155199

Is the French Foreign Legion a regular army?

The French Foreign Legion (French Légionétrangère, English French Foreign Legion) is an army regular army composed of foreign volunteers, with the same equipment as the French native army, composed of about 8,000 volunteers from 136 countries and regions. Founded in 1831, it was ordered by the then French King Louis Philippe (reigned 1830-1848) in order to solve the crime of foreigners in France and supplement the French troops killed and wounded in the war.

Volunteers can conceal their nationality and name when joining, and can also use a pseudonym or change their name. Therefore, many criminals have joined. Since 2000, a detailed investigation of the volunteers’ experiences has been carried out. Those who have served prison sentences are no longer able to participate, and those who join can refuse to participate in the battle against their home country.

After the formation of the Foreign Legion, it participated in the Mexican expedition (the French armed intervention in Mexico), the First World War, the Second World War, and the subsequent Algerian War, Congo War, Bosnia and Herzegovina War, Gulf War, etc. In addition to war activities, the French Foreign Legion can also be seen in the peacekeeping assistance activities in Myanmar, the suppression of riots in Haiti, and the disaster assistance in the Indian Ocean earthquake.

Difference Change
No Longer Just Foreigners

De Gaulle’s Free France brought him great popularity! The army all supported the great general and put him on the throne of Prime Minister!

In 1958, the Algerian mutiny! The army is full of hope that de Gaulle will be promoted to the position of president, hoping to restore the dignity of France! However, de Gaulle’s performance was disappointing. He made peace with the rebels and recognized Algeria’s independence. There is an uproar in the country!

Especially the Foreign Legion! Algeria is their home! So, they armed threats against de Gaulle’s decree! As a result, de Gaulle, with his superb speech skills, disintegrated the soldiers’ fighting spirit and arrested the Foreign Legion officers.

The Foreign Legion was seen as a threat to the French democratic system, and de Gaulle wanted to dissolve the Foreign Legion! However, the Minister of Defense strongly detained the case, and de Gaulle had to replace the ‘unreliable’ officers and reduce the size of the establishment.

Only a few three regiments were stationed in France, and all the remaining regiments were located far away from France. Dependent territories, such as the elite of the Foreign Legion – the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment is stationed in Corsica, and the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment is stationed in French Guiana. However, the nature of the Foreign Legion has not changed. It is still the French The best choice for foreign military operations.

Different from Mercenaries

Since 1999, according to the adjustment of relevant regulations and the reorganization of the French Army, the status of the French Foreign Legion as a regular army of the French Army has been strengthened. According to a French general, the Foreign Legion is not a foreign army, but a French regular army. As a result, the equipment and organization of the regiment will change, and the living conditions of the soldiers will improve.

In order to cope with the presence of forces in wars and hotspots, the maintenance of combatants is an important issue for each country (each force). Considering the time and money required to train a soldier, it can be said that it is reasonable to hire experienced personnel with tactical skills. Therefore, in the event of a war, outside the conscription system, hiring troops composed of foreigners, which account for a small proportion of the army, directly It is common to take part in battles or to teach combat skills and tactics. Such groups are generally called mercenaries.

The French Foreign Legion is different from this. The foreign volunteers used by the Foreign Legion are the same as ordinary French soldiers. They start with recruit education and conduct professional skills training in their respective troops. The contract of mercenaries ends when the war or conflict is over, while the Foreign Legion exists forever as a French regular army formation.

Moreover, the regiment-level troops of the Foreign Legion were scattered and integrated into the brigade-level troops of the French Army. For example, the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment belonged to the 11th Airborne Brigade of the French Army.

However, in order to maintain its status as a great power, France has a position that can be relinquished at any time compared with the local troops, and it will probably not change in the future.