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105-658: As a result of widespread publicity for the Viriatos Legion, Portuguese volunteers who later enlisted directly in the Spanish Foreign Legion , Carlist militias , the Falange , or regular army units were known as "Viriatos". According to the historian Antony Beevor , 12,000 Portuguese participated. The historian Christopher Othen claims the number to be closer to 8,000. A Portuguese Military Observation Mission with members drawn from all three branches of

210-644: A bayonet assault was launched in which three of the six were killed. The remaining three wounded men were brought before the Mexican commander Colonel 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

315-620: A "Spanish Foreign Legion" which preceded the modern Legion's formation in 1920. On 28 June 1835, the French government had decided to hand over to the Spanish government the French Foreign Legion in support of Queen Isabella 's claim to the Spanish throne during the First Carlist War . The French Foreign Legion, with around 4,000 men, landed at Tarragona on 17 August 1835. This became the first Spanish Legion until it

420-595: A battle for France under a provision known as " Français par le sang versé " ("French by spilled blood"). The Foreign Legion was created by Louis Philippe , the King of the French , on 10 March 1831 to allow the incorporation of foreign nationals into the French Army from the foreign regiments of the Kingdom of France . Recruits included soldiers from the recently disbanded Swiss and German foreign regiments of

525-501: A distinction, earned through rigorous training and initiation tests. Basic training lasts four months and takes place in Cáceres or Cádiz . It includes basic military skills, forced marches and a stringent assault course. After the second month, the recruit signs a 2 or 3-year contract. After finishing basic training the recruit joins one of the tercios, in there he receives further training, taking from 1 month to 10 months depending on

630-645: A major role in the Nationalist forces in the Spanish Civil War . In post-Franco Spain, the modern Legion has undertaken tours of duty in the Yugoslav Wars , Afghanistan , Iraq and Operation Libre Hidalgo UNIFIL . The Spanish Legion was formed by royal decree of King Alfonso XIII on 28 January 1920, with the Minister of War José Villalba Riquelme  [ es ] stating, "With

735-916: 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 sea-transport protection through to the Norwegian , Syria-Lebanon , and North African campaigns . The 13th Demi-Brigade , formed for service in Norway, found itself in the UK at the time of the French Armistice (June 1940), was deployed to the British 8th Army in North Africa and distinguished itself in

840-598: A smaller role in World War II than in World War I, however, participated in the Norwegian , Syrian and 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

945-626: A third ' ) is an old Spanish military term that roughly translates as ‘regiment' (originally it had enough manpower to be considered a half-brigade). In the 18th century tercios were replaced by regiments. There is no equivalent word in English. Dating from the 16th century, the name was chosen to evoke the era of Spain's military supremacy as the leading Catholic power in Europe under the Habsburg Emperors. Organised into tercios in 1534,

1050-595: A workers revolt in the area of Asturias . Under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Juan Yagüe , the Army of Africa played an important part in the Spanish Civil War on the Nationalist side. The professionalism of both the legion and the Regulares gave Franco's rebel troops a significant initial advantage over the less well trained Spanish Republican forces . The Army of Africa remained an elite spearhead until

1155-562: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Spanish Foreign Legion For centuries, Spain recruited foreign soldiers to its army, forming the foreign regiments ( Infantería de línea extranjera ) such as the Regiment of Hibernia (formed in 1709 from Irishmen who fled their own country in the wake of the Flight of the Earls and the penal laws ). However, the specific unit of

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1260-603: Is an elite corps of the French Army that consists of several specialties: infantry , cavalry , engineers , and airborne troops . It was created in 1831 to allow foreign nationals into the French Army. It formed part of the Armée d’Afrique , the French Army's units associated with France's colonial project in North Africa , until the end of the Algerian War in 1962. Legionnaires are highly trained soldiers and

1365-660: Is not part of the Legion Brigade, assigned as the Legion contribution to Army SpecOps. The military ranks and promotion conditions of the Spanish Legion are the same as those applicable to the remainder of the Spanish Army. Formerly the Legion had its own rank system for non-commissioned officers. The only modern difference is that soldiers (OR-1) in the Legion are referred to as "Caballeros Legionarios" (Legionary Gentlemen). Legionnaires consider this title as

1470-498: Is played by the military bands and bugle bands of the Legion at the regulation 190 beats that it exclusively uses. Before it became the legion's official march, Le Madelon and Tercios Heroicos ( Heroic Tercios ) by Francisco Calles and Antonio Soler were its official march past tunes. The following is a list of Legionaries who have gained fame or notoriety inside or outside of the legion. French Foreign Legion The French Foreign Legion ( French : Légion étrangère )

1575-541: Is the Foreign Legion's most precious relic. During the Mexican Campaign, 6,654 French died. Of these, 1,918 were from a single regiment of the Legion. According to French law, the Foreign Legion was not to be used within Metropolitan France except in the case of a national invasion, and was consequently not a part of Napoleon III's Imperial Army that capitulated at Sedan . With the defeat of

1680-608: The Bandera de operaciones especiales de la legión (19th Legion Special Operations Battalion or BOEL). The members of this unit, who were (and still mostly are) volunteers from other banderas of the legion, received training in: SCUBA /Maritime Warfare, Arctic and Mountain Warfare, Sabotage and Demolitions, Parachute and HALO techniques, Long Range Reconnaissance , Counter-terrorism and CQB , Vehicle insertion, Sniping and SERE ( Survival, Escape, Resistance and Evasion ). Much of

1785-565: The Tercio de Extranjeros (" Tercio of foreigners"), the name under which it began fighting in the Rif War of 1921–1926. Over the years, the force's name has changed from Tercio de Extranjeros to Tercio de Marruecos (when the field of operations targeted Morocco ), and by the end of the Rif War it became the "Spanish Legion", with several "tercios" as sub-units. The Legion played

1890-703: The 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,

1995-424: The 1st Foreign Infantry Regiment 1 REI – Algeria , Syria and Lebanon ; 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment 2 REI, 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment 3 REI, and 4th Foreign Infantry Regiment 4 REI – Morocco , Lebanon; 5th Foreign Infantry 5 REI – Indochina ; and 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment 1 REC – Lebanon, Tunisia and Morocco. In 1931, Général Paul-Frédéric Rollet assumed the role of 1st Inspector of

2100-485: The 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion (1 BEP) particularly distinguished itself, while being annihilated twice. It was renamed the 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment (1 REP) after its third reformation. The 1 BEP sailed to Indochina on 12 November and was then engaged in combat operations in Tonkin. On 17 November 1950 the battalion parachuted into That Khé and suffered heavy losses at Coc Xa. Reconstituted on 1 March 1951,

2205-417: The 25th Parachute Division (France) , 25 DP. While both the 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment (1 REP), and the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2 REP), were part of the operations of French parachute divisions (10 DP and 25 DP established in 1956), the Legion's 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment (1 REP), and the Legion's 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2 REP), are older than the French divisions. The 1 REP

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2310-639: The 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. 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

2415-644: The 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment 6 REI at Damascus . Nevertheless, many legionnaires of the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment 6 (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 Legion unit joined the 13 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

2520-571: The Algerian War included the Battle of Algiers and the Bataille of the Frontiers, fought by 60,000 soldiers including French and Legion paratroopers . For paratroopers of the Legion, the 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment (1 REP) and 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2 REP), were the only known foreign active parachute regiments, exclusively commanded by Pierre Paul Jeanpierre for the 1 REP and

2625-519: The 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 razzias . In 1892, King Béhanzin ordered his soldiers to attack villages near Grand Popo and Porto-Novo (in modern-day Benin ) in an effort to reassert

2730-570: The Battle of Bir Hakeim (1942). Reflecting the divisions of the time, part of the Foreign Legion joined the Free French movement while another part served the Vichy government. Germany incorporated German legionnaires into the Wehrmacht 's 90th Light Infantry Division in North Africa. The Syria–Lebanon Campaign of June 1941 saw legionnaire fighting legionnaire as the 13 D.B.L.E clashed with

2835-475: 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. Some of the legionnaires, such as Stefan Kubiak , deserted and began fighting for the Việt Minh upon witnessing torture of Vietnamese peasants at

2940-762: The 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 . It played

3045-740: 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 , Congo-Brazzaville and in Kosovo . The French Foreign Legion also took part in operations in Rwanda in 1990–1994; and

3150-589: The III/1 R.C.P . With the start of the War in Algeria on 1 November 1954, the two foreign participating parachute battalions back from Indochina , the 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion (1 BEP, III Formation) and the 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion (2 BEP), were not part of any French parachute divisions yet and were not designated as regiments until September and 1 December 1955 respectively. Main operations during

3255-840: 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 . As discussed below , other countries have attempted to emulate the French Foreign Legion model. The Foreign Legion was primarily used, as part of

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3360-524: The Moors and portrayed his men first as crusaders on an extended Reconquista against Islamic civilization, and later as the saviours of Spain warding off Communism and democratic liberalism defeating the dangerous spectre of 'Eastern Atheism' . As a tribute to the old Tercios the Legion coat of arms features, besides the crown, weapons used by the soldiers of these units - the musket, halberd and crossbow. The Legion's customs and traditions include

3465-638: The Médaille militaire for its service in Indochina. The 1 BEP became the 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment (1 REP) in Algeria on 1 September 1955. Dien Bien Phu fell on 7 May 1954 at 17:30. The couple of hectares 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,

3570-490: The National Liberation Front and the Armée de Libération Nationale (ALN) . The main activity during the period 1954–1962 was as part of the operations of the 10th Parachute Division and 25th Parachute Division . The 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment , 1 REP, was under the command of the 10th Parachute Division (France) , 10 DP, and the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment , 2 REP, was under the command of

3675-560: The Portuguese military was present in Spain from 1937 onwards, with the dual objectives of protecting the interests of Portuguese foreign volunteers and collating information on the lessons learned during the civil war. Although the mission officially had a noncombatant role, its air force contingent took part in combat missions, the aviator José Adriano Pequito Rebelo being a notable member. This article about Portuguese history

3780-627: The Siege of Paris by breaking through the German lines. It succeeded in retaking 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, which was crushed with great bloodshed. The Foreign Legion's First Battalion (Lieutenant-Colonel Donnier) sailed to Tonkin in late 1883, during

3885-406: The Spanish Army and Spain's Rapid Reaction Force , now known as the Spanish Legion ( Legión Española, La Legión ), and informally known as the Tercio or the Tercios, is a 20th-century creation. It was raised in the 1920s to serve as part of Spain's Army of Africa . The unit, which was established in January 1920 as the Spanish equivalent of the French Foreign Legion , was initially known as

3990-403: The Suez Crisis , the Battle of Algiers and various offensives in Algeria launched by General Maurice Challe including Operation Oranie and Operation Jumelles . During the Algerian War of Independence (1954–1962), the Foreign Legion came close to being disbanded after some officers, men, and the highly decorated 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment (1 REP) took part in the Generals' putsch . In

4095-441: The Zemla Intifada , had a significant influence on pushing the Sahrawi anticolonial movement into embarking on an armed struggle which continues, though Spain has long since abandoned the territory and handed it over to Morocco. Through the course of the legion's history Spaniards (including natives of the colony of Spanish Guinea ) have made up the majority of its members, with foreigners accounting for 25 percent or less. During

4200-417: The paratrooper commanders of the 2 REP . The remainder of French paratrooper units of the French Armed Forces were commanded by Jacques Massu , Buchond , Marcel Bigeard , Paul Aussaresses . Other Legion offensives in the mountains in 1959 included operations Jumelles , Cigales , and Ariège in the Aures and the last in Kabylie. The image of the Legion as a professional and non-political force

4305-401: 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

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4410-448: 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

4515-476: The Bourbon monarchy. The Royal Ordinance for the establishment of the new regiment specified that the foreigners recruited could only serve outside France. 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. Since its establishment in 1831, the Legion has consisted of hundreds of thousands in active service at its peak, and suffered

4620-442: The Foreign Legion , a post created at his initiative. While serving as colonel of the 1st Foreign Infantry Regiment (1925–1931), Rollet was responsible for planning the centennial celebrations of the Legion's foundation; scheduling this event for 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. The Foreign Legion played

4725-406: 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

4830-551: The French Foreign Legion is unique in that it is open to foreign recruits willing to serve in the French Armed Forces . The Legion is known today as a unit whose training focuses on traditional military skills and on its strong 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 during

4935-402: The French Liberation Army ( French : Armée française de la Libération ), the (400,000 men) amalgam consisted of the Armistice Army , the Free French Forces and the French Forces of the Interior which formed Army B and later became part of the French 1st Army with forces also issued from the French Resistance . Following World War II, many French-speaking former German soldiers joined

5040-400: The French colonial army, defeating them on several occasions, including a 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

5145-401: The Imperial Army, the Second French Empire fell and the 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

5250-420: 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

5355-401: The Legion with a distinctive spirit and symbolism intended to evoke Spain's Imperial and Christian traditions. For instance, the Legion adopted the regimental designation of tercio in memory of the 16th-century Spanish infantry formations that had toppled nations and terrorized the battlefields of Europe in the days of Charles V . Millán-Astray also revived the Spaniards' ancient feud with

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5460-441: The Rif War of the 1920s most of the foreigners serving with the legion were Spanish speaking Latin Americans. In the 2000s, after the abandonment of conscription , the Spanish Legion once again accepted foreigners into service. Male and female native Spanish speakers, mostly from Central American and South American states, were included. Today, acceptance to the Spanish Legion is based on the following criteria: In recent years,

5565-424: The Spanish African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla as part of their respective garrisons. The legion is directly controlled by the Spanish General Staff . Although the detachment at Málaga was transferred away, each year a company of legionaries from one of the Tercios (regiments) returns to march in the Holy Week procession with the Christ of the Good Death , a life-size effigy of Christ Crucified, adopted by

5670-399: The Spanish Legion was involved in Bosnia as part of the SFOR . It also took part in the Iraq War , deploying in Najaf alongside Salvadoran troops, until the new Spanish government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero fulfilled its electoral promises by withdrawing Spanish troops from Iraq. The legion units deployed in Iraq were involved in several operations against the insurgency. In 2005,

5775-427: The Spanish infantry gained a reputation for invincibility. In 1925, the unit title was changed to Tercio de Marruecos ("Tercio of Morocco"). This was soon abbreviated to ‘The Tercio’. In 1937 at the height of the Spanish Civil War, the Tercio de Marruecos was renamed La Legión , the name by which it is still known today. The Spanish Legion's first major campaign was in Spanish North Africa. In 1920 Spain

5880-418: 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. While suffering heavy casualties on the Western Front the Legion had emerged from World War I with an enhanced reputation and as one of the most highly decorated units in the French Army . In 1919,

5985-399: The aggregated loss of nearly 40,000 men 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 Yugoslavia , Somalia , the Republic of Congo , Ivory Coast , Afghanistan , Mali , as well as others. The Legion

6090-432: The backbone of the column launched on Antananarivo , the capital of Madagascar. After a few skirmishes, Queen Ranavalona III promptly surrendered. 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. Despite the success of the expedition, the quelling of sporadic rebellions would take another eight years until 1905, when

6195-405: The battalion participated in combat operations at Cho Ben, on the Black River and in Annam. On 21 November 1953 the reconstituted 1 BEP was parachuted into Dien Bien Phu. In this battle, the unit lost 575 killed and missing . Reconstituted for the third time on 19 May 1954, the battalion left Indochina on 8 February 1955. The 1 BEP received five citations and the fourragère of the colors of

6300-415: The battle has become associated particularly with the paratroops of the Foreign Legion. During the Indochina War, the Legion operated several armoured trains which were an enduring Rolling Symbol during the chartered course duration of French Indochina . The Legion also operated various Passage Companies relative to the continental conflicts at hand. The legion was heavily engaged in fighting against

6405-444: The besieged city of Puebla when it was attacked and besieged by three thousand Mexican loyalists, organised in two battalions of infantry and cavalry, numbering 2,200 and 800 respectively. The Legion detachment under Danjou, Sous-Lieutenant Jean Vilain , and Sous-Lieutenant Clément Maudet made a stand in the Hacienda de la Trinidad – a farm near the village of Camarone. When only six survivors remained, out of ammunition,

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6510-745: The chest. The basic weapons used by the Legion are the same as those used by the rest of the Spanish Army. These include the G36-E rifle , its 40 mm grenade launcher modular attachment the AG36 , the HK MG4 and MG3 machine guns, and the HK USP 9mm pistol. Like the rest of the Army, the Legion makes use of crew served weapons such as the M2 Browning machine gun and the SB LAG 40 automatic grenade launcher on their armoured vehicles. The Legions field artillery group mans L118 105mm Light Guns , Italian wheeled tank destroyers B1 Centauro also are used. The Legion uses Land Rovers, Spanish-made BMR and VEC-M1 , VAMTAC , URO trucks and other vehicles like foreign LMV or RG31 . Millán-Astray provided

6615-406: The city, at the cost of repeated battles against the Dahomean warriors, especially the Amazons of the King . King Behanzin surrendered and was captured by the legionnaires in January 1894. In 1895, a battalion formed by the First and Second Foreign Regiments was sent to the Kingdom of Madagascar as part of an expeditionary force whose mission was to conquer the island. The foreign battalion formed

6720-418: 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 Commandant Gouraud and exiled to Gabon , marking

6825-424: 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

6930-429: The designation of Foreigners Regiment there will be created an armed military unit, whose recruits, uniform and regulations by which they should be governed will be set by the minister of war." In the 1920s the Spanish Legion's five battalions were filled primarily by native Spaniards (since foreigners were not easy to recruit) with most of its foreign members coming from the Republic of Cuba . Historically there had been

7035-439: The end of the Wassoulou Empire. 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. 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

7140-424: 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 Carlist enemies. On 9 June 1854, the French ship Jean Bart embarked four battalions of the Foreign Legion for the Crimean Peninsula . A further battalion

7245-816: The expansion of the rebel armies after April 1937 led to the legion and Moroccan units being distributed across several fronts. Following the Francoist victory in 1939, the legion was reduced in size and returned to its bases in Spanish Morocco. It was only after then that the legion attained its present composition of 4 Tercios, and the names given to them, the 4th Tercio of the legion was established later in 1950: [REDACTED] [REDACTED] 1st Tercio "Great Captain Gonzalo Fernandez de Cordoba " [REDACTED] [REDACTED] 2nd Tercio " Fernando Alvarez de Toledo, Duke of Alba " [REDACTED] [REDACTED] 3rd Tercio " Don Juan of Austria " [REDACTED] [REDACTED] 4th Tercio " Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma " When Morocco gained its independence in 1956

7350-444: 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. The Legion served alongside the Battalions of Light Infantry of Africa , formed in 1832, which

7455-422: The following: El Novio de la Muerte ( Bridegroom of Death ) is the unofficial hymn and regimental slow march of the Spanish Legion, composed in 1921 with words by Juan Costa set to music by Fidel Prado. Composed in 1920, La Cancion del Legionario ( The Legionnare's Song ) is the official quick march and anthem of the Legion. It was composed by Modesto Romero and Infantry Commandant Emilio Guillén Pedemonti. It

7560-449: The generals' putsch, a crisis hit the legion putting its faith at the corps of the Army. For having rallied to the generals' putsch of April 1961, the 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment of the 10th Parachute Division was dissolved on 30 April 1961 at Zeralda . In 1961, at the issue of the putsch, the 1st Mounted Saharan Squadron of the Foreign Legion ( French : 1 Escadron Saharien Porté de la Légion Etrangère, 1 ESPLE ) received

7665-434: The government of Spain raised the Spanish Foreign Legion and modeled it after the French Foreign Legion. General 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. General Mordacq envisioned a Foreign Legion consisting not of regiments, but of divisions with cavalry, engineer, and artillery regiments in addition to

7770-480: The hands of French troops. 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,

7875-604: The island was completely pacified by the French under Joseph Gallieni . During that time, insurrections against the Malagasy Christians of the island, missionaries and foreigners were particularly terrible. Queen Ranavalona III was deposed in January 1897 and was exiled to Algiers in Algeria, where she died in 1917. From 1882 until his capture, Samori Ture , ruler of the Wassoulou Empire , fought

7980-611: 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 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!') As part of

8085-701: The leaders of the legion and the unit's second-in-command, concurrently commanding the 1st Legion Bandera. The legion fought in Morocco in the War of the Rif (to 1926). Together with the Regulares (Moorish colonial troops), the legion made up the Spanish Army of Africa . In October 1934 units of both the legion and the Regulares were brought to Spain by the Republican Government to help put down

8190-432: The legion as Patron in the 1920s. It also has its own confraternity with its home chapel located in this historic city, where veterans who served in this unit are counted among its membership. The Legion's detachments also take part in various Holy Week events nationwide, including its military band. The currently active units of the Spanish Legion are: In other commands: The legion has a special operations unit known as

8295-573: The legion continued in existence as part of the garrison of the remaining Spanish enclaves and territories in North Africa. The legion fought Moroccan irregulars in the Ifni War in 1957–58. On 17 June 1970, Legion units opened fire and killed between two and eleven demonstrators at the Zemla neighbourhood in El Aaiun , Spanish Sahara , modern day Western Sahara . The incident, which became known as

8400-671: The legion was deployed in Afghanistan as part of the NATO -led International Stabilisation Force (ISAF). In 2006, the 10th Bandera was sent to Southern Lebanon as part of United Nations' Operation UNIFIL . The Spanish Legion is now mostly used in NATO peacekeeping missions. It has 5,000 soldiers in a Brigade of two Tercios (regiments) based in Ronda , Málaga and Viator , Almería ( Andalusia ). Two other independent tercios are deployed in

8505-462: The legion's infantry mainstay. In 1920, decrees ordained the establishment of regiments of cavalry and artillery. Immediately following the armistice the Foreign Legion experienced an increase of enlistments. The Foreign Legion began the process of reorganizing and redeploying to Algeria. 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

8610-473: The missions to assure surveillance and policing . The independence of Algeria from the 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 REP burned the Chinese pavilion acquired following

8715-437: The mystique of the legion. On 20 September 1920 the first recruit joined the new legion, a date which is now celebrated annually. The initial make-up of the regiment was that of a headquarters unit and three battalions (known as Banderas , lit. "banners"- another archaic 16th century term). Each battalion was in turn made up of a headquarters company, two rifle companies and a machine gun company. The regiment's initial location

8820-479: 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 Kingdom of Dahomey . Two and a half months were needed to reach

8925-579: 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 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

9030-551: 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 Artois , Champagne , Somme , Aisne , and Verdun (in 1917), and also suffered heavy casualties during 1918. The Foreign Legion

9135-636: The rest of the " Army of Africa ", the Foreign Legion provided detachments in the campaign of Italy. Two foreign regiments, grouped with the 2nd Regiment of Zouaves , were part of the Second Brigade of the Second Division of Mac Mahon 's Corps . The Foreign Legion acquitted itself particularly well against the Austrians at the battle of Magenta (4 June 1859) and at the Battle of Solferino (24 June). Legion losses were significant and

9240-689: The rise and fall of mass conscript armies , the dismantling of the French colonial empire, and the loss of the Foreign Legion's base, Algeria. Created to fight "outside mainland France ", the Foreign Legion was stationed in Algeria , where it took part in the pacification and development 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). Smaller national groups, such as ten Englishmen recorded in December 1832, appear to have been placed randomly. In late 1831,

9345-530: The same camouflage dress for active service and ordinary duties as the rest of the Spanish Army but retains the unique, sage green Tropical Uniform for semi-formal barrack dress and as the basis of Legion parade uniform. Perhaps the most distinctive feature of the modern legion uniform is the khaki "gorrillo" cap or " chapiri ", with red hanging tassel and piping. Contrary to usual military practice, Legionaries are allowed to sport beards and are permitted to wear their uniforms, both traditional and service, open at

9450-586: The specialty assigned. This is the same process as in the rest of units in the Spanish army. From its establishment the legion was noted for its plain and simple style of dress, in contrast to the colourful dress uniforms worn by the Peninsular regiments of the Spanish Army until the overthrow of the Monarchy in 1931. This was part of the cult of austerity favoured by a unit that considered itself on more or less continual active service. The modern legion has

9555-554: The start but this only became part of the unit's title from 1937. In the original Tercio de Extranjeros there were Latin Americans, amongst others, one Chinese, three Japanese, one Maltese, one Russian, both German & Austrian, one Italian, two Frenchmen, four Portuguese, one Belgian, unknown Filipino and one Spanish woman from Puerto Rico . However, soon the majority of its members were Spaniards who joined to fight outside of European Spain. Tercio ( lit.   '

9660-614: The streets of Sevastopol. Although initial reservations had been expressed about whether the Legion should be used outside Africa, 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. Legion casualties in the Crimea were 1,703 killed and wounded out of total French losses by battle and disease of 95,615. Like

9765-598: The training was undertaken at Fort Bragg (USA). In 2002 the BOEL was renamed 19th Special Operations Group "Maderal Oleaga" (GOE-XIX) and was moved to Alicante , and reported directly to Army HQ as part of the Special Operations Command, with recruitment now being in a national basis, with personnel assigned from various Army units. In 2019-20, the battalion returned to the Legion Command but

9870-482: 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

9975-415: 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. 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,

10080-484: Was also in the Dardanelles and 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

10185-580: Was at the Cuartel del Rey en Ceuta on the Plaza de Colón. At its height, during the Spanish Civil War, the legion consisted of 18 banderas , plus a tank bandera , an assault engineer bandera and a Special Operations Group. Banderas 12 to 18 were considered independent units and never served as part of the additional tercios into which the legion was organised. Francisco Franco was one of

10290-431: Was disbanded on 8 December 1838, when it had dropped to only 500 men. The Spanish Legion was modelled on the French Foreign Legion . Its purpose was to provide a corps of professional troops to fight in Spain's colonial campaigns in North Africa, in place of conscript units that were proving ineffective. The first commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel José Millán-Astray Terreros , referred to his unit as ‘La Legión’ from

10395-464: Was facing a major rebellion in the Protectorate of Spanish Morocco , led by the able Rif leader Abd el-Krim . On 2 September 1920, King Alfonso XIII conferred command of the new regiment on Lieutenant Colonel of Infantry José Millán-Astray , chief proponent of its establishment. Millán-Astray was an able soldier but an eccentric and extreme personality. His style and attitude would become part of

10500-552: Was primarily used to help protect and expand the French colonial empire during the 19th century. The Foreign Legion was initially stationed only in Algeria , where it took part in the pacification and development 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,

10605-413: Was stationed at Gallipoli as brigade depot. 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 , during the winter of 1854–1855. The lack of equipment was particularly challenging and cholera hit

10710-439: Was tarnished when the elite 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment 1 REP , which was also part of the 10th Parachute Division played a leading role in the generals' putsch of 1961 and was subsequently disbanded. 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

10815-541: Was that Foreign Legion units should remain in Mexico for up to six years to provide a core for the Imperial Mexican Army. 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

10920-503: Was the former thrice-reconstituted 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion ( 1 BEP ) and the 2 REP was the former 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion ( 2 BEP ). Both battalions were renamed and their Legionnaires transferred from Indochina on 1 August 1954 to 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

11025-464: 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. 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. During

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