Dogs of War of the French Foreign Legion

We learned from previous articles in the series that one of the consequences of the French conquest of Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco was the emergence in France of new and unusual military formations. We already managed to tell about zuavs, tyrallers, spag and gumery. Now let's talk about other combat units, which had never before been in the French army.

Foreign Legion (Légion étrangère)

The French Foreign Legion was formed at about the same time as the Algerian spag formations: King Louis Philippe signed a decree on its creation on March 9, 1831.

Horace Vernet. King louis-philippe i

It is believed that the idea of ​​creating this military formation belongs to the Belgian baron de Begard, who at that time served in the French army. Veterans of Napoleon’s army were supposed to be officers in the legion, ordinary people from other European countries and the French, who wanted to “zero out” their problems with the law. Marshal Soult, Minister of War of France, endorsed this initiative, saying:

“Do they want to fight? We will give them the opportunity to bleed and knead mountains of sand in North Africa! ”

Nicolas-Jean-de-Dieu Soult

And King Louis-Philippe in this proposal probably liked the phrase that the Foreign Legion should obey only one person - himself. 189 years have passed, but this provision in the charter of the legion has not changed: it is still subordinate only to the head of state - the president of the French Republic.

Since the first volunteers of the Legion, and the French, and the foreign citizens who entered the service, did not always differ in a respectable disposition, there was a tradition not to ask for real names of recruits: as they introduced themselves during registration for the service, they will call them that.

A soldier of the French Foreign Legion, who let go of his long beard to change his appearance. 1919 year

Even in our time, a rookie of the legion can, if he wishes, get a new name, however, in connection with the spread of terrorism, candidates are now being checked through Interpol.

Realizing what rabble could be in parts of the Foreign Legion, it was decided to place them outside of continental France, banning the use in the metropolis. Algeria was supposed to be its place of deployment.

At first, no one even thought that the Foreign Legion could become an elite unit. He was equated with a regiment, received equipment according to the residual principle, and even had an incomplete non-combat team: three shoemakers and tailors instead of five, four gunsmiths instead of five, and only three doctors (1st grade, 2nd grade and junior doctor).

Unlike zuavs, tyrallers and spag, legionnaires dressed in the usual military uniform of linear infantry. Their uniforms differed from the uniform of other French infantrymen only in the color of their collars, epaulettes and buttons.

Legionnaires, form 1831-1856

The form of legionnaires from 1848 to 1880

It is because desert Algeria became the place of deployment of the legion that its parts march at a speed of only 88 steps per minute (other French compounds - at a speed of 120 steps per minute), because it is difficult to walk quickly on sand.

Before the outbreak of World War I, immigrants from Switzerland, Germany, Spain, and Belgium entered the Foreign Legion. In the future, the list of countries supplying France with “cannon fodder” expanded significantly: they say that 138 nationalities were serving in it.

The first recruits who entered the Legion, as a rule, were renegades who broke all ties with their home and homeland and therefore the motto of this military unit was the words: Legio Patria Nostra (“Legion is our country”), and its colors are red and green, symbolizing respectively blood and France. According to a long tradition, when units of the legion carry out combat missions, its flag is hung upside down.

Banner of the French Foreign Legion

It is believed that from the moment of its foundation the Foreign Legion participated in thirty major wars (not counting minor conflicts), more than 600 thousand people passed through it, at least 36 thousand of whom died during the hostilities.

Having received at their disposal a military unit consisting of unreliable Napoleonic officers and suspicious thugs and adventurers of all stripes, the rulers of France did not pity him, and immediately threw him into battle.

Battle Path of the French Foreign Legion

The monarchy in France was replaced by a republic, the empire replaced it to fall in 1870, and the legionnaires still fought for the interests of a state alien to them.

Soldier of the French Foreign Legion in Algeria, 1847. Castellum miniatures figurine

Military campaigns followed one after another. At first, the legion fought with the rebellious "natives" of Algeria, where its soldiers were immediately famous for their rigidity and looting. According to contemporaries, in captured cities and villages, legionnaires often declared rebels and killed civilians, whose appearance allowed us to hope for rich prey. And to bear the head of an Arab on his bayonet, among the first legionnaires was considered "the highest chic."

Looking ahead a bit, let us say that contempt for the “natives” was characteristic of legionnaires even in the first half of the twentieth century. According to the testimony of Russian emigrant officer Nikolai Matin, who served in the Foreign Legion for 6 years (since December 1920 - in Algeria, Tunisia and Syria), the bandits were called locals by the word "legionary". He assures us that shortly before his arrival, when the trumpeter of the legion announced the end of combat training (after which the legionnaires could go out into the city), the streets and markets were empty, the shops and houses of local residents were closed tightly.

The Arabs, in turn, did not spare the legionnaires. So, in 1836, after an unsuccessful siege by the French of Constantine, the Algerian prisoners solemnly threw the iron rods from the city walls onto the carefully laid down rods on which they later died for several hours.

Constantine was nevertheless taken in 1837 by the French troops, which included legionnaires and zouaves. And in 1839, the legionnaires stormed the Gigli fortress, which was under Muslim control since the time of its conquest by the famous Hyreddin Barbarossa (it was described in the article Islamic pirates of the Mediterranean).

But the legionnaires not only fought: in between, they built a road between the cities of Duero and Bufarik - for a long time it was called the “Legion Highway”. And the Legionnaires of the Second Regiment, commanded by Colonel Carbucius (a Corsican who began serving in the Legion at the age of 19), accidentally discovered the ruins of the city of Lambesis, the capital of the Roman province of Numidia, built by soldiers of the Third Legion of Rome under Emperor Hadrian between 123 and 129. n e.

Lambesis ruins

In the years 1835-1838. parts of the legion fought in Spain during the Carlist War, in which the French supported supporters of the infant infant Isabella, who opposed her uncle Carlos. It was assumed that the Spaniards would provide all the necessary legionnaires, but they did not fulfill their obligations. The French also left them to their fate. As a result, on December 8, 1838, this detachment was disbanded. Some of the soldiers went to serve as mercenaries to other masters, others returned to France, where they were enrolled in new parts of the legion.

Crimean War

In 1854, during the Crimean War, military units of the Foreign Legion first appeared in Europe. The Russian soldiers received the nickname "leather bellies" - for large ammunition pouches, fortified in front.

Foreign Legion Officer and Bugler during the Crimean Campaign

Foreign Legion Grenadier Sergeant

Edward Detaya. "Legionnaire in the trench during the Crimean War"

It was the “Foreign Brigade” under the command of General Carbucius, consisting of the First and Second Regiments of the Legion. The legionnaires suffered their first losses from cholera - even before arriving in Crimea: one general (Karbuchiya) killed five officers (including one lieutenant colonel), 175 soldiers and sergeants.

The first clash of the battalion of legionnaires with the Russians occurred on September 20, 1854. The "African forces" (units of the legion, zouaves and tyrael) played a huge role in the victory of the Allies at Alma. The loss of legionnaires in that battle amounted to 60 people killed and wounded (including 5 officers). After that, the Foreign Brigade, which entered the 5th French Division, stood in the depths of Strelets Bay.

On November 5, when the main forces of the opposing sides fought at Inkerman, Russian troops attacked the regiments of legionnaires who stood at the quarantine trenches, but were driven back in a fierce battle.

On November 14, a terrible hurricane sank many ships of the Anglo-French squadron, literally devastated the Chersonesos plateau and inflicted great damage to the camp of legionnaires. After this, several months of “trench warfare” begin. On the night of January 20, 1855, the legionnaires repelled a large sortie of the Russians; later, smaller actions of this kind were undertaken by both parties - without much success.

Active hostilities resumed at the end of April 1855. On the night of May 1, Russian troops were thrown back from their positions to the Schwartz redoubt - a third of French losses fell to the legionnaires: 18 of the 14 officers of the First Regiment were killed, including its commander, Colonel Vieno. The barracks of the First Regiment, stationed in Sidi Bel Abbes, were named in his honor, and after the evacuation from Algeria, the barracks of this regiment in Aubagne.

In June 1854, Pierre Bonaparte, the nephew of the emperor, who had previously commanded the Second Regiment of the Legion, became the commander of the Foreign Brigade.

In the assault on the Malakhov Kurgan, military units of the legion did not take part - with the exception of 100 First Regiment volunteers who went in the front ranks of the attackers.

It was the soldiers of the Foreign Brigade who were the first to enter Sevastopol left by the Russians - and immediately began to plunder the wine depots, as well as other "interesting places", reminding everyone of the peculiarities of the contingent of legion formations.

As a result, during this campaign, the losses of the legion were higher than in 23 years in Algeria.

After the end of the Crimean War, all legionnaires who wished to continue their service received French citizenship, as well as Turkish orders of Medzhidiye.

Established in 1852, the Ottoman Order of Medgidius

Returning to Algeria, the legionnaires suppressed the rebellion of the Kabile tribes. After the battle of Ischederen, a certain Corporal Mori was presented for awarding the Legion of Honor. From the less significant awards that they were going to give him during the Crimean campaign, he refused, so as not to reveal his real name. But he did not refuse to be awarded such a valuable order. It turned out that under the name Mori was a representative of the Italian princely family Ubaldini. He continued serving in the legion, having retired as captain.

French Foreign Legion in Italy

Then the legionnaires fought in Italy (Austro-Italian-French war, 1859). During the battle of Magenta (June 4), they were the first to cross the Ticino River and overturn one of the Austrian columns, but, during the pursuit of the retreating enemy, they "stumbled" on the city of Magenta, which they began to rob, allowing the Austrians to retreat in an organized manner.

In this battle, Colonel de Chabriere, who commanded the Second Legion Regiment since the time of the Crimean War, died, the barracks of this regiment, located in Nimes, now bear his name.

On June 24 of that year, the Foreign Legion participated in the Battle of Solferino, which ended in the defeat of the Austrians. Following the results of that war, France received Nice and Savoy.

War in mexico

From 1863 to 1868 Legionnaires fought in Mexico, from which Great Britain, France and Spain tried to get rid of debts, and at the same time - to put on the throne of this country the brother of the Austrian emperor - Maximilian.

For “Maximilian of Habsburg, calling himself Emperor of Mexico,” it all ended very badly: in March 1867, France withdrew its expeditionary force, and on June 19, 1867, despite the protests of US President Andrew Johnson, Victor Hugo and even Giuseppe Garibaldi, he was shot on the hill of Las Campanas.

Franz Xaver Winterhalter. Maximilian, emperor of Mexico

And the legionnaires in that war “earned” a holiday for themselves, which is still celebrated as Foreign Legion Day.

On April 30, 1863, in the Cameron farm area, superior forces of the Mexicans surrounded the incomplete Third Company of the First Battalion of the Legion, which was allocated to guard the convoy going to the city of Puebla. In a fierce battle, 3 officers were killed, 62 privates and corporals (and despite the fact that the total loss of the legion killed in Mexico amounted to 90 people), 12 people were captured, where four of them died. Captivity escaped one man - drummer Lai.

Legionnaires defend Hacienda at Cameron

Mexicans capture wounded legionaries at Cameron, XNUMXth century drawing

The loss of Mexicans amounted to 300 people killed and 300 wounded. Their commander, Colonel Milan, ordered the buried legionnaires to be buried with military honors and to take care of the wounded. But the Mexicans did not pay attention to the convoy itself, and he calmly reached the destination.

This company was commanded by Captain Jean Danjou, a veteran who continued to serve even after losing his left hand during one of the battles in Algeria.

Jean danjou

A wooden denture, Danju, bought three years later on the market from one of the peons, is now stored in the Museum of the Foreign Legion in Aubagne and is considered one of its most valuable relics.

Prosthesis of the left hand of Jean Danju

Oddly enough, it was the date of this defeat (and not some victory) that became the main holiday of the legionnaires.

The first armored cavalry regiment of the legion at the festival dedicated to the Battle of Cameron, Roman theater, the city of Orange, province of Vaucluse

Parade of parts of the Foreign Legion dedicated to the anniversary of the Battle of Cameron, Aubagne, 2006

The subordinate of Jean Danju was Victor Vitalis - a native of one of the provinces of the Ottoman Empire, a veteran of the legion, who began his service in Algeria in 1844, went through the Crimean campaign (was wounded near Sevastopol). After returning from Mexico (1867), he received French citizenship, continued to serve in the Zouave formations, rising to the rank of major. In 1874 he ended up in Turkey, first becoming the division commander, and then - governor of Eastern Rumelia, and received the title of Vitalis Pasha.

The legion also participated in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–1871. Then it included Lieutenant Petr Karageorgievich, the future king of Serbia.

King of Serbia Peter I Karageorgievich, former officer of the French Foreign Legion

The Foreign Legion did not have any particular achievements on the battlefield in that war, but its troops were "famous" for participating in the suppression of the uprising in Paris (Paris Commune).

After that, the legion was returned to Algeria. At that time, it consisted of 4 battalions, each of which consisted of 4 companies. The total number of its military personnel in 1881 was 2750, of which 66 were officers, 147 were non-commissioned officers, 223 were 1st-class soldiers. There were 66 non-combatants.

With the beginning of the Second Algerian campaign (in South Oran - 1882), the number of soldiers in the Legion increased to 2846 (officers - 73).

Legionnaires in marching African uniform worn in Algeria and Morocco

In 1883, the number of battalions was brought to 6, the total number of soldiers and officers - up to 4042 people.

Since 1883, units of the legion have been fighting in Southeast Asia - the Tonkin Campaign and the Franco-Chinese War.

French Indochina

In the XVII century, missionaries from France entered the territory of Vietnam. The first was a certain Alexander de Rod. Later, during the peasant unrest that entered historylike the Taishon revolt (1777), the French missionary Pinho de Bein granted refuge to the last offspring of the Nguyen dynasty - the 15-year-old Nguyen Phuc Anyu. It was he who later (in 1784) turned to France through de Bein for help, promising in return for the cession of territories, the right to monopoly trade and the supply, if necessary, of soldiers and food. The terms of this “Versailles” treaty were not fulfilled by France because of the revolution that soon began, but the French did not forget about this agreement and later constantly referred to it. And the reason for the invasion of Vietnam was the anti-Christian laws, the first of which was the decree of Emperor Min Mang to ban the preaching of Christianity (1835).

After the conclusion of peace with China in 1858, Napoleon III ordered the liberation of troops to be transferred to Vietnam. They were also joined by units located in the Philippines. The Vietnamese army was quickly defeated, Saigon fell in March 1859, and an agreement was signed in 1862, according to which the emperor ceded the three provinces to the French, but hostilities continued until 1867, when the Vietnamese had to agree to even more difficult conditions. In the same year, France and Siam divided Cambodia. And, of course, parts of the French Foreign Legion took an active part in all these events. In 1885, two companies of legionnaires remained surrounded for almost half a year at the Tuan-Kuang post - far in the jungle, but, nevertheless, they waited for help and reinforcements.

In addition to the Vietnam War, in 1885 the legion participated in the invasion of Taiwan (Formosa campaign).

As a result, Vietnam was divided into a colony of Kokhinhin (controlled by the Ministry of Trade and the Colonies) and protectorates Annam and Tonkin, relations with them were carried out through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

After 20 years, on October 17, 1887, all French possessions in Indochina were united into the so-called Indochinese Union, which, in addition to the Vietnamese possessions, included part of Laos and Cambodia. In 1904, two areas of Siam were annexed to it.

French Indochina

In one of the following articles, we continue the story of the French Indochina, and the hostilities that the Foreign Legion waged on its territory in 1946-1954.

Foreign Legion in the late XIX - early XX centuries.

From 1892 to 1894 Legionnaires also fought in the kingdom of Dahomey (now the territory of Benin and Togo) and in Sudan, in 1895-1901. - in Madagascar (in 1897 the island was declared a French colony).

Soldiers of the 1900st Regiment of the French Foreign Legion, Algeria. XNUMX

The French Foreign Legion on the march in Algeria before 1914

From 1903 to 1914 the legion was transferred to Morocco, the fighting here was very fierce, as a result of its loss of legionnaires were more than for all the years of existence.

Legionnaires against the Moroccans, 1908

And then the First World War began. The fighting of the Foreign Legion on the fronts of this war will be described in one of the following articles.

Postcard "Soldier of the Foreign Legion." The beginning of the twentieth century

"Father of the Legion"

In the first half of the 91th century, the legend of the Foreign Legion was Paul Frederic Rollet, a graduate of the Saint-Cyr military school, who, at his urgent request, was transferred from the usual 18 line infantry regiment to the First Foreign Regiment. He served in Algeria and Madagascar, and with the outbreak of World War I volunteered for the Western Front. On May 1917, 1917, Rolle was appointed commander of the new marching regiment of the Foreign Legion, who, under his leadership, was the first to break the Hindenburg line in September XNUMX. All soldiers of this regiment received red axelbands - this is the color of the Cross for military merit. Currently, this regiment is called the Third Foreign, its place of deployment is French Guiana.

After the war ended, Rolle at the head of this regiment fought in Morocco, and in 1925 he was appointed commander of the most prestigious infantry regiment - the First, in which he began his service in the legion.

On April 1, 1931 he becomes an inspector of the Foreign Legion - now this position is called "Commander of all units of the Foreign Legion."

General Paul-Frederic Rollet, the first inspector of the Foreign Legion

At this post, Rolle created the foundation of the entire internal organization of the legion, making it a closed structure similar to a medieval knightly order. These principles of organizing the Foreign Legion remain unshakable to this day. He also created his own security service, hospitals and motels for legionnaires, and even the Kepi Blanc Magazine’s internal journal.

Kepi ​​Blanc Magazine, May 2015

He retired in 1935, after 33 years of service. He had to die in Paris occupied by the Germans (in April 1941), having seen with his own eyes how the virtually perfect, seemingly perfect war machine of the legion he had created could not protect the country.

In the next article we will talk about Russian volunteers of the Foreign Legion.

Comments

[Sklendarka]

They had no time to defend France. After all, in Africa, they used to make each other ...

[Bang]

You yourself were there and saw everything or just decided to throw feces on the fan?

[Sklendarka]

No, it wasn’t. But one part of the legion passed to the Vichy stow, and the second remained faithful to the Republic ... There was such a thing ... Limpapo.

[Sniper Amateur]

And there was also the 164. leichte Afrika-Division of the Wehrmacht. Also "legionnaire".

[Lexus]

Settled srach, instead of thanking the author. Very worthy article and cycle as a whole. Thank you, comrade Ryzhov! God willing - get acquainted personally.

[Sniper Amateur]

Where did you see "srach" here?

[Sniper Amateur]

You obviously have a bad cat. I would have mine for such - threw it out of the window.

[ccsr]

Author:
Ryzhov V.A.

In the first half of the 91th century, the legend of the Foreign Legion was Paul Frederic Rollet, a graduate of the Saint-Cyr military school, who, at his urgent request, was transferred from the usual XNUMX line infantry regiment to the First Foreign Regiment.

A strange choice for a graduate of Saint-Cyr, who would have had a good career in the French armed forces after graduation, which later had the status of an academy. As far as is known, the service of officers, and they were all citizens of France, was considered a little honor in the Foreign Legion, and as a rule, transfer there was carried out after the officer committed an offense and was threatened with expulsion from the army. I admit that historians have somewhat prettified the history of the transfer of this combat officer to the legion, but in any case, his career is respected. I think that the author will talk about Zinovia Peshkov, the brother of Y. M. Sverdlov, who also served in the Foreign Legion - this is also an interesting person who was close to M. Gorky and connected with our country.
In general, the article is very interesting and informative, it seems that the author has well studied the history of this armed formation of France.

[Bang]

Zinovy ​​Peshkov was born on October 16, 1884, the name at the birth of Zalman (Yeshua-Zalman is mentioned in some sources) Mikhailovich Sverdlov, the name Zinovy ​​received in baptism in 1902 - the French army general, holder of fifty government awards, the elder brother of Y. M. Sverdlov and Maxim Gorky’s godson was the eldest among the sons of the Nizhny Novgorod engraver Mikhail Sverdlov. In his youth, he dreamed of an artistic and literary career. At eighteen he converted to Orthodoxy, his godfather was the “petrel of revolution” himself. It was he, a family friend, who gave his godson his real name, and he became Peshkov. Zinovy ​​accompanied Gorky and his wife Maria Andreev in exile, lived in Canada, the USA, served as a literary secretary in Capri, and met with Lenin.
The outbreak of World War I found him in Italy, where he enrolled at the French Consulate in the Foreign Legion. This was the only military unit in France to which foreigners were allowed to serve. Volunteer Zinovy ​​Peshkov took his first fight in the autumn of 1914. A few months later, during the assault, Karenci was seriously injured, lost his arm, but did not leave the army. Over the 180-year history of the Foreign Legion of France, he is considered one of the bravest soldiers.
During treatment, the war hero was warmly received in Parisian circles. At that time, France made great efforts to convince the United States to support the allies in the war with Germany. The American experience of Zinovia could be useful, Philip Berthelot, the head of the cabinet of the Foreign Minister, believed. He persuaded the Foreign Minister and Prime Minister Aristide Briand to send a legionnaire from Russia overseas. A corporal who speaks English as fluently as Russian, French, Italian and German, eventually became a lieutenant as a French translator after in Washington and provided valuable services to French diplomacy. When America finally entered the war, Zinovy ​​received the Legion of Honor.
In the late spring of 1917, already with the rank of captain, he returned to his homeland with the French mission. In the same year, after a new turn in history, his younger brother Yakov Sverdlov became chairman of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, the formal head of the Soviet state. But the brothers were unlikely to be able to understand each other - their beliefs were too different.
During the Civil War, in the vast expanses of the former Russian Empire, the French authorities sent Peshkov as a representative in the White armies - to Admiral Kolchak to Siberia, to the south of Russia to General Wrangel. Zinovy ​​was present during the evacuation of the last units of volunteers from Crimea to Constantinople.
In 1921, when famine broke out in the Volga region, the godson again next to Gorky, urging the West to prevent death in Russia. At the call of the writer, he organized international assistance for the population of Russia, and served as secretary of the international commission.
Peshkov returned to the Foreign Legion in the early 1920s, having already adopted French citizenship. Without a classical military education, he nevertheless managed to rise to command posts. He served in Morocco, where under his command there were many compatriots who signed up for the legion at the French consulate in Constantinople. During the hostilities in northern Morocco (during the Reef War) in 1925, he was again seriously wounded - this time in the leg, as he himself said, “for symmetry”. Military impressions will form the basis of the book “Foreign Legion in Morocco,” which experts will call interesting evidence of the heavy battles of the Legion.
In the late 1920s, the diplomatic experience of a translator and negotiation master Peshkov again proved to be in demand by the French Foreign Ministry. He was temporarily seconded to the French Embassy in Washington. But Zinovy ​​always sought to spend his holidays in Europe - in Italy. In Sorrento, he met with Gorky before the writer's final departure to Russia.
At the time of the Wehrmacht's attack on France, Zinovy ​​again served as part of the Foreign Legion in North Africa, and commanded a battalion. In June 1940, he unconditionally supported the appeal of General de Gaulle. During the years of the Resistance, Major Peshkov became one of the closest associates of the leader of the “Free France”, deployed on his behalf a communications mission in Algeria. Then he received the first general rank, and completed a military career with four stars of the corps general.
After the liberation of France and almost until his death - November 27, 1966 - he was in the diplomatic service. At the rank of ambassador, he led the missions of France in Japan and China.
In the 1950s, President Vincent Oriol awarded Peshkov with the Big Cross, the Order of the Legion of Honor of the highest degree, for his services to the French Republic. But on the strict tombstone of the ambassador and general at the Russian cemetery in Sainte-Genevieve-des-Bois - such was his will - only three words were written: “Zinovy ​​Peshkov. Legionary".

[Legionista]

Currently get to serve in I.L. for the graduate of Saint Cyr (École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr) is considered an honor. Only the most trained can be sent to combat regiments.

[ccsr]

Quote: Legionista

Currently get to serve in I.L. for the graduate of Saint Cyr (École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr) is considered an honor.

This is completely wrong, because getting into the legion is definitely putting an end to your military career, and most French officers are well aware of this. It is not even a matter of picking a legion, to put it mildly and various rabble falls, but also in the armament and staff structure of the Foreign Legion. This closed structure in the absence of heavy weapons and senior positions in the administrative structures of the French army, leads to the fact that the officer, to put it mildly, loses the opportunity to advance through the ranks, and this is the main reason for the refusal to serve in the legion. Well, not all officers like the hardships that fall on the military personnel of the Legion because of its specifics. By the way, in my time evaluating the armed forces of France, we never seriously considered the Foreign Legion as a potential threat to our GHA, because the French armed forces had not only nuclear weapons, but also heavy weapons, which were taken into account in the overall balance of NATO .

[Legionista]

Perhaps if you studied the structure and command staff of I.L. not on political information in the 80s in the GSVG, I would agree with you. But! I rely on my own experience. Get to serve in I.L. to an officer post is how to get to serve in the GSVG in the 70-80s). It is believed that officers who are capable of commanding, as you wrote “a different rabble,” in conventional troops will be able to command and carry out a combat mission especially effectively.

[Legionista]

Currently, Army Chief of Staff is Army General Thierry BYRKHARD. He began his service at 2REP (2 foreign parachute regiment). Such a normal career turned out)

[ccsr]

Quote: Legionista

Currently, Army Chief of Staff is Army General Thierry BYRKHARD. He began his service at 2REP (2 foreign parachute regiment). Such a normal career turned out)

This does not mean anything for the majority of officers, because even the chief of the General Staff had a "jacket" that did not distinguish himself in anything smart, and after which this practice was stopped. The same is with Grachev - the minister was a very stupid, although as a commander of an airborne division he might have been good.

[Legionista]

We now have women wearing marshall epaulettes))). Here they can’t. Only those who have completed Saint-Cyr can apply for top positions. Also, mandatory rotation - every 2 years (3 in exceptional cases), the officer changes the position and unit. Mandatory.

[ccsr]

Quote: Legionista

We now have women wearing marshall's epaulettes)))

They are not military personnel - do not confuse different things, and their shoulder straps speak about the status among civilian personnel of the Moscow Region, and not about a team position.

Quote: Legionista

Only those who have completed Saint-Cyr can apply for top positions.

This was the beginning of my first comment - why should a graduate of Saint-Cyr go to serve in the Foreign Legion, when wider prospects are opened before him.

Quote: Legionista

Also, mandatory rotation - every 2 years (3 in exceptional cases), the officer changes the position and unit. Mandatory.

There is nothing surprising in this - some officers in the SA did not manage to serve us in one place for a year, so we won’t be surprised.
But such a rotation is inappropriate in some structures of the armed forces - for example, on unique objects of strategic importance, so your example does not mean anything.

[ccsr]

Quote: Legionista

Perhaps if you studied the structure and command staff of I.L. not on political information in the 80s in the GSVG, I would agree with you. But!

This is for people like you read political information, and I prepared other office materials.

Quote: Legionista

But! I rely on my own experience.

You were not a French officer, and you hardly know their psychology.

Quote: Legionista

It is believed that officers who are capable of commanding, as you wrote “a different rabble,” in conventional troops will be able to command and carry out a combat mission especially effectively.

Nothing of the kind, if only because the Foreign Legion did not even reach the level of a full-fledged formation, which means that gaps in command and combat training will be felt by all senior officers for objective reasons, if only because of the lack of experience in exercises in the composition of the formation and formation.

[Legionista]

You are absolutely right- I was not a French officer. I served in the units they commanded. For 8 years you can find out a little if there is an opportunity and desire, who commands you). Indeed, the fact that I.L. - not an independent unit. Each regiment is organizationally part of a certain brigade, parachute, mountain, etc. Regular exercises in the composition of the brigades take place. You will not believe, but NATO exercises are also being held, in which even sergeants (sous-officiers) communicate in English. Your categorical thesis that gaps in the command and combat training will be felt is not entirely true. Before the first business trip to Afghanistan in 2009 in 2 REPs, the CLE was carried out (for sergeants, too), and so the main methodological material was Soviet instructions on conducting combined arms combat in the highlands, naturally translated into French. tongue. The French are not squeamish about learning the best experience. But Gallic arrogance also has a place to be.

[NN52]

Legionista (didier)
You do not convince this forum member (ccsr) ... it is useless ..
And your opinion and experience is interesting.

[Legionista]

Thanks for the support. The article is very interesting, many thanks to the author! And I really entered into a meaningless discussion)

[ccsr]

Quote: Legionista

You are absolutely right- I was not a French officer. I served in the units they commanded. For 8 years you can find out a little if there is an opportunity and desire, who commands you).

You don’t learn anything from their psychology - for this you need to conduct at least one generation in the military environment in order to understand the motivations of those who have connected themselves with the army for life. And they never let you get close to their meetings, or discussion of officers' misconduct - just like in our army.

Quote: Legionista

Each regiment is organizationally part of a certain brigade, parachute, mountain, etc.

I will ask you a question - what is the ratio of the number of personnel of the infantry regiment of the Foreign Legion and the regiment of a mechanized division, for example. I’m not even talking about weapons - it is definitely weaker in IL.
From here, any military specialist will immediately draw a conclusion about the real correlation of the combat capabilities of these regiments.

Quote: Legionista

Your categorical thesis that gaps in the command and combat training will be felt is not entirely true.

Just don’t tell me about this - I understand a little about this, because I had to serve more than you, and I was taught to evaluate the enemy professionally.

Quote: Legionista

The French are not squeamish about learning the best experience. But Gallic arrogance also has a place to be.

So we study foreign armies - for example, the ZVO magazine specially published for those interested in a lot of materials on the armies of the world. Of course, this is strongly said about "Gallic arrogance", but the very existence of the Foreign Legion more confirms their small-scale essence of innate rentiers. In this respect, the Germans (the East in the first place) have always impressed me more - they are closer to us in spirit, and as soldiers are more reliable.

[Alexfly]

You are not quite right, officers who had the opportunity to serve in the Legion are more likely to climb the ranks, as they have more combat experience than their counterparts in the army. The entire officer corps of France is considered an honor to serve in the Foreign Legion. By the way, their combat training is a cut above, if not two SAs or RAs, no matter how sad it would be. The rabble has not long been selected in the Legion. There are enough resources to choose the best.

[ccsr]

Quote: AlexFly

You are not quite right, officers who had the opportunity to serve in the Legion are more likely to climb the ranks, as they have more combat experience than their counterparts in the army.

France is a nuclear power that has its own planes, missiles, tanks, and the nuclear fleet. And do you think that the military power of this country is entrusted to those who drove some Aboriginal people around Africa only because he did it well in his young years? Believe me, no matter how brave an officer is, when promoted to high command posts they look primarily at his brains and ability to manage large military associations. Where does this come from in the legion if it is not even a branch of the armed forces of France?

Quote: AlexFly

By the way, their combat training is a cut above, if not two SAs or RAs, no matter how sad it would be.

I do not presume to comment, but comparing the training of Soviet special forces and the Airborne Forces, I did not find something that our people could not do, but in terms of strength our Airborne Forces exceeded many times the entire Foreign Legion. And what do we pray for him now? By the way, the legion’s only advantage is that it is more sharpened by actions in hot climates and tropics, has more vaccinations, etc., although, as far as I heard, in Afghanistan there was little use for them in the mountains in winter.

Quote: AlexFly

There are enough resources to choose the best.

The best in France do not go to serve in the army - is that not so?

[Alexfly]

dear, first of all, not knowing - do not say:
PHIL - is the armed forces of France, foreigners are taken there, as well as the French, under false names, this is the regulation.
secondly, the physical and tactical training of the infantry regiment of the Airborne Forces and the Regiment of Paratroopers of the Philosophical Regiment are significantly different, not in favor of the Airborne Forces.
Thirdly, regarding Afghanistan, they proved themselves to be no worse than the Airborne Forces of the Soviet Army.

[ccsr]

Quote: AlexFly

dear, first of all, not knowing - do not say:
PHIL - is the armed forces of France, foreigners are taken there, as well as the French, under false names, this is the regulation.

I did not deny it.

Quote: AlexFly

secondly, the physical and tactical training of the infantry regiment of the Airborne Forces and the Regiment of Paratroopers of the Philosophical Regiment are significantly different, not in favor of the Airborne Forces.

There were no infantry regiments of the Airborne Forces in the Soviet Army, so there is nothing to compare with. And the Soviet airborne regiments themselves in terms of armament and training will shut up any unit of the Foreign Legion, if only because they have more powerful weapons and numerical strength.

Quote: AlexFly

Thirdly, regarding Afghanistan, they proved themselves to be no worse than the Airborne Forces of the Soviet Army.

It might not be worse, but even the Americans modestly kept silent about their successes. So, perhaps, just from the words of the French themselves, but they cannot be trusted - the Dushmans succumbed to all NATO members, comparing them with the actions of the Soviet Army.

[Sigoulin Andrei]

Dear, you are operating with outdated information, and is rather biased in my opinion. The points:
1) The Legion is part of the French army, with the same salary, experience, structure and organization.
2) The largest and most powerful regiment in the entire French army is the Legion Regiment, 13DBLE.
3) Each regiment of the legion is part of a French brigade and performs missions on a par with the regular Regiments, under the same conditions.
4) Service in the legion is a great honor for the graduate of San Syr, here the legion’s military path, and traditional military names, and the discipline of the soldiers, head and shoulders superior in this parameter to the regulars. Service in the legion, and especially in its best regiments, for example 2REP, is a very quick career start for a young officer. Well, wearing a green beret is also appreciated.
3) At the expense of armaments ... in the French army it so happened that from a certain moment all heavy armaments were brought into artillery regiments, which the legion never had. Because of its staffing structure (Art regiments are subordinate to brigade and division commands). On the other hand, everything that is in the regiments of the regular French army is in service. The latest armored vehicles, optics, radio electronics, Phelan systems, mortars, equipment. Once again, no differences.
4) Pension - accrued in the same way as for regulars, i.e. 19,5 years of service.
5) Any disabled person, whether injured in the war or at work, receives insurance and a life pension. Wounded in the war-automatically French citizenship.
PS Unfortunately, a lot of immigrants from the former USSR come precisely in order to “pass through” for pensions and benefits, thereby creating a negative image for the entire Russian-speaking community, or not having endured the hardships of service in the end to desert.

[ccsr]

Quote: Sigoulin Andrei

Dear, you are operating with outdated information, and is rather biased in my opinion.

Yes, stop bending - the essence of military service has not fundamentally changed since the time of the Roman Empire, and you do not need to give out the Foreign Legion and the armed forces of France as something exceptional in the world.

Quote: Sigoulin Andrei

1) The Legion is part of the French army, with the same salary, experience, structure and organization.

This is not so, if only because

Today it has more than 8 thousand legionnaires, which represent 136 countries of the world, including France.

https://topwar.ru/13133-chem-zhivet-francuzskiy-inostrannyy-legion-segodnya.html
I admit that the information is outdated, but nevertheless, even by our standards, the entire legion does not even pull on one full-fledged division of the USA, Germany or Russia:

The modern Foreign Legion consists of tank, infantry and sapper units. Its structure includes 7 regiments, among which is the famous parachute with GCP special forces, one special detachment, one semi-brigade and one training regiment.

It is interesting that these are eight regiments (along with the training regiment), which in total have 8 thousand people, if the usual motorized rifle regiment in the SA was 2,4-2,8 thousand. person. Do you even have any idea about the modern armed forces in order to impress military experts?

Quote: Sigoulin Andrei

3) Each regiment of the legion is part of a French brigade and performs missions on a par with the regular Regiments, under the same conditions.

This distorted, at least for the example of the hidden participation of the legion in Libya and Syria:

The Arab Spring revealed that foreign troops are present in many areas of the conflict. In addition to Libya, the French Legion took part in hostilities in Syria. So, in Homs 150 were arrested, and in Zadabani - 120 French legionaries, mainly paratroopers and snipers. And although no one can confirm that they were precisely the legionnaires, this assumption is quite logical, since this unit is composed of citizens not only of France, but also of other states. Thus, France again has the opportunity to assert that there are no French citizens in Syria.

So the legion is far from equal with regular units, the death or captivity of military personnel of which France never denies.

Quote: Sigoulin Andrei

At the expense of armaments ... in the French army it happened so that from a certain moment all heavy armaments were brought into artillery regiments, which the Legion never had. Because of its staffing structure (Art regiments are subordinate to brigade and division commands).

I argued this from the very beginning. And the point is not in the organizational structure, but in the fact that artillery needs more high-class military personnel and heavy weapons cannot be trusted with everyone, which is why the legion never had one.

Quote: Sigoulin Andrei

5) Any disabled person, whether injured in the war or at work, receives insurance and a life pension. Wounded in the war-automatically French citizenship.

So France does not officially wage war with anyone after Indochina and Algeria, so do not convince that those legionnaires who secretly participate in operations will receive a lot from the French government in case of injury or illness, especially in the first contract. They simply disown them, and FIG they will prove something - and all legionnaires are well aware of this.

Quote: Sigoulin Andrei

PS Unfortunately, a lot of immigrants from the former USSR come precisely to “mow down” for pensions and benefits, thereby creating a negative image for the entire Russian-speaking community,

You contradict yourself, since such an excellent service in the Legion, and suddenly someone "messes up" - why would it. By the way, where did you get the idea that a person who decides to go to military service does not think about the future pension, which he receives earlier than in civilian life? This is one of the incentives in all the armies of the world, and why Russian-speaking people should be different from others. Maybe someone like you is first forced into tales about the legion, and when they get there and understand that they were thrown, then they have no choice but to "mow" and defect from the legion. Such a thought never crossed your mind?

[Sigoulin Andrei]

1) Dear, please do not distort. The army and its principles have changed, we are not in Ancient Rome, wake up.) I, in no case, will not campaign! Just trying to open your eyes and increase your horizons;)
2) You are reading inattentively. How is it that the legion consists of 8-9 thousand people and 130-140 nationalities refutes my words that it is part of the French army?

[ccsr]

Quote: Sigoulin Andrei

Dear, please do not distort. The army and its principles have changed, we are not in ancient Rome, wake up.)

Tell me more about what.

Quote: Sigoulin Andrei

Just trying to open your eyes and increase your horizons;)

Thank you for your concern, but I found out about the legion long before you went there. As I understand it, you don’t serve there now, if you served at all.

Quote: Sigoulin Andrei

How is it that the legion consists of 8-9 thousand people and 130-140 nationalities refutes my words that it is part of the French army?

This only speaks of the importance of the legion in the ground forces of France, which in 2018 was about 123 thousand. I did not deny the fact that the legion is part of the ground forces, but only noticed that as a full-fledged type of troops, like the US Marine Corps, The foreign legion never existed. In the ground forces of France, this is a small and weakly armed structure in which, by and large, a French officer will never make a military career, which is why they should not go there. So the myth of the prestige of serving officers in the legion is bloated because of ignorance of the real situation in the armed forces of France.

[VLR]

About Peshkov - necessarily, in some detail, but not only about him

[Legionista]

Let me give myself a little clarification about the speed of 88 steps per minute. This pace has nothing to do with walking on the sand; it is a fairly common misconception. In fact, this cadencé de marche is the legacy of the Ancien Régime, the pre-revolutionary era of France. The "régiment Hohenlohe" also marched at this pace. Foreign soldiers who served in Napoleon's army, who in 1816 ended up in the 2nd foreign regiment "Grande Armée", later this particular regiment was named "régiment Hohenlohe". It was these foreign regiments that were the forerunners of the Legion.

[The leader of the Redskins]

Here is an article about the unit that deserves attention, and not that miserable misunderstanding about the Hitler Youth that we discussed earlier!
There is a history of creation, a military way, and outstanding personalities.
Thanks, author.

[Bang]

I fully agree with you. I was very pleased to read this article. The years I spent in the Legion, I consider the best in my life.
And here is what I keep to this day ..

[Bryanskiy_Volk]

Pure schizophrenia: you have the flag of the Russian Federation on your ava, but at the same time you served in units of the historically fought against Russia. And what would you do if during your stay in the legion you would be ordered to kill Russian (possibly Soviet since your years of service are unknown) military personnel?
Any soldier of the French foreign legion is personally a bastard for me, by definition, for the simple reason that he voluntarily agrees to kill people who, in fact, did nothing wrong with him. In short, the armed gang of professional killers legitimized by France.

[polar fox]

Quote: Bryanskiy_Volk

Pure schizophrenia: you have the flag of the Russian Federation on your ava, but at the same time you served in units of the historically fought against Russia. And what would you do if during your stay in the legion you would be ordered to kill Russian (possibly Soviet since your years of service are unknown) military personnel?

I’ll answer with permission: I wanted to see the flag of the Russian Federation-Vlasov above the Kremlin, the first, the second — I earned money, citizenship, and received training and representation about the Army. Third, many in the WWII refused to fight the Soviet Union against the USSR ... so that So?

[Bryanskiy_Volk]

Based on your logic, you can whitewash any terrorist trained anywhere in Afghanistan if you apply your motivation to stay in the legion: "make money, get citizenship (ISIS), get military training."

[Clerk]

Quote: polar fox

the flag of the RF-Vlasov dreamed of seeing over the Kremlin

Learn history, ignoramus! What for you is a "filthy Vlasov rag" is in fact the ancient flag of the Russian state, which appeared long (about a couple of centuries) before the birth of Vlasov and was used on ships of the merchant fleet! The fact that collaborator Vlasov used him for his units does not mean that he is "Vlasovsky".

[Bang]

You were apparently misinformed.

1. Legionnaire is combatant (do not confuse with mercenaries). Who are the mercenaries and what happens for this, I suppose, you can find yourself on the Internet. It's not hard.

Combatant (from French Combatant - fighting) - a person who is directly involved in hostilities of one of the parties to an international armed conflict and has a special legal status as such (the definition of a combatant is directly or indirectly contained in LCIII and the DPI to the Geneva Conventions) .

Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions on the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts of 1977, in article 43 of this protocol, introduced the definition of armed forces and also for the first time introduced the concept of a combatant as a component of the armed forces:
I. The armed forces of a party to the conflict are composed of all organized armed forces, groups and units under the command of a person responsible to this side for the conduct of their subordinates, even if this side is represented by a government or authority not recognized by the opposing side. Such armed forces are subject to an internal disciplinary system, which, among other things, ensures compliance with international law applicable during armed conflicts.
II. Persons who are part of the armed forces of a party to the conflict (except for medical and religious personnel referred to in article 33 of the Third Convention) are combatants, that is, they have the right to take direct part in hostilities.
In simpler language:
The definition given in the protocol clearly binds the combatant to the armed forces, thereby showing that the combatant acts on behalf of the state as a subject of international law, and thereby the state assumes responsibility for the actions committed by the combatant, if they do not contradict the laws and customs of war. That is, the state authorizes and is responsible for the use of weapons by the combatant and for the physical destruction of combatants by the warring party.

2. The legionnaire has the right to refuse to participate in any actions directed against his people and his country.

3. Legionnaires, on a rotational basis, participate in peacekeeping missions as part of UN troops

[Avior]

The legionnaire has the right to refuse to participate in any actions directed against his people and his country.

yes they will not be sent out of elementary security

[Bryanskiy_Volk]

he has the right, but whether he wants to - that is the question. For such disdainful people, money usually doesn’t smell

[Bryanskiy_Volk]

"Combatant" - non-combatant "- the essence of this does not change. You are ready to kill for money - it means a bastard by definition. Nothing personal.

[gsev]

Quote: Bryanskiy_Volk

Any member of the French Foreign Legion personally for

Indeed, in the Russian tradition of fighting and serving foreign interests indelible disgrace. I probably understand a person who has changed citizenship and has accepted the rights and obligations of another country. But serving France and returning to Russia and boasting about it is simply stupid. As far as I know now, after serving in a foreign legion, French citizenship is not automatically granted. Therefore, anyone who gets there should a priori consider himself a murderer for money.

[Sniper Amateur]

Indeed, in the Russian tradition of fighting and serving foreign interests indelible disgrace.

Right? Exactly? A Harmful Aunt Mother Story - tells us something completely different ...

[ccsr]

Quote: gsev

Indeed, in the Russian tradition of fighting and serving foreign interests indelible disgrace.

Do not judge so harshly - Russian people like Turchaninov fought in the United States in the Civil War, and the Paraguayan army was built after our revolution, and even fought as part of inter-brigades in Spain, without being Soviet citizens, i.e. our advisers. We will never forgive only the Vlasovites - these bastards killed our people on the side of our enemies, i.e. they will always be cursed among the people.

[gsev]

Quote: ccsr

even fought as part of inter-brigades in Spain, and not being citizens of the USSR

But did participation in hostilities against the Francoists in Spain or against the Japanese in China in the 30s not meet the interests of the USSR?

[ccsr]

Quote: gsev

But did participation in hostilities against the Francoists in Spain or against the Japanese in China in the 30s not meet the interests of the USSR?

The fact is that former White Army soldiers who wanted to return to the USSR fought in the inter-brigades and were denied this for various reasons. So they wanted to atone for the war, as I understand it. But on the side of Franco, the Russian people fought, as at least Spanish sources testify. Therefore, we have no right to judge those Russians who fought in the armies of different states - everything was too complicated and confused in their fate.

[gsev]

Quote: ccsr

everything was too complicated and confused in their fate.

In my opinion now everything looks simple. Without a victory, Franco is unlikely that Hitler would start World War 2. That is, in the army of Franco fought for the tragedy of Oradour, Auschwitz, Yasinovatsy and Khatyn.

[Bryanskiy_Volk]

do not confuse the warm with the soft: it’s one thing to fight for an idea and a conviction and it’s quite a bout to fight for money or French citizenship.

[Bryanskiy_Volk]

I absolutely share your statement. This is a worldview category. A special case of the eternal dispute between "Westernizers" and "Slavophiles". If you want, then an express test for mental belonging to "quilted jackets" or "ceevropeans". Apparently the last on the site in the predominant amount

[Avior]

voluntarily agrees to kill people who actually did nothing wrong with him

How old are you?
this is the problem of any military man - to comply with the order in respect of those who personally did nothing wrong with him

[Bryanskiy_Volk]

the problem is that you don’t understand the difference in killing for money and killing on orders. Perhaps you object and write that someone forced the sticks into Mr. Bums’s legion?

[Avior]

In my opinion you do not understand
Nobody drives sticks to military schools and to a contract either, and the military also receives a salary in money
And in this legion there are exactly the same orders as in any other army
If it bothers you that foreigners serve there, then this is not particularly unusual, in many countries foreigners can be military, just a legion promoted in the media

[ccsr]

Quote: Avior

Nobody drives sticks to military schools and to a contract either, and the military also receives a salary in money
And in this legion there are exactly the same orders as in any other army

No need to juggle - it is one thing to devote your life to defending your homeland, receiving money for this to support your family. And it’s a completely different matter to abandon your homeland and go to earn money serving a foreign country, and at the same time participating in the killings of those who did not threaten our country at all. As they say, feel the difference - at least from a moral point of view. I do not blame those who chose to serve in the Foreign Legion, many of them broke their own lives without finding themselves in our reality, but I’m not going to admire it either. Especially considering the fact that in our country there was a dofig of hot spots after the collapse of the USSR, and who wanted to prove himself in military affairs had a great opportunity to excel in us too. And now, service in the VKS allows you to voluntarily get to serve in Syria - which is not a way to prove your military professionalism.

[Sergey49]

While the country has enough of these, I will say diplomatically, naive people, Russia is invincible.

[kalibr]

Do you want to share your personal memories?

[WayKheThuo]

Be careful, if you are on the territory of the Russian Federation, then you seem to fall under the article on mercenarism. Although, I strongly suspect that you are deeply "violet", because one of the "buns" of the Legion, subject to normal service, is French citizenship.

[saygon66]

- It’s not punishable ... There are not so few retired legionnaires living in Russia ...
- But there are some problems with French citizenship. Serving a contract is not enough for this ...

[gsev]

Quote: saygon66

Unpunished ...

I suppose that during the restoration of documents in the 1990s, the legionary in counterintelligence was required to tell in detail about the service in the legion. In addition, such a fate makes a person obligated to atone for the state. It would be nice to get former legionnaires to atone for their misconduct with the appropriate service.

[saygon66]

- Everything is not simple here ... Many legionnaires managed to serve the Motherland before entering - so about redemption, it’s a bit too much.
“And then, the Legion is part of the French Armed Forces, it’s not a commercial organization like Irenius or Greystone.
- And it seems to me that the secret bearers are unlikely to be easily released from France ....

[gsev]

Quote: saygon66

- And it seems to me that the secret bearers are unlikely to be easily released from France ...

Foreign legion and special secrets? The maximum that the legionnaire can tell is how much he killed the Africans and bought the young Africans. France in Africa has always pursued the dirtiest policies and the legionnaires for this dirty work are in use. It’s just that in the 1990s, many from Russia went to the Legion from hopelessness, and then they were allowed to return to their homeland. As far as I know, legionnaires returned to Russia completely wasted. I meant that the French did not help the legionnaires to return their citizenship, and getting a passport without contacting the Russian embassy is very problematic. If in the 1950s and 1960s Vietnamese, Russians, Algerians were not given citizenship after serving in the Legion, then no one would go to this organization later. Then France lost the war and was forced to take such battered fighters from the liberated colonies.

[saygon66]

- Do not believe it, but ours, too, were not particularly in a hurry with the help of a passport change ...
- I managed to replace the "hammer" with a Russian passport, only after a personal conversation with the head of the Department of Internal Affairs and the provision of documents on the termination of the contract in the RF Armed Forces ...
- In the usual manner, I would have to wait two years ....
- And cryptographers, signalmen, office clerks, etc. can be the bearers of secrets. In Soviet times, even the menu in the dining room was chipboard.

[ccsr]

Quote: gsev

Foreign legion and special secrets?

I completely agree with your assessment, but here it’s not quite:

Quote: gsev

As far as I know, legionnaires returned to Russia completely wasted.

It just so happened that I know through a relative the fate of one legionnaire from the Ukrainian Crimea and his family. In general, he brought his bride in the first contract, but they lived without signing it, hiding it in a rented apartment so that she would not be deported. After the first term, he tried to get a citizen, but nothing special happened, although he is a specialist in automotive technology and again returned to the legion as a civilian. Then he again went to contract service, visited many regions, including the former Yugoslavia, and now serves in Africa. They received French citizenship with their family, have two children, and will never return to Ukraine, as I believe. So not all legionnaires are out of work - this specialist has proven that you can make a career in the legion and make good money. But he was not a simple infantryman, that's why he had everything more or less developed.

[Bang]

Everything is a little more complicated with me. I have never claimed for the French city, although the right remains to this day. Realization of it is a separate conversation, there are also many subtleties there. Well, and one more thing, historically it happened that I do not live in the territory of the Russian Federation.

Well, my life has turned out like this. Someone has a different way ... Someone will say - you and the murderer ... Someone, on the contrary, will admire ... The third one will be wary and will keep his nose in the wind ... We are all different and everyone has a different life . In any case, this is my story and my life, they can scold me, they can praise me - nothing will change from this, and you will break your spears in vain, watering each other from the tub.

To summarize, I want to say ... Understand, each of us lives his own life. Service in the Legion is not even a fairy tale. This is a very serious self-regulatory autonomous structure. No one will donate the resource of the metropolis if there is a consumable in the form of the Legion. That is, you will always be in the most difficult places that require the interests of the same metropolis. Somewhere, of course, it will be easier and just "presence" is required from you, but somewhere everything will be more than serious. Therefore, I would like everyone who admires, wants, dreams, etc. about serving in the Legion very, well, right, very very good to think. :)

[WayKheThuo]

Therefore, I would all who admire, want, dream, etc. about the service in the Legion is very, well, right, very good to think about. :)
By the way, you noticed this. And then some beginner will read it and wave without thinking. Although, I believe that the Legion has a very serious dropout system, which minimizes the recruitment of "pale youths with a burning gaze." And this is hefty right, because any legionnaire is the invested money of the metropolis, which must "fight back", no matter how cynical it may sound. And it is very important for a beginner to always keep this simple fact in mind.

[Bang]

Well, almost like that ... example

Main condition: everyone should be healthy, BUT ...

If at the moment a driver is needed in the cavalry, then in the presence of 2 candidates, one of whom is in perfect health, even now as a paratrooper, and the 2nd feeble tractor without one tooth, they will take a tractor driver. We don’t need paratroopers today, come back in a year.

Something like that.

[saygon66]

- 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment?

[Bang]

yes ... 3rd REI

[siemens7774]

Bums.You accidentally were not in Djibouti in 1998 and 2000, and 2011. 13 semi-brigade, 3 infantry company. I had to communicate with them somehow)) We provided security, then accompanied by immigrants from Russia and Ukraine. It was very hot)) 80 people were then transferred to the Emirates .. Then in the Gulf of Aden ..

[Krasnodar]

Quote: Bums

The years I spent in the Legion, I consider the best in my life.
And here is what I keep to this day ..

One more bryts on VO, vous êtes les bienvenus!

[ccsr]

Quote: Bums

The years I spent in the Legion, I consider the best in my life.

If possible, tell us in more detail about the years of service, the motives for entering the Legion and how many contracts you entered into, did you serve in it after you received French citizenship and the reasons for your dismissal. I just heard different opinions about the legion and sometimes people, to put it mildly, greatly exaggerate the importance of the legion in their lives, because often this is just a way to quickly obtain French citizenship.

[Undecim]

And King Louis-Philippe in this proposal probably liked the phrase that the Foreign Legion should obey only one person - himself. 189 years have passed, but this provision in the charter of the legion has not changed: it is still subordinate only to the head of state - the president of the French Republic.
Most of all, King Louis-Philippe in this proposal liked the opportunity to cleanse the army after the July Revolution of 1830 from the Bonapartists and supporters of Charles X, and the country from the mass of deserters and adventurers who rushed to France from all over Europe.

[faterdom]

Soldier of the French Foreign Legion in Algeria, 1847. Castellum miniatures figurine

Here the picture is not inserted, only the signature to it.
And the criterion of publication in the "Armament" section is not clear, and the more appropriate "History".

[VLR]

The picture is pasted. And the choice of category is up to the editorial staff.

[Fat]

In the description of the Crimean company of the legion in a number of places is 1815. The context, of course, is understandable, but is it probably better to fix it?

[VLR]

Yes, 1855, working on a typo correction

[VLR]

Everything fixed

[Senior seaman]

After the conclusion of peace with China in 1858 Napoleon II

The Bonoparty, numbered two, died in 1832 and never reigned.
so Napoleon III

[VLR]

Wow, typo slipped, try to fix

[VLR]

Typo corrected

[Catfish]

Wow, what a pleasant surprise!
No, an article about the Legion was promised by the author, but so quickly I did not expect it.
Thanks Edward! For example, this topic has always been interesting to me, now I respect the person I trust. Thanks again.
All sit down for reading.

[Kote Pan Kokhanka]

Hi Corsair, friend of cats !!!
The article is not Edward, but Valery!
Regards, Vlad!

[Catfish]

Hello Kitty, friend of Cats!
Thanks for correcting. Silent, and all the insomnia is damn, if it was wrong.
And the article is really cool, I waited for it and read it with pleasure.
There, only with Captain Danju is a small flaw, the image is mirrored and on it the prosthesis and the Order of the Legion of Honor look like they are on the right side of the figure.

[Kote Pan Kokhanka]

I respect you, Konstantin, for humor sharp as a sword! And sincerely !!!

[Catfish]

Thank you, Vlad, golly very pleased.

[kalibr]

Wonderful stuff, just lovely. My congratulations to Valery!

[VLR]

Thank you, it’s always nice to hear from you such words. Articles about the legion seem very successful to me and myself, the next one, in my opinion, will be very good, but the most successful, probably, about the Algerian war.

[kalibr]

The only thing, Valery, that I personally add to the final material on the legion is his cinematography with shots from films. But this is a matter of copyright preferences, of course. Not even a wish ...

[VLR]

I mention some films in the "course of action": for example, "Legionnaire" with Van Damme - when I talk about the Reef War in Morocco.
"Dien Bien Phu" - you know when. Some others.

[saygon66]

- There is also the Lost Platoon ...

[Normal ok]

Quote: VlR

I mention some films in the "course of action": for example, "Legionnaire" with Van Damme - when I talk about the Reef War in Morocco.
"Dien Bien Phu" - you know when. Some others.

1-2 years ago (I don’t remember exactly), there was a small documentary on the BBC about patrolling legionnaires in South America. By the way, there were interviews with exits from the former USSR.

[seagull]

"Escape to the Legion" with Biar Grylls is a documentary series. It tells about the traditions and training of recruits.

[Catfish]

Great article, Valery, swallowed in one spirit!
And what’s interesting, I spent a month and a half a decade every summer for a month and a half on the ancient Chersonesos of Sevastopol. He went under water in Quarantine and Strelka, got out antique pots from there and had no idea that the Legion fought there as part of the French troops.
They found conical bullets there from the Tuvenin fittings, but I did not see any more traces.
Thanks again, really pleased.
PS I apologize for the fact that it is not clear why I called you Eduard, what the hell did I jump from, because I didn’t drink anything stronger than coffee today. I hope I didn’t really offend you, Edward is a good man and his work is also very interesting. Sorry again.

[Graz]

Well, I would still refer them to hired units as punitive units, I even have doubts that they were better than the native parts of the French, I don’t know why they admire this unit so much

[antivirus]

better than the native parts of the French, I don’t know why they admire this division so much

self-promotion of European punks

[gsev]

Quote: Graz

I don’t know what they admire so much

Apparently France needs such mercenaries, and the French state pays not only to legionnaire mercenaries, but also to scribes propagandizing service in this legion.

[siemens7774]

gsev. France does not need mercenaries, as there are currently 11 men in one place in I. L. army officers, and there after studying came privates.

[ccsr]

Quote: siemens7774

gsev. France does not need mercenaries, since at the moment there are 11 people in one place in I.L.

Well, if everything is so cool, why not expand the legion itself by introducing heavy weapons and tactical missiles at the compound level?
As for the competition, there most likely 8 out of 11 will not pass simple testing for service with weapons, as I believe, and the rest are also the same contingent, since those who have served in the army get the advantage.

Quote: siemens7774

Preferably in the elite troops.

And what prevents a career from being done in elite troops, remaining there to serve under a contract?

Quote: siemens7774

I met people from Russia and Ukraine in Djibouti,

Indeed, in the nineties and early XNUMXs, our former compatriots were eager to go there, but now if they go from Russia, it is only for "fogs", because many understand that from there it is possible to return a disabled person, and no one in France will support them.

Quote: siemens7774

who were officers in the army, and there after graduation came rank and file.

I don’t presume to comment on this - our stripper "Tarzan" Mozhaiku finished, took part in launches at Baikonur, and is now hanging out on TV. So the careers of the former "officers" are different, and the Legion is not indicative in this matter. By the way, as a counterexample - Major Tariverdiev, I consider this a model of service to the Motherland as an officer.

[siemens7774]

ccsr.many elitists were fired after the Afghan war and many could not get accustomed to the boobies under Yeltsin. Many went to the bandits or went down in life. Some of them collected money and went to Obany, where they passed the test and almost immediately got to the training school of I.L. The second wave arrived there after the first Chechen one. Also having encountered the setup of the top commanders and Moscow. In the early 90s in I.L the composition of immigrants from the USSR reached 22-35%.

[ccsr]

Quote: siemens7774

ccsr.many elitists were fired after the afghan and many could not take root with the boobies under Yeltsin.

I agree. But there were many who simply decided that the citizen would earn more, and when the bummer came out, they decided to go where they took it.

Quote: siemens7774

Many went to the bandits or went down in life.

And it was like that. And some went to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and there they began to serve honestly and even made a career there.

Quote: siemens7774

. Some of them raised money and left for Aubagne, where they passed the audit and almost immediately got to the training school of I.L.

But it was still an insignificant part of those who left the army in the nineties. As far as I know, this was not a mass phenomenon, and the number of people who left for Israel, where some also served later, was much larger.

Quote: siemens7774

In the early 90s in I.L. the composition of immigrants from the USSR reached 22-35%.

It is possible, but I wonder how many of them reached the French pension and French citizenship. Do you have such statistics? Tell us in more detail how they settled in France, if you have such information.

[siemens7774]

ccsr, go to start here - https://ru.legion-recrute.com/

[ccsr]

Quote: siemens7774

ccsr, go to start here - https://ru.legion-recrute.com/

This is an advertising site, and real life is not so glossy. But I was more interested in how the life of our former compatriots takes shape after the end of the service.

[siemens7774]

ccsr, so that there wouldn’t be many letters, I’ll say that those who have served 15 years or more. Have the right to choose a place of residence and a good pension. Free tuition at colleges and universities. Such 75-80%. Those who are 10 years old or more have an average pension and they determine their place of residence and naturally jobs and free training. There are people like war who cannot live without it. Here, this category retires after the length of service is fully wealthy and you don’t need to work. Open your business with a very low tax and among them the smallest losses. Many They are in the army or sent instructors to other friendly countries.

[ccsr]

Quote: siemens7774

ccsr, that there would be many letters I will say that those who have served 15 years or more. have the right to choose a place of residence and a good pension

And where did the figure come from 19,5 years at least for retirement?

Quote: siemens7774

.Free tuition at colleges and universities.

As far as I know, if the chosen profession corresponds to those financed by the Ministry of Defense, and the non-core profession at its own expense.

Quote: siemens7774

those who are 10 years old or older have an average pension

I have not heard that for two contracts they gave a pension - can you give a link?

Quote: siemens7774

This category is retiring after long service and is fully wealthy and there is no need to work.

You can approximate how much this is for those who are not an officer.

Quote: siemens7774

Many remain in the army as instructors or are sent to other friendly countries.

And this is why if the pension is good and there is no need to work?

[siemens7774]

ccsr, on the first question, if you live there more or less, then you need to work out this period. Otherwise, the benefits will be just ridiculous. according to the second, if not profile, again there are more than three contracts, training benefits. the third - they give a pension after two contracts after very hard work and injured in especially difficult cases. the fourth is for privates after three contracts in particularly difficult conditions. fifth, I’ve already said that there is a people who can’t live in a civilian life and always get involved somewhere. It’s better to constantly be in this system and do your favorite work. Sometimes they are used in direct work for the government.))

[ccsr]

Quote: siemens7774

ccsr, on the first question

From your answers, I perfectly understood that everything is much more complicated with service in the Legion, and your reservations about "very difficult work and injury in particularly difficult cases " speak for themselves. That is why I know that not every normal person will go to serve in the Legion if he really weighs all the pros and cons. Without diminishing the prestige of the legion in France, nevertheless, in order to put an end to the i, I give you data from an old reference book, where even in the rapid action corps it is not mentioned because of its insignificance in the French Armed Forces:

[siemens7774]

ccsr, well, let's just say, "any normal person" will not even go to a regular army, let alone to such exotic formations.)) Although in life the mine had to work next to certain formations))

[ccsr]

Quote: siemens7774

ccsr, well, let's just say, "any normal person" will not even go to a regular army,

I meant, first of all, those officers who voluntarily choose military service as the business of their life. And when they tried to bet me here that the Saint-Cyr graduate was just dreaming of getting into the legion, I understand very well that they are trying to ride on my ears, because we also know something about service in foreign armies.

[siemens7774]

ccsr, well, there also come across clients who don’t want to squander pants on exercises, at headquarters. They want especially difficult adventures at the withers. And there are those who have been disciplined for distribution and the only way to stay in the army is to dump in I.L.

[ccsr]

Quote: siemens7774

And there are those who fell under the discipline of distribution and the only way to stay in the army is to dump in I.L.

I was just talking about this from the very beginning that those officers who for some reason were threatened with being expelled from the army and who were given the chance to stay in it, but who were offered to serve in the legion, basically got into the legion.

Quote: siemens7774

They want especially difficult adventures at the withers.

There are such in any army in the world, but they are usually a minority, and of course in the legion they may like to serve. But sobering comes with age and time - I think so.

[Sigoulin Andrei]

Yes, because you do not understand the topic (it was according to the Legion, as I was able to verify), you were not in France and did not serve there, and you pass off your ignorance as an indisputable fact, thereby multiplying the level of nonsense and stupidity on this topic. Nobody rides your ears, who needs it? You have your own world, you are absolutely deaf to arguments and facts. As a person who has served there for 9 years, I just freeze with my mouth open, reading your comments. What a breathtaking cocktail of tales, rumors and some guesses.
PS You are sorry, but you are simple.

[ccsr]

Quote: Sigoulin Andrei

Yes, because you do not understand the topic (it is according to the Legion, as I managed to make sure),

Well, you - of course the legion is steeper than the cosmonaut corps in the USSR, who would doubt it.

Quote: Sigoulin Andrei

were not in France and did not serve there, and pass off your ignorance as an indisputable fact,

I was not in France, but I studied the French armed forces at such a level that you never dreamed of.

Quote: Sigoulin Andrei

As a person who has served there for 9 years, I just freeze with my mouth open, reading your comments.

And what did you learn about 9 years of service in the legion as an ordinary or corporal about the French Armed Forces, if the opinions of people like you did not interest us?

Quote: Sigoulin Andrei

What a breathtaking cocktail of tales, rumors and some guesses.

I do not think that you at least held such a publication:

By the way, this edition just doesn’t mention the Foreign Legion because of its crucial role in the armed forces of France - so do not swell your cheeks very much.

[Sigoulin Andrei]

1) Not cooler than the cosmonaut corps, but the usual part of the French army. I didn’t say anything else.
2) Your level, well, exactly what concerns the Legion and the French Armed Forces is rather weak, I'm sorry. I won’t say anything else, because I don’t know.
3) For 9 years, both privates and corporals, and so on ... 9 years of practice, not headquarters-couch theorists.
4) Of course I didn’t hold, why do I need the Soviet 90s of the 20th century? Who needs this book? She and the modern Russian military did not read, except for the very ancient warriors))) Especially in France.)
5) The fact that nothing is written there means nothing. There is paper that nobody needs, but there is practice and reality. I don’t puff out, calm down, it’s just that your knowledge (or rather guesses) to a greater extent does not correspond to realities, that’s all.)

[ccsr]

Quote: Sigoulin Andrei

but the usual part of the French army.

No, not ordinary - even heavy weapons were not trusted in the legion and were not included in the rapid deployment corps after its creation.

Quote: Sigoulin Andrei

For 9 years, both privates and corporals, and so on ... 9 years of practice, not headquarters-couch theorists.

I know that a horse cannot control a rider, so if you have not grown to the level of a rider, then continue to think that you are showing him the way.

Quote: Sigoulin Andrei

Of course I didn’t hold, why do I need the Soviet 90s of the 20th century?

I just took what was at hand, so that it was clear what the legion was in the French Armed Forces at that time.

Quote: Sigoulin Andrei

She and the modern Russian military did not read,

They have more recent data, and there they learn that the legion has been significantly reduced since the nineties - this is another indicator of the value of the legion for the French Armed Forces.

Quote: Sigoulin Andrei

There is paper that nobody needs, but there is practice and reality.

There is only one reality - the legion is of no military interest to us. Well, you can continue to talk about its exclusivity. Only for whom - you yourself do not know.

[Normal ok]

Quote: Graz

Well, I would still refer them to punitive units as hired personnel

Modern mercenaries are PMCs. For almost 200 years, the Legion has undergone a major transformation and is now a full-fledged regular military formation. With specific equipment.

[Dart2027]

Oddly enough, it was the date of this defeat (and not some victory) that became the main holiday of the legionnaires.

Well, other defeats may be more honorable than victories.

[Sklendarka]

Quote: Dart2027

Oddly enough, it was the date of this defeat (and not some victory) that became the main holiday of the legionnaires.

Well, other defeats may be more honorable than victories.

Let me disagree with you ... this is very ,,
Philosophical '' moment.
Maybe one of you remembers a boxer from Vladivostok Vysotsky?
Usually he always lost, it seems to Sasha Zaitsev, at the Union Cup, then at the Union Championship. Personally, I do not remember a single defeat, from the word at all !!!! such a three-time CHOI (coach Chervonenko) ... in short, as in the song - ... ... this is never forgotten ... ''

[Phil77]

Good evening! Summer of the 73rd / Havana /? Or Minsk, the 75th? It’s a pity that these tournaments were, well, a bit unofficial! And I remember Teofilo Stevenson, an excellent boxer / he died at 60, alas! /. Thank you very much Valery for the article!

[Phil77]

Only he is not from Vladik, but from Magadan! Igor Vysotsky.

[Sklendarka]

Quote: Phil77

Only he is not from Vladik, but from Magadan! Igor Vysotsky.

Exactly !!!!, wrote and could not remember, on the seventh dozen brains fail.
Minsk - ,, open tournament for the prize of the ,, sports palace ''

[Phil77]

It's me that he beat Teofilo twice.

[Sklendarka]

It was two times that he was seated on a deep ass ....
Phil, since what year?
Some memories are the same ...

[Phil77]

Summer 1963.Sergey.Moscow.

[Dart2027]

Quote: Skalendarka

Philosophical '' moment.

Why? Leonid did not win at Thermopylae, but went down in history. The Brest Fortress is not a victory either. Similar examples are enough.

[Sklendarka]

Quote: Dart2027

Quote: Skalendarka

Philosophical '' moment.

Why? Leonid did not win at Thermopylae, but went down in history. The Brest Fortress is not a victory either. Similar examples are enough.

I will not say about Leonid, I do not know ... If you are about the `` Small Land '', then that Leonid Ilyich deserves the title of colonel, although according to the political article, there were PEOPLE worthy of their people ...

[Phil77]

No, this is Leonid, he was older. His profession was king.

[Sklendarka]

Quote: Dart2027

Quote: Skalendarka

Philosophical '' moment.

Why? Leonid did not win at Thermopylae, but went down in history. The Brest Fortress is not a victory either. Similar examples are enough.

Sorry, something is wrong, I read the first line and started to answer.
The Brest Fortress, yes, the fortress cannot win ... The task of any fortress is not to surrender !!! ,, ... we are dying, but we did not surrender ... '' was inscribed with a triangular bayonet on the brick of the fortress. For me, as a Belarusian, these are sacred words ...

[Dart2027]

Something like that was there. In principle, they could not win, but they resisted to the last and inflicted huge damage on the enemy.

[sagitch]

In the early 90's, some of my friends would like to join the French Legion, for the sake of French citizenship, but there was no information on how to enter there.
Perhaps it would be like "enter" in the full sense of the word, into shit.

[Bang]

Not really ... Times, in fact, were very difficult. There is practically no information, everything is approximately at the level of urban legends. But, by the way, quite a considerable number of people, they all got their way. Personally, I want to add ... I have never claimed French citizenship. Although I could and now I can. I as it was and remained citizenship of the Russian Federation. I’m somehow better at home, but these are just my personal feelings. I know people served and still received the coveted civic government. But, I assure you, it is not so simple as they say. But this is a separate issue. Good luck to you.

[Phil77]

Good evening! Sorry for the personal question: -Do you have one contract, a five-year one?

[VLR]

If there is a right to citizenship, there should be more length of service or injury.

[Phil77]

The right to citizenship is granted after 3 years of service, nooo ..... rarely. And there is still such a thing- * ratification *, shortly the right to a real name. All this is within the first contract.

[Bang]

a little longer

[Lopatov]

Quote: sagitch

In the early 90's, some of my friends would like to join the French Legion, for the sake of French citizenship, but there was no information on how to enter there.

Maybe they were not really needed by the French sun?
And then we have all sorts of brochures on this subject appeared regularly. And in the school, and later in the army came across.

[CommanderDIVA]

A cool article, in his youth he wanted to get into this unit, even studied French, but fate decreed otherwise, thanks for the material

[Bang]

Quote: kalibr

Do you want to share your personal memories?

Mmmm .... This question was addressed to whom? To me ? :)

[Aleksandr56478]

Yes, it would be interesting to read personal experience: how they decided, how they went through the selection, where they served, relations with colleagues, life, etc.

[WayKheThuo]

Thanks to the author!
It’s a wonderful article and, apparently, there will be a continuation, which is unusually pleasing.
In connection with the read, I would like to note:
1. Foreign Legion, at least somewhere to the present day, a unique washing machine for people. The very idea that you, burdened with many sins, can start your life practically from scratch and, with a significant share of luck, go out to a citizen with a “clean” passport and live quietly for the remaining years, is worthy of all praise. Naturally, the French “muddied” the topic not at all out of a desire to help someone, but the idea itself and, most importantly, its implementation is beautiful.
2. Just now I was thinking about how, after all, it was not easy to fight these (and not only) soldiers in such hot countries as Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Mexico or insanely hot and humid, such as Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos in such clothes. I was once a tourist in Morocco, you know for yourself: shorts, a T-shirt, slippers are all things, and now I imagine that if I had to serve in such equipment, as in the photos presented in the article - br-r-r. Probably, he would immediately throw the flippers nafig.
3. Traditions. The Foreign Legion is really famous for its traditions. The attitude towards them in France is ambiguous, but among themselves this is a real military brotherhood, and without “fools”, which is doubly valuable in modern times.
4. And so yes - this kind of unit, as for me, is a great opportunity to channel adrenaline junkies. This is me about those guys who are cramped in our typical life schedule. As for me, it’s better to let them serve and fight than join typical gangs and “wet” each other to the rap song “in the area”.

If anyone is interested, follow the topic to this address: https://lurkmore.to/French_ foreign_legion.
The article is interesting, though it is written in a somewhat "yard" style, which is typical for this resource, but maybe someone will like it.

And so, Author, please write more!
Personally, I am very interested in learning about the fate of Russian officers who served in the Foreign Legion after 1917.

[Ryazan87]

Personally, I am very interested in learning about the fate of Russian officers who served in the Foreign Legion after 1917.

Let me recommend the memoirs of Lieutenant Colonel E.N. Giatsintova "White Slaves", served in the Foreign Legion in 1921-22: http://www.grwar.ru/library/Giacintoff/GA_3.html
Very brightly written, with a lot of details, like this:
"... None of those who signed up had an idea of ​​what a legion was, and were guided mainly by what was printed in the announcements. The conditions were as follows: 1) each signer became a French soldier from the moment of signing the contract; 2) salary 100 francs per month; 3) service in the French colonies; 4) upon conclusion of the contract, five hundred francs are issued; 5) service life is five years. "
“... A common feature of the Arabs is cunning and hypocrisy, combined with purely Eastern laziness. feature is pederasty, to which they are subject almost without exception. "
"Our Adjudant was from Corsica, like most of the conscripts. He had served for the twelfth year and spent the entire service in the colonies. He was incredibly cruel with the Arabs and beat them in the most inhuman manner. He was small, but managed, not getting up from a chair, kick them in the face. "
If anything, the Hyacinths at the time of service in the Legion fought continuously since 1914 during the Great and Civil Wars.
Many Russians fought in Syria and Morocco in the 20s. Yes, and later too, the same Turoverova recall.
Eliseev and in Indochina managed to fight at 6 dozen ...
If you want more - https://history.wikireading.ru/118134 - here with documents, up to personal letters.
Although there are mistakes, it seems that Moris Conradi is credited with serving in the legion.

[WayKheThuo]

Thanks for the links - be sure to read.

[iouris]

Hello, Russian legionnaires from the FSU, "the watchdogs of French imperialism."
"Soldier, who did you work before joining the Foreign Legion?"
"Russian general!"

[WayKheThuo]

And by the way, this is a topic!
Author! And you do not plan to talk about the Legion to this day inclusive? I mean about the citizens of the BSSSR who ended up in the Legion?
It would be interesting.
I think so.

[VLR]

I bring the story to the present day. In the 90s, up to a third of the soldiers of the legion came from the republics of the Union and the armies of the Warsaw bloc countries, but our contemporaries are a closed topic, as a rule, they do not advertise their service there, and if someone shares their impressions (I specifically searched the Internet ), they tell only what is already known. However, they serve mainly in rank-and-file and sergeant posts and have no particularly valuable and exclusive information. Some household details from these stories included.
Now, Bums, as a servant in the legion, can he then add something from himself?

[Phil77]

No, Valery! Apparently, the memories are so * specific * that the desire to share them simply does not arise.

[Phil77]

By the way, Valery, will your famous article Marshal Malinovsky appear in a future article? Was he also involved in the Foreign Legion in the 18th year?

[VLR]

About him - a separate article. And about Peshkov, too. How about the two most successful former legionnaires.

[Phil77]

You know, this moment is interesting to me! It's no secret that there were three streams of our compatriots in the legion. The first was the post-revolutionary, the second after the Second World War, the third was * nineties *. But !!!!! After the war there was a lot of and the Germans! This is how they got along with each other?!?! The question is quite difficult to agree.

[VLR]

There was also a pre-revolutionary stream. About him - at the beginning of the next article (about Russian legionnaires). And then, later, there will be something about your last question about the Germans in the legion after World War II. . Especially one story impressed me. Rather, two, but one especially.

[Legionista]

I think we got along like animals at a watering hole during a drought. For there was nothing to divide, the task was to survive. I judge from my own experience, because also "there was a place to be. MLE195 ...
Somehow they got along with the "francs"; and with "Anglophones" and with "Ungrua"). "Bums" I hope he understands))) "quel régiment, old?)))

[Phil77]

It’s doubtful that there are many people who, on the one hand, that on the other hand are accustomed to looking at each other precisely as the enemy. And this is a strong stimulant for emotions. Probably came to the shooting. But ... we’ll wait for the next article of the respected Valery. ,see you!

[Legionista]

Mutually. With respect.

[Bang]

What for? Let us not deprive the young generation of legend. The truth dampens, the halo of the urban legend is lost and there will be nothing to tell the descendants ...

But our grandfathers in the 90s .... they say it was so ... :)))))

[Bang]

Quote: VlR

Now, Bums, as a servant in the legion, can he then add something from himself?

Well, seriously, I want to tell you a very brief dialogue with my grandfather, which I really remember

When I was small, I asked my grandfather:
- Grandfather, tell us about the war
- Come on, granddaughter, launch the boat in the creek

And today I also want to tell you all, my dears, to say:
- Let’s better we launch a boat in a stream ...

[kalibr]

I understand you very well. My stepfather served with me since 1937 ... he started with a sergeant of state security, graduated from Colonel Smersh and ... Polish troops. He was awarded the highest orders of Poland. And now I met him already in the 9th grade, but noted that all his stories about the war are somehow ... not like that. But he looked at me and said that I should not be allowed into the army. Either you will be killed there with such a character, or you yourself will kill everyone there. So I didn’t get there in the end. But it is obvious that he had reason to say so ...

[ccsr]

Quote: kalibr

My stepfather has served with me since 1937 ... he began with a sergeant of state security,

In fact, the People’s Commissar of State Security appeared in 1941, so in 1937 your stepfather could not serve in this structure.

Quote: kalibr

graduated from Colonel Smersh

SMERSH, as far as is known, existed for three years, and was subordinate to NPOs, and there was not such a sharp increase in official ranks due to the regular limitations of the structure itself. Although I admit this in the war, but even the famous death-rower of our country even had a more modest title at that time:

He was awarded 10 thanks to the Supreme Commander I.V. Stalin. Major L.G. Ivanov took part in the operational provision of preparatory measures and the procedure for the signing of the Act on the Military Surrender of the German Armed Forces on March 8, 1945 in Karlshort through the Smersh line. During the war years, he went from an operative officer to a rifle battalion to the head of the Smersh division of the 5th shock army. In the post-war years, he headed large divisions of the military counterintelligence agencies - Special KGB departments under the USSR Council of Ministers for the Baltic, Kiev, Moscow military districts and the Southern Group of Forces. The author acts as an implacable fighter with any attempts, under various “convenient pretexts,” to distort the work of Smersh employees and unreasonably deprive them of an aura of courage and heroism. To agree with such falsifications for the author is tantamount to a betrayal of fighting friends who fell on the fronts of World War II.

Quote: kalibr

And now I met him already in the 9th grade, but noted that all his stories about the war are somehow ... not like that.

Reading the book by L. G. Ivanov "The Truth About SMERSH" is a desktop textbook on military counterintelligence for amateurs, maybe then you will understand that perhaps not everything was as your stepfather told you ..

[kalibr]

I don’t have to read anything. On the Internet, you type Shpakovsky Petr Iosifovich born in 1915. There is a track record, titles - assignments, years, extracts from submissions to awards. Today it can be read by anyone ...

[kalibr]

Since many of those whom I advised to browse the Internet for some reason do not want to do this, I post the data from there to save your time: Passing the service
date position unit/location source
on 26.11.1937/2322/26.11.1937 Moscow MKSH Order of the NKVD of the USSR No. XNUMX dated XNUMX/XNUMX/XNUMX
on 12.1941 beginning. OO NKVD 85 rifle division 85 rifle division Order to the troops of the Leningrad Front No. 0906 / n dated 23.04.1942/XNUMX/XNUMX
on 04.11.1943 beginning. departments of the ROC SMERSH of the 4th army 4th army Order to the troops of the 4th army No. 056 / n dated 04.11.1943/XNUMX/XNUMX
on 27.01.1945 beginning. Department of Information of the 1st Tank Corps of the Polish Army 1st Tank Corps of the Polish Army Decree of the Presidium of the USSR Armed Forces of 29.06.1945 No. 221/573
Ranks
date title source
from 26.11.1937/2322/26.11.1937 state security sergeant Order of the NKVD of the USSR No. XNUMX dated XNUMX/XNUMX/XNUMX
on 12.1941 junior lieutenant of state security Order to the troops of the Leningrad Front No. 0906 / n dated 23.04.1942/XNUMX/XNUMX
on 04.11.1943/4/056 major Order to the troops of the 04.11.1943th army No. XNUMX / n dated XNUMX/XNUMX/XNUMX
on 27.01.1945/29.06.1945/221 lieutenant colonel Decree of the Presidium of the USSR Armed Forces dated 573/XNUMX/XNUMX No. XNUMX/XNUMX
Awards
date award source
Order of the Red Star (bar).png 04.11.1943/4/056 Order of the Red Star Order to the troops of the 04.11.1943th Army No. XNUMX / n dated XNUMX/XNUMX/XNUMX
Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd degree (bar).jpg 29.06.1945/2/29.06.1945 Order of the Patriotic War, 221nd degree Decree of the Presidium of the USSR Armed Forces of 573/XNUMX/XNUMX No. XNUMX/XNUMX
Order of the Patriotic War, 1st degree (bar).jpg 06.04.1985/1/40 Order of the Patriotic War, XNUMXst degree List of those awarded the Order of the Patriotic War in honor of the XNUMXth anniversary of the Victory
Polish awards are not mentioned here, nor are Polish titles.
Fact You will find that there is a lieutenant colonel, but no colonel. But there are other data on the network: Shpakovsky Petr Iosifovich
Medal "For the victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945."
__.__. 1915, Colonel.
Everything, everything is on the Web today ... https: //pamyat-naroda.ru/heroes/podvig-nagrada_kartoteka1104437126/

[ccsr]

Quote: kalibr

Fact You will find that there is a lieutenant colonel, but no colonel. But there are other data on the network: Shpakovsky Petr Iosifovich

Why find fault, if you can see from the text you quoted that in SMERSH he was a major, and he received all the other ranks in the Polish Army. And the fact that he is a colonel, even you personally can’t confirm, although this in itself is strange, because you had to keep his photographs in the form, at least from a personal file.

Quote: kalibr

Polish awards are not mentioned here, nor are Polish titles.

In the questionnaire and autobiography of a personal file, this is necessarily indicated - my father was awarded the Korean medal, and he always indicated it.

[kalibr]

Quote: ccsr

because you should have kept his photographs in the form, at least from a personal file.
Quote: kalibr
Polish awards are not mentioned here, nor are Polish titles.

In the questionnaire and autobiography of a personal file, this is necessarily indicated - my father was awarded the Korean medal, and he always indicated it.

Must ... That's how easy you judge others. You have already pointed out to me that he could not be a state security sergeant, but you were. According to the documents. But it happens that they should have stayed, but they didn’t. We lived in different cities and met not so often. He did not have any documents that are listed on the site and which I hope you saw, at home. In general, I only had two photos with him. And you nevertheless inattentively read materials of the Internet. There is both a lieutenant colonel and a colonel.
A book is being written - "Four crosses for the master of the Soviet colonel". At my request, my friend, a local ethnographer, contacted his English friend who works in the Polish archives ... he looked and wrote, I personally should go there and dig into all this today, it will cause an extremely negative reaction. Therefore, work is proceeding very slowly.

[ccsr]

Quote: kalibr

Must ... That's how easy you judge others. You have already pointed out to me that he could not be a state security sergeant, but you were. According to the documents.

He was a sergeant of the NKVD in 1937, and the People’s Commissar of State Security appeared in 1941 - here you have managed to show superficial knowledge of military history even in the name of structures.

Quote: kalibr

And you nevertheless inattentively read materials of the Internet. There is both a lieutenant colonel and a colonel.

There was such a Colonel Recruit, about whom Krasnaya Zvezda wrote, and if you carefully study the biography of this person, you will find something else there:

Directly from the administration of the GRU, miraculously avoiding repression (the outbreak of war “saved” the outbreak of war), the new recruit was at the front. He was appointed head of the intelligence department of the 6th Army, located near Lviv ...
However, the war for the Rookie formally ended in a couple of months.

http://old.redstar.ru/2009/04/29_04/5_02.html
So I'm not so gullible to believe everything that you write on the net, and even more so what appears in the Polish book about the war.

[kalibr]

Have you visited the recommended site? Have you seen the documents? What else do you need? And a romance is always a romance, of course there will be a lot ... of everything and is truly mixed with fiction. And why, by the way, is the book Polish?

[kalibr]

"He was a sergeant in the NKVD in 1937, and the People's Commissariat of State Security appeared in 1941 - here, too, you managed to show a superficial knowledge of military history even in the names of the structures."

"State security sergeant" - so in the documents.

[kalibr]

Quote: ccsr

In the questionnaire and autobiography of a personal file, this is necessarily indicated - my father was awarded the Korean medal, and he always indicated it.

Probably his profile and autobiography were in a slightly different department ...

[ccsr]

Quote: kalibr

Probably his profile and autobiography were in a slightly different department ...

In the military registration and enlistment office at the place of residence, one copy of the file of officers of the NKVD and the KGB was in special registration in case of war. So it was before, maybe now something has changed, but I do not think so. So, if you wish, you could familiarize yourself with him if you would make an admission.

[kalibr]

Firstly, a person died a long time ago, secondly, he lived in Rostov, thirdly ... there are thirdly, but everything in general is covered in dark darkness. So this is unlikely to succeed ... although it would be very interesting. But for the novel, in principle, there is enough information.

[ccsr]

Quote: kalibr

First of all, a man died long ago,

75 years kept the personal files of officers. You don't know that either?

Quote: kalibr

So this is unlikely to succeed ... although it would be very interesting. But for the novel, in principle, there is enough information.

There is more genuine information than it will be in the novel, and I'm sure of that. Therefore, if you are already interested in your father, then look better in our archives.

[kalibr]

Quote: ccsr

Therefore, if you are already interested in your father, then look better in our archives.

I have never contacted the personal files of officers, so naturally I don’t know how long they are kept. There was no need to know, why carry all rubbish to the head? And in our archives it is not interesting. Why do I need a second "Blockade"? You can't write better than Chakovsky. It is interesting just in Poland. But it's better not to meddle with it there.

[kalibr]

But such a life experience ... A book - a novel literally cries for you !!! And the name is - "White caps: death and love." How does it feel?

[ccsr]

Quote: kalibr

But such a life experience ... A book - a novel literally cries for you !!!

Here's a plot for the novel from VO even worse:

Azerbaijani partisan Ahmed Michel Jebrailov, Hero of France, Chevalier of the Order of the Legion of Honor

https://topwar.ru/27926-azerbaydzhanskiy-partizan-ahmed-mishel-dzhebrailov-geroy-francii-kavaler-ordena-pochetnogo-legion.html

[kalibr]

Impressive, but let modern Azerbaijan take care of its heroes ...

[Legionista]

“Legionnaire, who were you before joining the Foreign Legion?”
“I was a general”
This is what General Boris Khreschatitsky answered when he was asked a question by a French general during an inspection of 1 cavalry regiment (1 REC). A little more of what I actually saw: in Nice, in the Russian cemetery, in the chapel, I saw French orders and medals of Russian soldiers and officers fighting in the ranks of I.L. Military awards, not "for the sand."
PS At the moment, the number of the armed forces of France is limited by the constitution (as well as ours). So, the existence of I.L. allows you to bypass this limitation, in case of war, without changing the laws. They can type as many "volontaires" as they like.

[Phil77]

He was a lieutenant general of the Russian Imperial Army, became a lieutenant of the Foreign Legion. The fate of man, or the irony of fate ....

[Sklendarka]

Quote: iouris

Hello, Russian legionnaires from the FSU, "the watchdogs of French imperialism."
"Soldier, who did you work before joining the Foreign Legion?"
"Russian general!"

And maybe who needs the Yugoslav dinars? Seemingly they were called that in 90? or you, a photo in the studio?

[saygon66]

- Probably worth quoting General Rolle: "You are here to die, and I will lead you to where they die!" (FROM)
-

[Sklendarka]

Quote: saygon66

- Probably worth quoting General Rolle: "You are here to die, and I will lead you to where they die!" (FROM)
-

I like it better
, '... and it's not scary to die for her,
although everyone hopes to survive ... '' (We need a victory ... one for all ... we will not forgive the price ..)

[About 2]

Good article, thanks to the author!

[Non-fighter]

Correct article please

On November 14, a terrible hurricane sank many ships of the Anglo-French squadron, literally devastated the Chersonesos plateau and inflicted great damage to the camp of legionnaires. After this, several months of “trench warfare” begin. On the night of January 20, 1815, the legionnaires repelled a large sortie of the Russians; later, smaller actions of this kind were undertaken by both parties - without much success.

Active hostilities resumed at the end of April 1815. On the night of May 1, Russian troops were driven back from their positions to the Schwartz redoubt

What is the Crimean War in 1815? Or does this relate to another period?

[vladcub]

Well done: you noticed an oversight of the author. In fact, this is the only blunder by the author

[VLR]

Here ... what is today? Fix

[VLR]

Fixed, I hope now everything is fine

[vladcub]

Quote: ccsr

Author:
Ryzhov V.A.

In the first half of the 91th century, the legend of the Foreign Legion was Paul Frederic Rollet, a graduate of the Saint-Cyr military school, who, at his urgent request, was transferred from the usual XNUMX line infantry regiment to the First Foreign Regiment.

A strange choice for a graduate of Saint-Cyr, who would have had a good career in the French armed forces after graduation, which later had the status of an academy. As far as is known, the service of officers, and they were all citizens of France, was considered a little honor in the Foreign Legion, and as a rule, transfer there was carried out after the officer committed an offense and was threatened with expulsion from the army. I admit that historians have somewhat prettified the history of the transfer of this combat officer to the legion, but in any case, his career is respected. I think that the author will talk about Zinovia Peshkov, the brother of Y. M. Sverdlov, who also served in the Foreign Legion - this is also an interesting person who was close to M. Gorky and connected with our country.
In general, the article is very interesting and informative, it seems that the author has well studied the history of this armed formation of France.

Valery is generally distinguished by conscientiousness, and not all authors can boast of this.

[vladcub]

"let go of his beard in order to change his appearance," however, the "bright" biography was a legionnaire, which had to change his appearance. Perhaps the police had many questions for him. Who knows, perhaps "and the rope" missed him "

[Astra wild]

Moderators, I kiss you tightly: this time you did not unite Ryzhov and Vyacheslav Olegovich. And then twice combined. I hope you do not disappoint

[3x3zsave]

Thank you so much Valery! Just now I read the article.

[Dmitry Zverev]

Friends, who knows, in the event of the death of a legionnaire, what compensation do his relatives receive?

[babylon]

There are no compensations as the legionnaire has changed his surname and you will never prove that he is your relative

[Diverter]

There is some kind of trick in this. I think the Russian Federation may also create a "Wild Division" (there was such a connection). What? It has a name and history, and there are those who wish from the former Soviet republics. The only thing is that in each division there are no national majority, except for the Slavic.

[Bang]

Quote: Alexander56478

Yes, it would be interesting to read personal experience: how they decided, how they went through the selection, where they served, relations with colleagues, life, etc.

Hello ... Thanks for the question, but personal experience is therefore called personal, i.e. my. :)

I can assume that you read all the comments on this article and completely understand my position. The only thing I want to add is that I served 10+ years. 10, 12 or 15+ there is already room for fabrication again. :)
There is also nothing special to hide. I suppose from the photo you could well understand that I served in the 3e REI - 3e Regiment etranger d'infanterie. Naturally there were rotations. That is, quite a mundane job and no romance of parachutists;)

Well, I repeat ... Let's better launch the boats in the creek. Good luck to you.

PS The most ardent pacifists are usually soldiers.

[Bang]

Quote: Phil77

Good evening! Sorry for the personal question: -Do you have one contract, a five-year one?

10+

[babylon]

The author presented a one-sided article in a positive manner.
Well, first of all they go there not for a career, their motive is money and impunity for the lawlessness that they created. Legionnaires take primarily ruthless thugs and hiding criminals, since they have no turning back, which explains their cruelty and endurance.

[babylon]

From personal experience:
After serving in the Airborne Forces in Soviet times, the Legion was a kindergarten for me))