The French Foreign Legion
"The French, being a thrifty and practical people, have always been willing to let any foreigners assist them in any necessary bleeding and dying for La Patrie." Writes American historian John Elting, "From the Scots who rode with Joan of Arc to the Foreign Legion at Dien Bien Phu, the foreign soldier, idealistic volunteer or hard-case mercenary, is an integral part of the French military tradition." Since its inception on March 10, 1831 by King Louis Philippe, the Legion has attracted soldiers, mercenaries and outcasts of every nationality, race and creed in society. It is often assumed that the Legion is merely a mercenary army of society's unwanted thugs, brutes and criminals to serve France's less amiable military endeavors. But these assumptions, though understandable, are far from the truth. The legion is a rigorously trained, elite outfit of volunteers that have, throughout their history, displayed outstanding courage, preferring to fight to the death, rather than retreat or surrender. So given the legion's history of elite service, bravery and incredible romantic appeal, it is clear there is much more to the legion than meets the proverbial eye. The employment of foreign 'mercenary' soldiers in France dates back to th
The code of honor that governs the Foreign Legion is not merely a document signed upon recruitment, it lives in every legionnaire as a doctrine that supercedes all others. Legionnaires are often individuals who have joined because of a personal or family crisis or an upheaval in their social or political life. Striking examples of this can be found in the mass enlistment of Alsatians after 1871, of Spaniards in 1939 and of Eastern Europeans after 1945. For others, those who are unable to deal with the limitations of a middle-class life, the Legion represents a life of adventure. "The legionnaire is seldom an angel but never a criminal." In joining the Legion, a recruit often severs his roots, and consequently is ready to give all he has, including his life. This state of mind binds the legionnaires together and would serve to explain their mythical cohesion sealed with discipline, solidarity and respect for traditions. The initial training indoctrinates the Legionnaire to place all his trust in his leaders, which fosters attachment between the legionnaire and his leaders. "Alive, he [the legionnaire] will follow them [ the commanders] everywhere, dead, he will never be abandoned." These attitudes lend tremendous romanticism to the already mysterious legion. As shown by the views of prominent politicians and even military leaders in history, mercenaries are viewed not as real soldiers but as cowardly brutes. They are seen as being preoccupied only with their own financial gain, having no honor and no loyalty to their superiors or mission. While this point may be argued regarding mercenaries in general, an important distinction must be made between mercenary armies and the French Foreign legion. The distinction can be shown via the legion's code of honor and the story of its most historic battle, which demonstrates the incredible courage of the Legionnaires. e twelfth century when King Philippe Auguste resolved to acquire a force more dependable than the feudal armies that dotted the kingdom. These Feudal levies were only obliged to stay under arms for forty days and thus could not be counted on for reliable defense or offense against France's enemies. Auguste instituted a system of payment for his Knights in lieu of their service, the income from which was then invested (by the knights) in the acquisition of 'routiers' or 'free companions.' The pr
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Approximate Word count = 1597
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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