foreign legion

So, after being accepted into the ranks of the French Foreign Legion, you have to go through the training stage on the basis of the 4th regiment. During this time, you will learn the traditions of the French legion, go through mountain and technical training, and make a number of difficult marches. Be prepared for the fact that the loads may exceed those that are familiar to those who have gone through our "training sessions". Not everyone is able to withstand them and become a full-fledged fighter of the foreign legion. The final test will be the "march of the white caps", during which the recruits will have to overcome more than 100 km of rough terrain in full gear.

After that, return to Aubagne before distribution to the unit and the place of permanent deployment. At the moment, the foreign legion of France includes 11 regiments. 7 of them have permanent locations in mainland France, and there is also a parachute regiment in Corsica, an infantry regiment guarding the French spaceport in Guiana, a unit in the Comoros and a semi-brigade in Djibouti.

In addition, parts of the legion can be quickly deployed to anywhere in the world, as is now in Mali, for example. A career in a foreign legion is made solely on the basis of success in service. According to statistics, every fourth legionnaire eventually becomes a non-commissioned officer, and every tenth reaches the officer rank.

Absolutely every legionnaire is a superbly trained fighter. At the same time, the positions of a cook, musician, computer scientist or paramedic are also replenished from the legion, without involving strangers. The fighters are given the opportunity to leave the location of the unit after 17:00, but be sure to be present at the morning formation at six o'clock. However, do not forget that the Foreign Legion is not an institution for noble maidens, but a place where real military professionals are forged, respectively, not everyone will have the strength to be fired.

People from 136 countries of the world serve in the legion, which means that manifestations of racism are a direct path to expulsion. About the same as in Soviet army the traditions of the "compatriots" were strong, they have strength in the foreign legion. A significant percentage of the total number are from Slavic countries: Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Croatia, Serbia, Slovakia and others. Naturally, they try to stick together and help each other.

Many Russian guys, of course, are interested in the issue of hazing. Of course, as in any army in the world, this phenomenon is present to some extent in the French Foreign Legion, but on a much smaller scale than in our army. In addition, the command, to put it mildly, does not welcome manifestations of hazing. IN work time accepted to speak French. Please note that the relationship between sergeants and privates is different from those that are accepted in the post-Soviet space. Especially if you want to serve in the legion longer.

Units of the Foreign Legion

In total, about 7,500 people serve in the foreign legion of France. This is not very much, but the highest professionalism of everyone, from the private to the brigadier general, makes the French Legion a formidable fighting force in conflicts of any level.

One of the most exotic places of duty is the Kourou base in French Guiana, where the 3 REI (3rd Legion Infantry Regiment) is stationed. This military unit is engaged in the protection of the cosmodrome. Those who get there should prepare in advance for the difficult tropical climate, swamps and hordes of insects. This will be especially acute for those who will undergo an internship at the C.E.P.E. in the middle of the equatorial forest. Consider well whether you are capable of such a test?

More comfortable living conditions, but no less simple service, promises distribution to the 2nd Parachute Regiment in Corsica. Despite the fact that there will be many bars and cafes at your service right on the territory of the unit, you will not be allowed to forget for a minute that you are a Legionnaire and what is behind this proud name. 2 R.E.P. - This is a regiment in which they try to collect the best of the best. Each battalion of the regiment has its own narrow specialization from night operations and urban assault to mountain and sabotage operations.

The oldest unit that carefully preserves the traditions of the Legion is the 1st Regiment, located in Aubagne and working with recruits. The main administrative services are concentrated here.

There is also a kind of "academy" for officers and sergeants. This is the 4th Regiment stationed at Castelnaudary in France. Young legionnaires are also trained here.

The 1st Armored Cavalry Regiment is located in Orange and is considered a powerful offensive unit within the Legion. The regiment is regularly sent on combat missions to different parts of the world.

Also ready to quickly leave French Nîmes and arrive at a new duty station and the 2nd Infantry Regiment.

Avignon is the only Legion unit that does not leave continental France in peacetime. It is the 1st Engineer Regiment and is considered one of the best of its kind in the world. It also includes a unit of elite swimmers-saboteurs.

The 13th semi-brigade in Djibouti is another place where not every physically and psychologically strong man can endure service.

There is also a small special unit in the Comoros - D.L.E.M.

In some of these regiments and units of the French Foreign Legion, service is a little easier, in others it is more difficult, but in each of them first-class specialists are trained, and the path to this lies through hard daily training, sweat and possibly blood.

Russian traditions in the French Legion

After the Bolshevik revolution in Russia and the defeat of the white movement in civil war, the ranks of the legion were replenished by a significant number of former officers of the tsarist army, who were distinguished by excellent training and discipline. In many ways, it was thanks to the Russians that France was able to achieve great success in the conflicts of the 20s against the Tuareg, Druze, Kabils and other rebellious African tribes.

No wonder recruiters began hunting for tsarist officers immediately after the entry of Wrangel's squadron into the port of Constantinople. Five representatives of that generation received general ranks in the foreign legion of France.

From the beginning of the 90s, the number of Russians in the Legion began to grow again. At their core, these were not newcomers to military affairs, but retired officers of the Soviet Army or retired sergeants, who often had combat experience, including in Africa - Angola and other countries.

Joining the French Foreign Legion for Russian guys in those years was a chance to start life from scratch. Much fell apart in our army and society, however, when the Motherland again needed real defenders, many legionnaires returned to defend Russia during the wars in Chechnya, without demanding any payment for this.

In whatever division of the Legion the Russians, Belarusians, Ukrainians served, everywhere they were one of the best fighters, the most persistent and well-trained. And now we wish good luck to the brave Russian guys in the foreign legion of France in their fight against Al-Qaeda and their allies in Mali, a country otherwise called "African Afghanistan."

Although, is it worth looking for a distant shore, if we have formations and types of troops, at least no less legendary, for example, special forces of the Internal Troops, military intelligence. Try to go through first, before talking about the fact that in Russia, Belarus or Ukraine there is no worthy army elite.

Tips for those who want to get into the French Foreign Legion and serve in it

These tips are written from the words of Russians who have served in the legion, and they should in many ways help those who decide to become a legionnaire.

How to get into the Legion.

Do not trust travel agencies that promise to make you a legionnaire. Most likely, you will be deceived and, at best, will be taken to France, “teared like sticky”. It is best to prepare a passport in advance, get a pre-visa at the French embassy or consulate for an independent "tourist" trip. A visa will also work for one of the EU countries due to the openness of the borders between them. You can go on a tour of France through one of the travel agencies, but in any case, do not talk about your real purpose of visiting this country. Otherwise, instead of serving in the Legion, you can “rattle” under the corresponding 359th article of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. If you are not a complete layman, then, of course, it will not cost you anything to avoid punishment, but all the same - why such complications? Moreover, you should not believe that some firms will be able to guarantee you admission to the Legion. Except for the legion authorities themselves, no one can guarantee this to you. Some "peck" on the proposals of other travel agencies, which swear to those who want to become a legionnaire that in case of non-receipt, they will take him home on account of the money already paid for delivery to Europe. Do not believe this, because enrollment in legionnaires sometimes lasts up to 3 months, and by this time the travel agency will have already forgotten about your existence. Upon arrival in France, you need to find the Legion reception point. It is best to come to Strasbourg or Marseille. There are its large depots. It goes without saying that a person who has never been in these cities himself, without outside help, will not be able to find such points. But this is not a problem: it is enough to say or show the phrase written on a piece of paper: “Legion Etrangere” to any taxi driver and you will certainly be taken there. If there is no money, you can contact the police and then you can be taken to the legion point at public expense, although this is not suitable for everyone and instead of the Legion you can be at best at home. You can try to find the location of a regular French military unit and declare at the reception point the purpose of your visit. To find such a part, you need to pay attention to the signs. If you see: "0uartier", "Fort" or "Camp", then you are on the right track. What to do and what not to do when thinking about the decision to go to the Legion In no case do not bring with you to the reception center and then, if you are accepted into the legionnaires, any narcotic or narcotic substances. If you find even a small fraction of a gram of the potion, you can say goodbye to the idea of ​​\u200b\u200bgetting into the legionnaires forever. What matters here is not the amount of “dope” found, but the fact that you have a certain inclination towards it. For the same reason, it is not recommended to take any medications with you. They can be identified by their analyzes as belonging to the drug group. You don’t have to worry about your health in the Legion: local doctors, unlike the old days of the Legion, are responsible for you and “will not let you die”, unless it is the specific conditions of the colonies. Before sending to the Legion, carefully check with maximum number doctors, ranging from ophthalmologist and dentist. This is for your own good. The fact is that otherwise, due to the slightest deviations in health, even such trifles as a hole in the tooth or a scar on the knee, you can be turned back home. This is at best, and at worst, if you managed to hide some serious illness, it threatens you that you can aggravate your health and even die if you find yourself in a desert or jungle. If you have at least a hint of some, even at first glance, a trifling disease, it is better not to waste your money and time. Sooner or later it will manifest itself, and it will happen at the most inopportune moment. Before leaving for the Legion, it is better to stock up on the most comfortable sports shoes for you, which will be very useful at the moment exercise. Be prepared for the fact that you will have to live for a long time, at least up to 3 years, and possibly forever, under a different name, under a different surname, have a different day, month and place of birth, a different nationality and people completely unfamiliar to you as parents.

How to behave immediately outside the gates of the Legion reception point

First, present official documents to interrogators. It can be a passport, driving license, etc. Even if it is a fake, it can still easily help. Be as sincere and respectful as possible. No one needs your "coolness" at the first stage, and such people are quickly and with pleasure "break off". Some people are trying to download rights from the first step to the threshold of the Legion's reception point, demanding to let him through. Such too impudent types are not honored even to be heard. One of the first questions asked of you here may be a question about your nationality. Do not hesitate and boldly say that you are Russian, although you will be more likely to become a legionnaire if you are a representative of another, preferably the most obscure nationality. The fact is that the command of the Legion pursues a policy of preventing the dominance of one or another nationality here. But the Russians are in good standing here, so there is nothing to be afraid of belonging to our nation. Do not give in if they start to assert to you that there are an overabundance of Russians here and that they are not being accepted now. This is a lie and at the same time a "test of character." Stand your ground, and soon you will be admitted to further tests. Speaking of this, it should be noted that in order to become a legionnaire, you need luck. The fact is that if a thousand Russians and 20 Frenchmen came to the reception point, and there are, say, 4 places, they will take, at best, 2 Russians and 2 Frenchmen, regardless of their fighting qualities. It is not surprising if another time 1 Russian and 3 French are selected from this number, so that the ratio is in favor of the French, who are recorded here mainly as Swiss and Canadians. The fact is that Western Europeans here do not get along for very long even against the general background, and the Slavs, mainly Russians, hold on mainly because of the desire to get money or citizenship. Therefore, the number of Russians here is steadily increasing, not declining. Therefore, the legionary authorities are forced to "level" the number of legionnaires of different nations. If you want to become a legionnaire, you must remember that the first six months will be a continuous physical, moral and moral torment for you. And it's no matter who you were 'in past life”, even as a colonel-order-bearer of special forces and a professional warrior. This must be noted when filling out the questionnaire and taken into account. However, it will take time for your best qualities to be revealed here, and at first everyone here will be “on the same face”. You need to be ready at first for the most difficult and dirty work - from cleaning toilets to the work of a loader. Do not hesitate to refuse such work, unless, of course, you want to lose your service in the Legion. True, refusing to perform such work can also cause severe beatings, no matter how strong you are. In the Legion, even the “coolest” know how to break off the horns”, for almost 200 years of history, everyone has been seen here. Remember that order is valued above all else and you need to clean the room in which you are located without warning and especially carefully. Remember that the construction here is treated very zealously and any violations are punished quite harshly. So do not be late for it, do not try to talk or make any movements without the permission of the commanders. Otherwise, at least, the outfits and the guardhouse and the bad attitude of the authorities are provided to you. great attention in the Legion, hand-to-hand combat is also given. His system here does not boil down to a long duel, as it used to be in the Soviet Army, but to the destruction of the enemy the minimum amount blows. God forbid you, even if you are a master of sports in one of the martial arts, to show your superiority over the instructors. The legion of the self-confident does not tolerate, and you will certainly be “lowered”, putting up a tougher or tougher fighters at the same time, you can be sure of that.

Be prepared for constant hikes and exercises.

If in the Soviet and Russian armies many held weapons in their hands only a few times, then here you will almost never let go of it, constantly improving your fire training. You will constantly, while hiking, spend the night in the open air, cook for yourself, wash clothes, put up tents or hang hammocks. The legion of whitehands will not tolerate it, so be prepared for this. You should also consider whether you can jokingly do 50 push-ups if the sergeant, for example, did not like how your boots were polished; whether you can endure undeserved beatings and just kicks if the authorities do not like the pace of cleaning the premises, etc. Remember that physical punishment of this kind in the Legion is not a violation of the charter. If you come here only for money and for nothing else, then it will be doubly difficult for you to adapt here, and then you will not survive here for more than 3 years. In addition, legionary service is contraindicated " creative people". In this case, the work of a legionnaire will be in conflict with your nature, and you will be forced to stop further service. the contract The future legionnaire needs to know as much information as possible about the details of his imprisonment. It is concluded shortly after coming here, and a 5-year term of service begins with it. But the future legionnaire should not be deceived much: he is not yet in the service. Officially, the contract comes into force with the oath of the legionnaire. First comes a preliminary contract of 6 months. During this period, the contract can be terminated by superiors without any explanation. The reason for this can be anything: you can not pass various tests, show poor physical fitness or inability to adapt to the conditions of the Legion, etc. But even after the expiration of the 6-month period, you should not think that you grabbed God by the beard and that after that you can do everything. The French Ministry of War has the right to terminate the contract with you even after 6 months before the expiration of the 5-year contract, when you are already estimating how much you will receive for your long-suffering service. The legionnaire himself can easily terminate the contract within the first 4 months. Further it is more difficult to do this, motivating it with serious reasons, for example, poor health. The negative here is that a legionnaire cannot marry and buy cars in the first 5 years. It is necessary to say especially about how the legionary authorities encourage the longest possible service of a simple legionnaire and lure him, given the above-described naturalization procedure. If a person got into the Legion, then if he firmly decided to make a career as a legionnaire, he must remember that he receives French citizenship after 7 years, and he can apply for a bonus of 30 thousand euros after 8 years of service; he earns a pension of 1,000 euros after 15 years of service, which, at the request of a legionnaire, will be delivered to any part of the world.

Exams and tests

In Aubagne, for the newly-minted legionnaire, a “streak” of trials and tests begins, which can last up to 2 months. The most important thing here is the running test. As legionnaires testify, “a person who managed to run 8 standard 400-meter laps in a stadium in 12 minutes has a 100 percent chance of entering. The closer the candidate is to this result, the higher his chances.” In general, be prepared for the fact that you have to run here every day for 15 kilometers. Those who do not perform well enough in running and other indicators should know that all his labors upon arrival in the Legion may be in vain and that he can be sent home very quickly without any compensation. The loads here are monstrous, and the fulfillment of legion standards is quite difficult even for very well-trained people. Former legionnaires write that, even when they were already in the Legion, these loads not only did not decrease, but even increased. So, once after such exercises, the legionnaires were supposed to engage in fire training, but they could not fire a shot, because they fell asleep from incredible fatigue. It is important to pass other tests, especially important of which are the test for 10 - for mental abilities and for quick thinking and a psychological test. Regarding the first one, it must be said that it is better to practice with this type of tests at home, since textbooks with similar tests are available to anyone today. The highest score here is 20, but, despite the fact that the level of the “average” person is 9-11 points, 7 or 8 is enough to enter the legionnaires, but, as you know, the more the better. Relatively psychological test- this is “how it will lie on an eagle”. It has its own selection methodology, but, as you know, obvious psychopaths and people with mental disabilities in general will not pass this test - you never know how you behave in battle! But as mentioned above, great running is key to Legion admission, and all other tests are looked at through that lens. Even if you have a level 10 close to zero and in addition you are a person with a manic-depressive syndrome, but if you cover the above indicators in running, you can consider yourself a legionnaire. Do not despair if, despite the high performance in passing tests and exams, you were not picked up and told to come later, at such and such a time. There is almost 100% certainty that next time you will do it. The second visit will be credited to you in the future on the positive side: the Legion appreciates perseverance and perseverance in achieving the goal. There is another important test, the language test, but more on that below.

"Legend-biography"

Among those who dream of becoming legionnaires, a false opinion is widespread that in order to be admitted to the Legion, one must invent some beautiful “miracle legend”. As mentioned above, it’s better not to lie and tell it like it is, unless, of course, you are a drug addict, a suicidal person and an international criminal. According to Russian legionnaires, you don't have to show that you are too smart. Here, as elsewhere, they are not very fond of. It is better to seem like a sort of "hillbilly", but a capable person, from whom you can fashion everything that the legionary authorities need. There is no need to hide the fact that you have already served in the military before. This is another erroneous opinion that the Legion does not take those who have already passed the army. Another thing is that the combat experience you have already gained here may not be in demand, especially when fighting in urban conditions. The methodology of urban combat in the Legion has been worked out to the smallest detail, and it implies other methods of action than, for example, in the same Russian army. On the other hand, the experience of the military in domestic matters will undoubtedly help you adapt better here. Language In order to quickly adapt to the Legion, the legionnaire needs to learn French as soon as possible and better, and it is better to join the legionnaires with his knowledge. Otherwise, he will be in big trouble and will not get a promotion, which may lead to premature sending home. We must also remember that communication between legionnaires in a language other than French is punishable here. Firstly, for the benefit of the legionnaire himself, so that he knows the language better, knowledge of which can later, in combat conditions, save his life, and secondly, for reasons of tact. After all, it is quite unpleasant when your partners, or even subordinates, speak in a language that others do not understand on purpose. You need to get used to the fact that if your French is weak or “not at all”, then you will be given a French partner, a “binoma”, with whom you will learn the language together, doing everything together. He will teach you "colloquial vocabulary". Remember that in the Legion there is an incentive to "study, study and study again." The better you improved your score in the language from the moment you studied to the new test on a 5-point system, the better you are. This figure will be included in overall ratings, and if your scores from the release are among the best, then you, among the few lucky ones, will be able to choose your own place of service and 1 of 10 Legion regiments. In general, it must be said that the Legion has a well-developed system for stimulating the work of a fighter. Here you have to be, if not the first, then among the first. Being the last here is not only shameful, but also “harmful” for oneself, because then all the “bumps” will fall on you. Here it is better not to mow from physical exercises, otherwise you will lose your shape and become the last one. It must be remembered that here, in the very unit where you yourself are, they do not like those who are lagging behind. The fact is that between the individual units of the regiment there are constantly competitions for achieving best results. This is interesting and financially profitable, since the winning unit will go on a 4-month trip outside of France, and the salary will be raised from 1.5 to 3 times during this time. One of the most desirable trips can be a business trip to Gabon, where the legionnaires actually have a rest. This approach to the training of personnel fully justifies itself, since it is a powerful incentive for self-improvement.

Relations with superiors

Basically, you will have to deal not with officers, but with non-commissioned officers. I must say that over the long decades, the legionary authorities have done a great job in order to bring the command and rank and file as close as possible, between which there is an impassable abyss in other armies. But what has remained unchanged is that the sergeant in the Legion is still "king and god." This is a serious and positive difference between the Legion and the Russian army, where often, if you are physically stronger, then you can “score” on the sergeant, “send” him or even punch him in the face. Doing it here is suicidal. In the best case, you will simply find yourself in a "citizen" without having time to understand what happened. At worst, you can simply be maimed or even left in the Legion, but after that your whole life here can turn into hell. In the Legion there is a powerful layer of non-commissioned officers, consisting of 5 "categories": corporal, sergeant, major, ajudan, senior ajudan. To become a non-commissioned officer yourself, you need to serve at least 1 contract, after which you can be sent to non-commissioned officer school. To do this, you must have a high level of intelligence and you must be respected by your colleagues and superiors. It is thanks to this powerful non-commissioned officer layer that intensive and high-quality training of legionnaires is successfully carried out, which is not found in other armies of the world. Despite the fact that the interaction between ordinary legionnaires and non-commissioned officers takes place constantly and the latter do not miss the barracks for a second without attention, we must remember that it is not customary to ask “extra” questions during training and in general here, so as not to tire the authorities.

Relations between legionnaires

As in any army, clashes between simple legionnaires are not uncommon here. But, since everything is kept under the control of non-commissioned officers, such conflicts are quickly extinguished. That is why there is no "hazing" here. It should also be noted that a strong friendship is often established between legionnaires of different nationalities, which often serves as the basis for joint business projects in the future.

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During the First World War, the soldiers of the legion actively participated in the hostilities as part of the French troops against German troops on the Marne, the Somme, and near Verdun.

After the end of this war, France turned its eyes to North Africa, where parts of the Foreign Legion began to be actively transferred. The 1st regiment was stationed in Algiers, in the city of Sidi Bel Abbes, and the cavalry regiment was sent to Sousse, in Tunisia. This was the period when many new people came to the legion, mainly Russians and Germans.


But there were also places of service that were most desired by the legionnaires. Such a place was primarily Indochina, in which the 5th regiment served. The direction there was considered a kind of reward, and as a rule, a legionnaire with great experience and length of service got it. But Indochina was such a “resort” until 1930, when an anti-French uprising broke out there. The Legion immediately became famous for its merciless and sometimes cruel measures against the rebels. Once there was a case. On March 9, 1931, during a solemn parade on the occasion of the centenary of the formation of the French Foreign Legion, someone shouted curses from the crowd at the commander of the legionnaires, Major Lambert. The commander, without hesitation, deployed the legionnaires in battle formation, ordered the bayonets to attach and surrounded the crowd. After that, six people were snatched from the crowd and shot as a warning to the rest.


Soon the second World War. It became not only for France, but also for the legionnaires a difficult test. In 1940, under the blows of German troops, the French Republic capitulated. The 13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion, having become part of the pro-fascist Vichy government, was sent to Norway to help Finland in the war with the USSR. But soon she went over to the side of General De Gaulle and became part of the armed forces. Free France". After that, the legionnaires fought against the German troops in Libya, Italy, France, and ended the war already in Germany.

During the war, the shameful history of the Legion was also written. On September 25, 1940, the 2nd Battalion, 5th Regiment of the Legion surrendered to the Japanese Army at Lang Son. The Legion's battalion in Morocco was next, surrendering to the American landings in 1942 without firing a shot.

Almost immediately after the end of World War II, in 1945, France began a war in Indochina. fighting there are conducted until 1954. At that time, former opponents in the war in Europe were fighting side by side in the foreign legion - at that time about 18 thousand former German soldiers, and the total number of the legion increased to almost 100 thousand people.

The war in Indochina went on with varying success, General Vo Nguyen Giap, who commanded the Vietnamese army, inflicted several strong blows on the French. At that time, the French did not sit idly by. In an attempt to seize the initiative in this war, paratroopers were dropped on the headquarters of the rebel movement, which nearly captured Ho Chi Minh. Thanks to this local success, two parachute battalions were formed in the foreign legion at once.

Ultimately, the French troops lost two key battles - these are the battles on Highway 4 and at Dien Bien Phu. The latter was the most heroic page in the history of the battles of the foreign legion in Indochina. The town of Dien Bien Phu was surrounded by many times superior forces of partisans. Despite the blockade and heavy bloody battles, the legionnaires defended the town until the order came to surrender.

History

The French Foreign Legion was created on March 9 by King Louis Philippe I on the basis of several predecessor regiments. One of these regiments was Regiment de Hohenlohe under the command of the German prince and French marshal Ludwig Alois von Hohenlohe-Bartenstein (Ludwig Aloys von Hohenlohe-Bartenstein). This regiment fought for the royalists in the Revolutionary Wars and later served under King Charles X of France. As France planned to colonize Algeria, it needed significant troops. At this time, many foreigners settled in France, and especially in Paris. With the creation of the Legion, King Louis Philippe could get the necessary troops and at the same time reduce the number of "undesirable" sections of the population in the country. So he issued a law the next day ( la Loi du 9 mars 1831) that the foreign legion can only be used outside of mainland France. The officers for the new unit were recruited from Napoleon's army, and the soldiers were recruited from Italy, Spain, Switzerland, other European countries, as well as the French, who had problems with the law. At the same time, a tradition was laid - not to ask the name of the recruit.

The day of glory of the Foreign Legion was April 30, 1863, when the Battle of Cameron took place during the Mexican expedition. A company of legionnaires under the command of Captain Danjou was given the task of scouting the outskirts of Palo Verde in anticipation of a convoy with guns, siege equipment, and three million francs in cash destined for the French troops besieging Puebla. Advancing after midnight on April 30, the legionnaires encountered the Mexicans on the morning of the same day. Realizing the undeniable advantage of the Mexicans (1200 infantry and 800 cavalry), Captain Danjou and his people occupied a building in a village called Cameron. To ensure the safety of the convoy, the Mexicans had to be held at all costs. Knowing that they are doomed and only a miracle can save them, the legionnaires gave their word to stand to the end. For more than ten hours they resisted the Mexican army. Despite offers to surrender, the legionnaires preferred death to inglorious captivity. Their self-sacrifice allowed the convoy to reach Puebla unhindered.

Today, the Legion is used where the French state defends its interests within NATO or the European Union, has historical responsibilities (for example, Côte d'Ivoire) or where French citizens are in danger. It is subordinate, as in 1831, to only one person: the French head of state, today the president.

The Foreign Legion took part in wars and operations in the following places:

French legionnaires in Kolwezi (Zaire) 1978

More than 600,000 people from all over the world served under the green-red flag of the Foreign Legion from its foundation until the end of the 1980s. According to a speech by Colonel Morellon, over 36,000 legionnaires fell in action at this time.

Today, the Legion is not used to wage war, as before, but mainly to prevent hostilities within the framework of missions under the auspices of the UN or NATO (for example, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan), to maintain peace, to evacuate people from war regions, to provide humanitarian aid, to rebuild infrastructure (eg in Lebanon and after the Tsunami in Southeast Asia). Along with this, the Legion is ready to conduct special operations, such as fighting in the jungle, at night, against terrorists and to free the hostages.

Locations

Organization and tasks

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

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

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

A feature of the Legion is the song "Le Boudin", which, with the exception of the march, is always sung at attention! Another feature is the typical march pace of legionnaires. While other army units march at 120 paces per minute, the Legion only do 88. This is due to the fact that African deployment areas often had sandy soils, which makes it difficult to march at a fast pace.

Organizations of former legionnaires

Although the number of Germans in the Foreign Legion is now small, due to the significant number of former foreigners, there are dozens of clubs and organizations of former foreign legionnaires (Amicale des Anciens de la Legionétrangere), which in the majority consist of legionnaires who served in Indochina and Algeria.

They meet regularly, take care of the tradition and go to different holidays in France. Most of these organizations also accept people who have never served in the Legion. Deserters and those expelled from the Legion are not accepted. For this reason, each new member (if it is a former legionnaire) is checked by the union Fédération des Sociétés d'Anciens de la Légion Étrangère.

Films about the Foreign Legion

Artistic

• - "Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion" (eng. Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion ), director: Charles Lamont, USA ;
• - "March or Die" March or Die), director: Dick Richards, USA / UK ;
• - "The Legion lands at Kolwezi" (fr. La Legion saute sur Kolwezi), director: Raoul Cutard, France;
• - "Adventurers" (fr. Les Morfalous), director: Henri Verneuil, France;
• - "AWOL" (eng. Lionheart), director: Sheldon Lettich, USA;
• - " Legionnaire" (eng. Legionnaire), director: Peter MacDonald, USA ;
• - « Good job"(fr. Beau Travel), director: Claire Denis, France;
• - "Jinns" (fr. Djinns), directors: Hugh Martin, Sandra Martin, France / Morocco;
• - "Foreign Legion", director: Kim Nguyen, Canada;

Documentaries

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

see also

Notes

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

Literature

• Balmasov Sergey Foreign Legion. Moscow: Yauza, 2004. ISBN 5-699-06982-8
• Jean Brunon Georges Manyu: History of Elite Troops Foreign Legion 1831-1955. - M .: Isographus, 2003.
• Zhuravlev V.V. Everyday life of the French Foreign Legion: “Come to me, Legion!” - M.: Young Guard, 2010. - 347 p. - ISBN 978-5-235-03355-9
• Paul Bonnecarrere: Frankreichs fremde Söhne - Fremdenlegionäre im Indochina-Krieg. Motorbuch-Verlag, Stuttgart 2000, ISBN 3-613-01144-1
• Rajko Cibic: Geliebte gehasste Legion - Der abeneuerliche Lebensweg eines slowenischen Fremdenlegionärs. Verlag Lutz B. Damm, Jenbach 1996, ISBN 3-85298-020-8
• Pierre Dufour: La Legion en Algerie. Editions Lavauzelle, Panazol 2002, ISBN 2-7025-0613-5
• Pierre Dufour: La Legionétrangere 1939-1945. Heimdal, Bayeux 2000, ISBN 2-84048-130-8
• Pierre Dufour: La Legion étrangere en Indochine 1945-1955. Lavauzelle, Paris 2001, ISBN 2-7025-0483-3
• Dominique Farale: Mysterieuse Légion Etrangère de 1831 a nos jours. D.I.E. Paris 2005, ISBN 2-914295-16-2
• Peter Hornung: Die Legion - Europas letzte Söldner. Meyster-Verlag, München 1982, ISBN 3-8131-8123-5
• Yers Keller, Frank Fosset: Frankreichs Elite - Legions-Paras und Kommandos, Gendarmerie-Sondereinsatzgruppen GIGN , Kampfschwimmerkommando Hubert. Motorbuch-Verlag, Stuttgart 2001, ISBN 3-613-02103-X
• Peter Macdonald: Fremdenlegion - Ausbildung, Bewaffnung, Einsatz. Motorbuch-Verlag, Stuttgart 1993, ISBN 3-613-01518-8
• Volker Mergenthaler: Völkerschau - Kannibalismus - Fremdenlegion. Zur Ästhetik der Transgression (1897-1936). Tübingen 2005, ISBN 3-484-15109-9
• Eckard Michels: Deutsche in der Fremdenlegion. 1870-1965 Mythen und Realitaten. Schöningh, Paderborn 2000, ISBN 3-506-74471-2
• Guido Schmidt: Der Cafard - Als Fallschirmjager bei der Fremdenlegion. Motorbuch-Verlag, Stuttgart 1997, ISBN 3-613-01795-4
• David Jordan: Die Geschichte der Französischen Fremdenlegion von 1831 bis heute. Motorbuch-Verlag, Stuttgart 2006, ISBN 3-7276-7157-2
• Blaise Cendrars: Wind der Welt. Abenteuer eines Lebens. Suhrkamp, ​​Frankfurt/M. 1990, ISBN 3-518-40262-5
• Friedrich Glauser: Gourrama. Unionsverlag, Zürich 1999, ISBN 3-293-20148-2
• Ernst Junger: Afrikanische Spiele
• Erich Krieger: Wohin führt dein Weg. Books on demand, Norderstedt 2002,

IN that day, the French legion went to fight against the USSR.
This infantry regiment, formed in France and taking part in the fighting on the Eastern Front of World War II on the side of Germany, consisted of volunteers and consisted of about 3,000 soldiers and 181 officers. Orders in the legion were given in French. Like the subsequently created French SS division, the legion fought under the banner of France. The official name in the Wehrmacht is the 638th Infantry Regiment. The fact that more French fought against the USSR than against Hitler - no doubt, that's only 10 times more or not, that's the question. The French left for the front solemnly, joyfully with flowers and flags. And clearly no one obliged them to write these inscriptions on the cars. I'm talking about the photo below, in which the French are leaving for the front near Smolensk. They were not expected there, but they were met with dignity ...

On the sleeves of the German uniform, the French wore a patch of national colors, usually German or, in some cases, French production. Some also placed a tricolor shield on their helmets.

In July 1942, the Vichy government established the Legionnaire's Military Cross (Croix de Guerre Legionnaire) to reward French volunteers. This bronze award was the same shape and size as a regular Military Cross, but it lacked crossed swords, instead of which a laurel wreath was placed.

In early November 1941, the 1st and 2nd battalions of the 638th Infantry Regiment arrived in Smolensk. In early December, the French fought against the Red Army, but suffered heavy losses from Soviet artillery and suffered from frostbite. As a result, the regiment was decided to withdraw back to Poland and reorganize.

The commander of the II battalion, Major Andre Girardot, and a propaganda poster calling on the French to sign up for the SS division.

One remarkable myth is also connected with the history of the 638th Infantry Regiment: allegedly Field Marshal Günther von Kluge turned to the legionnaires on the Borodino field, after which the French fought with the Red Army at Borodino and were completely defeated. The myth appeared in the mid-1950s and has its roots in The Fatal Decisions, in which General Günther Blumentritt distorted the history of the French regiment. The book was translated into Russian, and subsequently the mistake was repeated many times by Soviet military leaders and historians. This episode was even reflected in the film by Yuri Ozerov "Battle for Moscow". In reality, the French could not fight at Borodino, if only because this battle in 1941 took place in mid-October, while the legionnaires arrived in the USSR only at the beginning of November.

The 638th Infantry Regiment was the only foreign unit in the Wehrmacht that advanced on Moscow in 1941.

After the defeat near Moscow, the French were sent to Belarus to fight the partisans and were used separately with various security divisions of the Wehrmacht. Subsequently, both battalions were subordinated to the 286th Security Division.

Postage stamp with the "Legion of French Volunteers" and dedicated to the 130th anniversary of the battle of Napoleon near Borodino. Issue April 20, 1942. Artist - Pierre Gandon (speaking surname ...)

At the end of February 1945, the Wehrmacht command threw the French to plug a gap in the area of ​​​​the Polish city of Charne, after which the division (or rather, what was left of it) was transferred to Berlin, where in May 1945 its combat path ended. At the same time, according to the recollections of the Germans, the French fought to the last, defending the Reich Chancellery together with the Danes and Norwegians from the Nordland SS division and were proud that they prevented the Russians from taking it for the May 1 holiday, no matter how hard they tried.

Many French fought against the USSR. The number of French prisoners of war in captivity of the USSR in 1945 reached 23136 people, which is three times the number of the Charlemagne division.

After the war, the French did not hesitate to write memoirs. " The last soldier Third Reich "was not written by a German, the author of this book is the Frenchman Guy Sayer, who very colorfully described his" exploits "at Stalingrad, on Kursk Bulge, in the battles for Poland and East Prussia. This book is interesting for Sayer's attitude, who even in 1943 firmly believed that France fought against the USSR together with Germany in World War II. http://militera.lib.ru/memo/german/sajer/index.html

The French government handed down a number of death sentences and prison terms to members of the Legion. The first commander of the regiment, Colonel Labonne, was sentenced to life imprisonment, and a member of the central committee of the legion, Charles Lesca, was sentenced to death in May 1947. Supreme Court in Paris, but despite requests for extradition from France, was never extradited by the Argentine government.

It is not surprising that the Nazis were surprised at the signing of the surrender that they fought against France)))

France entered the blog of the Anti-Hitler Coalition solely thanks to Stalin, who hoped in this way to ingratiate himself with de Gaulle after the war.

Infa (C) internet. One of the sources: