By outlining the legion s vicissitudes, victorious campaigns, epic marches, heroic and sometimes hopeless stands, dirtiest combats and dramatic defeats, but also by briefly placing the legion back in the historical background of france, and by describing its development. A book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. The french foreign legion is a military service branch of the french army established in 1831. A long shelf of books at the libraryor at least at a good university library, such as the one i sit in every day, staring at a horribly blank pagedeal with the legion, its history, character, and traditions. The french foreign legion is commonly portrayed in literature as a refuge for the wronged, as well as scoundrels and fugitives from justice. No gary cooper in this french foreign legion the new york times. Aug 20, 2012 the paperback edition was published 2 years later in 1980, and with a slightly different name legionnaire. As a canadian teenager, mcgorman became entranced with the legendary image of the legion. Google books after about a year in corporate america, jaime salazar realized he wanted more in life. The french foreign legion is the most famous of the legions, but its not the only one. The french foreign legion presented by simon murray youtube.
For nearly two centuries, adventure seekers or men on the run from all around the globe have found a home in the foreign legion and shed blood for france. But in the meantime it can be said that every legionnaire, be he in the jungles of tonkin, or on the boiling sand of the desert, should his time come, will be prepared to face death, either with a smile or a curse on. A south african breaks out of the french foreign legion, cheats death, and finds peace. Langley author recounts service in the french foreign legion. The real life story of an englishman in the french foreign legion. His most recent book is the phenomenal our friends beneath the sands published by orion publishing company.
The book is presented by the author as nonfiction but. Langley author recounts service in the french foreign legion langleys joel struthers aims to educate the public on what service looks like in the legion. The spanish used the french army as a model, except its soldiers now are mainly spaniards who serve abroad. Rating is available when the video has been rented. Aug 26, 2005 no gary cooper in this french foreign legion by william grimes legion of the lost the true experience of an american in the french foreign legion by jaime salazar 243 pages. The regiment fought in the first indochina war as the threetime reconstituted 1st foreign parachute battalion, the suez crisis and algerian war, but was dissolved. Jul 01, 2010 the french foreign legion is an extraordinary and unique army, specifically created for foreign nationals wishing to serve in the french armed forces, but commanded by french officers. I had seen a passing reference to the legion in another book something along the lines of a legionnaire will drop dead before he stops marching. Jun 05, 20 the french foreign legion presented by simon murray most legionnaires have nothing to lose and life itself is not held very dear. After serving 4 years in an artillery unit of the royal canadian army, evan enlisted in the legion etrangere in 1989 on a 5year contract. Lawrence writes with an easygoing fluidity of his life in the french foreign legion, particularly the 2 rep. You should watch french channels on july 14th, on the french national day. French foreign legion reference guide mon legionnaire. They are an unofficial board for the ffl, and they have a lot of the latest information.
The french foreign legion is a complete, captivating study of the famed fighting force, from its inception in 1831 to modern times. Douglas porch is perhaps one of the most widely acknowledged experts on the history of the french army. Salazar is a born adventurer and romantic and was not content with his job with siemens in chicago, where. I thought it was a good read set in the algerian war and gives some good in sight to the legion. History of the french foreign legion howstuffworks. These guys were supposed to be the hardest of the hardcore. The history of the french foreign legion amber books.
Books and writers books about the french foreign legion. Not within the last 20 but you could try legionnaire. The author did an outstanding job in doing his research for the book. As a boy, id always more than halfwondered if the french foreign legion was an invention of hollywood. What is it like to be in the french foreign legion. The french foreign legion firsthand tips this website. In july 2019, a new book dedicated to the french foreign legion and its history was released. The legend of beau gaste and the hellraising, harddrinking, longsuffering, loyal legionnaires has been immortalized by countless novels and hollywood movies.
My life in the french foreign legion carins, gareth on. The french foreign legion is an extraordinary and unique army, specifically created for foreign nationals wishing to serve in the french armed forces, but commanded by french officers. By outlining the legions vicissitudes, victorious campaigns, epic marches, heroic and sometimes hopeless stands, dirtiest combats and dramatic defeats, but also by briefly placing the legion back in the historical background of france, and by describing its development. The tigers of tonkin the history of the french foreign legion in indochina 18831945. Feb 19, 2017 badges of the french foreign legion 19231989 by philippe bartlett hardcover. The french foreign legion by wyatt blassingame abebooks. As a canadian teenager, mcgorman became entranced with the. The french foreign legion was established in 1831 as a means for foreign nationals to serve in the french armed forces. Windrow is a long time commissioning and art director for the men at arms and elite series for osprey publishing. Legionnaires need war, certainly, and afghanistan is.
How to join and what to expect when you get there 9781555716332. The french foreign legion was created by louis philippe, the king of france, on 10 march 1831 from the foreign regiments of the kingdom of france. The most prolific writer about the french foreign legion is martin windrow. This book gives the reader a straightforward and continuous survey of the history of the french foreign legion. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Created as a temporary expedient in a french army that otherwise barred foreigners from serving in. Tribute to the french foreign legion hope you enjoy leave a like and if you enjoyed be sure to subscribe music steve jablonsky battle i do not own any of the clips or songs in this video all. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the french foreign legion. It can be used as a stepping stone to books,that cover all aspects of the legion in more depth. Five years in the french foreign legion 9780891418870. Smashwords the guide to joining the french foreign legion.
Legionnaires are highly trained infantry soldiers and the legion. In its early days, the french foreign legion tended to recruit downandout individuals. You will see the military parade and always, at the end, come the legionnaires. This book will give you all the information you need to know on how the process of recruitment, basic training and what to expect when you enter the ffl. Primarily to allow former soviet union citizens to return to russia, but also allow people from all over the world. Books about the history and activities of the french foreign legion. Erwin james is writing a book called legion of honour, based on his experiences in the french foreign legion. Feb 07, 2014 the guide to joining the french foreign legion the step by step guide that will help you in deciding whether or not you are ready to join the legion.
Feb 24, 2009 erwin james is writing a book called legion of honour, based on his experiences in the french foreign legion. The french foreign legion and indochina in retrospect also outlines the politics that led america into the twentieth century wars in southeast asia and provides readers with a greater understanding of the aftermath of the french presence and ensuing u. Known for its austerity and discipline, deprivation and sacrifice, the french foreign legion is perhaps the most intriguing and famous fighting force in the world. Dien bien phu and the french defeat in vietnam by martin windrow, our f. Dec 02, 2009 thought it is famously secretive, a lot is known about the french foreign legion.
This force, raised in 1815 after the defeat of napoleon when france was in disarray, was disbanded in 1831, its foreign troops incorporated into the newly formed french foreign legion that same year. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Susan mary gillian travers 23 september 1909 18 december 2003 was an englishwoman who served in the french red cross as a nurse and ambulance driver during the second world war. Nice kid, we nicknamed him flash cause he was aliased gordon by the ffl and he could outrun any of us. It refers to the legion itself, which is a branch of the french army commanded by french officers. This article lists the principal units of the french foreign legion created since 1831. Yet in 1960, simon murray traveled alone to paris, marseilles, and ultimately algeria to fulfill the toughest contract of his life.
What are some good books about the french foreign legion. There is also this free copy of a book online how to join the french foreign legion i think by jameson it came out in 9798 and i think he served in the late 80s. The french foreign legion and the men who made it glorious by geoffrey bocca and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The abc spends a week in corsica with one of only 10 australians serving in the infamous french foreign legion, a legendary fighting force of fugitives and misfits lured by regular pay and the. He spent seventeen years in the french foreign legion. She later became the only woman to be matriculated in the french foreign legion. The french foreign legion mysterious, romantic, deadlyis filled with men of dubious character, and hardly the place for a proper englishman just nineteen years of age. The french foreign legion and indochina in retrospect by. The french foreign legion ebook written by martin windrow. The literary life of the french foreign legion publishing. Mitchell, an irish amateur historian and a wellknown foreign legion insignia collector.
Ideen, one of my closest buddies during basic training was a 23 year old american kid from virginia. French foreign legion mines and booby traps 1985 paladin us martin windrow. The french foreign legion and its most famous us legionnaires. French foreign legion in popular culture wikipedia. For 170 years, jobless, homeless and loveless men have found in the legion a sense of purpose worth all the rigors and risks of serving in the worlds longeststanding mercenary army. There is no more famous fighting force than the french foreign legion. Since its foundation by royal decree of louis philippe in 1831, the legion, with its unique. We need an american foreign legion the washington post. Here douglas porch examines the legion myth and goes beyond it to explore the legion s mystique and describe its performance from its founding in 1831 to today. Legends, glory and lies in the french foreign legion hachette military collection. A dissolved legion unit which is recreated under the same designation will only appear once. The paperback was introduced to the mass with a cultural context english vs french, man vs legion, and real vs story. Apr 10, 2017 one exception was the hohenlohe regiment, largely staffed by germans but including men of all nationalities.
Devils guard, by george robert elford published in 1971, is the story of a former german waffenss officers string of nearconstant combat that begins on world war iis eastern front and continues into the book s focusthe first indochina war, as an officer in the french foreign legion. Apr 16, 2016 russia has started its own new foreign legion as of 2015. Stories of the foreign legion by wren, pc and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Legion units are only cited once, based on their respective dates of creation. Legion of the lost lays to rest romantic myths about the french foreign legion forever. Created in france in 1831 and immediately posted to the scorching deserts of algeria, it went on to become a unit renowned for its cruel training regime and its absolute disregard for death in battle.
Buy the french foreign legion reprint by douglas boyd isbn. Best books about the french foreign legion from the. Historian douglas porch chronicles the legions involvement in spain, mexico, indochina, madagascar, wwi, vietnam, and algiers to name a few and delves into the inner workings of legionnaires and their captains. The french foreign legion is one of the most famous fighting organizations in the world, jealously guarding a reputation that dates back to the 1830s. Legionnaires of the 1st regiment of the french foreign legion. French foreign legion ebook by heinz duthel rakuten kobo. French foreign legion, french legion etrangere, an elite military force originally consisting of foreign volunteers in the pay of france but now comprising volunteer soldiers from any nation, including france, for service in france and abroad. In the nottoodistant future french foreign legion collection by adam pamungkas. This article was amended on wednesday february 25 2009. Are the members of the french foreign legion still brutal to. French foreign legion soldiers were toughest in the world. In early april 2020, knut flovik thoresen, a norwegian military officer and historian, released his another work dedicated to the foreign legion. Rather than hearing from a writer who met a legionnaire in a bar, or read a book. In boyds book, we have a wellwritten, wellresearched examination of the legion, from its inception nearly two centuries ago to the present.
The french foreign legion by martin windrow books on. Memoirs of a scottish legionnaire by alex lochrie isbn. The inside story of the world famous fighting force. My life in the french foreign legion by tony sloane isbn. For nearly two centuries adventure seekers or men on the run from all around the globe have found a home in the foreign legion and shed blood for france. Several versions of beau geste, for example, have exploited this theme to dramatic effect. This book gives the reader,a concise history of the foreign legion. The dark romance and grim reality of life in the french. See more ideas about french foreign legion, french and french army. A complete history of the legendary fighting force is but one of his many thoroughly reseached and wellargued historical studies. Historian douglas porch chronicles the legion s involvement in spain, mexico, indochina, madagascar, wwi, vietnam, and algiers to name a few and delves into the inner workings of legionnaires and their captains. Nov 12, 2012 the word foreign in the name french foreign legion does not refer to faraway battlegrounds. Are there other foreign legions similar to the french foreign. Mar 31, 2016 there have been dozens of books written about the french foreign legion, and probably hundreds of novels, but many of those nonfiction books were as accurate as their fictional counterparts.
The word foreign in the name french foreign legion does not refer to faraway battlegrounds. The french foreign legion remains one of the worlds most enigmatic military forces. The last section of the list resummarizes actual legion. Meet the australian who joined the misfits and fugitives. Recruits included soldiers from the recently disbanded swiss and german foreign regiments of the bourbon monarchy.
Read french foreign legion the must complete history of the french foreign legion by heinz duthel available from rakuten kobo. The foreign legion will always be apart and unlike any other army corps in france. Buy the french foreign legion by douglas boyd isbn. There have been few books that i got from amazon that i found hard to put down, this was one. Five years in the french foreign legion by simon murray, beau geste by p. How to join the french foreign legion mercenary jobs.
The author is very good at explaining military and technical issues in a way that lay people can understand and appreciate. Whatever your reason, you have found the french foreign legion, the only place in the world for second chances. In life in the french foreign legion, author evan mcgorman will perhaps disabuse you of that notion. Although it is documented that exss soldiers both joined the french foreign legion and fought in the french indochina war until approximately 1947 when france began to crack down, the books claim that a unit was composed solely of germans is unsupported by evidence presented by many legion historians, records and books such as bernard falls hell in a very small place and street without joy on the. Before joining the french foreign legion 9 things you. A member of the french foreign legion should serve as a good example of the former. I found the book really interesting, exciting, amusing and sad. Legionnaires are highly trained infantry soldiers and the legion is unique in that it is open to foreign recruits willing to serve in the french. Glamor, mystery, and adventure are associated with the very name of the french foreign legion, the tightly knit body of ground troops that man for man, has few if any equals in the world. The author thomas gast knows what hes talking about. This website aims to give information about the french foreign legion.