The French Foreign Legion (FFL) was primarily used to protect and expand the French colonial empire during the 19th century. The Foreign Legion was initially stationed only in Algeria, where it took part in the pacification and development of the colony. Subsequently, the Foreign Legion was deployed in a number of conflicts, including the First Carlist War in 1835, the Crimean War in 1854, the Second Italian War of Independence in 1859, the French intervention in Mexico in 1863, the Franco-Prussian War in 1870, the Tonkin Campaign and Sino–French War in 1883, supporting growth of the French colonial empire in Sub-Saharan Africa and pacifying Algeria, the Second Franco-Dahomean War in 1892, the Second Madagascar expedition in 1895, and the Mandingo Wars in 1894.
In World War I, the Foreign Legion fought in many critical battles on the Western Front. It played a smaller role in World War II than in World War I, though having a part in the Norwegian, Syrian and North African campaigns. During the First Indochina War (1946–1954), the Foreign Legion saw its numbers swell. The FFL lost a large number of men in the catastrophic Battle of Dien Bien Phu. During the Algerian War of Independence (1954–1962), the Foreign Legion came close to being disbanded after some officers, men, and the highly decorated 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment (1er REP) took part in the Generals’ putsch. Notable operations during this period included the Suez Crisis, the Battle of Algiers and various offensives launched by General Maurice Challe including Operations Oranie and Jumelles.
In the 1960s and 1970s, the Legion had a new role as a rapid deployment force to preserve French interests – not only in its former African colonies but in other nations as well; it also returned to its roots of being a unit always ready to be sent to hot-spots all around the world. Some notable operations include: the Chadian–Libyan conflict in 1969–1972 (the first time that the Legion was sent in operations after the Algerian War), 1978–1979, and 1983–1987; Kolwezi in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo in May 1978; Rwanda in 1990–1994; and the Ivory Coast in 2002 to the present. In 1990, the Foreign Legion was sent to the Persian Gulf as a part of Opération Daguet. In the 1990s, the Foreign Legion helped with the evacuation of French citizens and foreigners in Rwanda, Gabon and Zaire. The Foreign Legion was also deployed in Cambodia, Somalia, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the mid- to late-1990s, the Foreign Legion was deployed in the Central African Republic, Congo-Brazzaville and in Kosovo. In the 2000s, the Foreign Legion was deployed in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, Operation Licorne in Ivory Coast, the EUFOR Tchad/RCA in Chad, and Operation Serval in the Northern Mali conflict.[8]
Many other countries have tried to emulate the French Foreign Legion model. There have been units composed of foreign recruits in China, Israel, the Netherlands, Rhodesia, Russia, and Spain.
Prior to the end of the Algerian War the legion had not been stationed in mainland France except in wartime. Until 1962, the Foreign Legion headquarters was located in Sidi Bel Abbès, Algeria. Today, some units of the Légion are in Corsica or overseas possessions (mainly in French Guiana, guarding Guiana Space Centre), while the rest are in the south of mainland France. Current headquarters is in Aubagne, France, just outside Marseille.
Mainland France:
1st Foreign Regiment (1er RE), based in Aubagne, France (HQ, selection and administration, other specific missions)
Pionniers Sections of Tradition
1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC), based in Camp de Carpiagne (Bouches-du-Rhône), France (armoured troops)
1st Foreign Engineer Regiment (1er REG) former 6th Foreign Engineer Regiment (6ème REG), based in Laudun, France
Pionniers Groups
2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2ème REI), based in Nîmes, France
2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment (2ème REG), based in St Christol, France
Pionniers Groups
2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2ème REP), based in Calvi, Corsica
4th Foreign Regiment (4èmeRE), based in Castelnaudary (training), France
Pionniers Groups
Foreign Legion Recruiting Group (G.R.L.E), based at Fort de Nogent ( military recruiting and other), France
13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion (13ème DBLE), based at Camp Larzac, France.
French Overseas Territories and Overseas Collectives, France
3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment (3ème REI), based in French Guiana
Pionniers Groups
Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte (DLEM)
