The French Foreign Legion

The story and traditions behind one of the world's most famous units.

Copyright: DO NOT translate and re-upload our content on Youtube or other social media.

SIMPLE HISTORY MERCHANDISE

Get the Simple History books on Amazon:

T-Shirts

Simple history gives you the facts, simple!

See the book collection here:

Amazon USA

Amazon UK

Credit:
Created by Daniel Turner

Narrator:

Chris Kane

Music Credit:

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Sources:
Windrow, Martin. French Foreign Legion, 1971.
Windrow, Martin. Braby, Chappell, Mike, French Froeign Legion 1914-1945
White,Terry. The Making of the SAS and the World's Elite Forces - 1994

[Simplehistory]

The French Foreign Legion used to accept criminals - murderers, thieves etc with no questions asked. Today there is a more thorough screening process to check a criminal record for more extreme crimes. At first Legionnaires dont have the right to wear then Képi Blanc, it is earnt through a 50-kilometer / 31 mi 2-day march in full kit during basic training.

[magellandufour]

I knew a old fellow who was a Hitler youth during the closing days of WW2, but never fought for the Axis, but he did joined the French Foreign legion afterwards and fought in the Indo-China war. He later moved to Canada had a ship in Nanaimo BC, and later open a Bed and Breakfast until his death 10 years ago.

I didn't ask him much of his service, as I was a naive kids, but looking back he certainly had an eventful life. I just wanted to share this.

[tonyhawk]

A precision : You can enroll the légion as a French, but you'll be given a fake new nationality and name.
My uncle was a legionnaire and French.

[FieldMarshalRommel]

If you want a broken wrist, touch a legionaires kepi blanc.

[JustinY.]

And yet the french are memed to surrender when anything happens

[Johnny-sjsj]

Angleterre! Je suis Anglais! I am 72 years old, and one of my biggest regrets was not to have worn a Kepi Blanc. Vivre la France! Best wishes from 🇬🇧

[shawnofdanaukota]

"If the Legion doesn't get you, the desert will. If the desert doesn't, the Arabs will. And if the Arabs don't, then I will. I don't know which is worse."

[JonoZaidi]

Dude 1: wow we actually time travelled
Dude 2: but what year did we travel to
Dude 1: let me ask that guy over there
Dude 1: Who is the king of France
Dude 3: King Louis
Dude 1: We could be anywhere

[Simplehistory]

What is your favorite battle in the French Foreign Legion's history?

[arwidsson]

Like a lot of foreigners, you made a mistake about the code of honor. The Légionnaires do plead allegiance to France in their code:
"Légionnaire, tu es un volontaire, servant la France avec Honneur et Fidélité"
---> "Légionnaire, you are a volunteer, serving France with Honor and Fidelity

[noahstone]

Some things not mentioned. Legion officers are exclusively French only. And the legion fought well in afghanistan. We utilized there presence a time or two for artillery fire in some close call situations. They performed admirably. It would have been nice to see the weapons the legion uses mentioned in this video.

[elicod]

I serve in the spanish legion and sometimes we had trained with the French legion, our spirit brother. Grate video.

[clems_first]

When someone tells you France surrenders when it get's into conflict.
France : *Laughs in Foreign Legion*

[Vestige]

You missed the small part where the Legion attempted a Coup in France, which reduced them from being a separate entity to a Division of the French Army...

[OneStonedBear]

9:13 (subtitles) "a unit of 600 Mexican cameramen..." Oh boy, those odds are very frightening indeed!

[Bigfoot_With_Internet_Access]

*That's how French Foreign Legion works*

Literally

[Coolsomeone]

Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran!
I want a Video on the topic!

[aaronsenseney]

Worked with the legion in Haiti, not much phases these dudes. Their discipline is no joke either!

[mattsmith]

Help I’ve been shot!

It’s ok you’re gunna be ok I’ll get a medic

No! Get me a french citizenship!

Edit: wow thanks for all the likes guys! 😊

[herveglandu]

I'm french, i'm proud of the legion. They are a symbol of redemption and do the worst job. I got a lot of respect for them. Thx for talking about them. For the freedom, equality and fraternity.