Legion of the Damned (Part One) 

I'm a former FFL officer and I served 8 years at the 1st Foreign Cavalry (1er REC), including the first Gulf War, Africa and Bosnia. I’m glad to share here a few details about the Legion: The Legion is made of foreigners, is under regular Army command, with the same equipment and organization. The Legion is not a special force or a militia. It is an elite corps of the French Army with different people and adapted rule of procedure. Within the Army, there is a strong competition between the Legion and the Marines (named Troupe de Marine, or “Coloniale”, which also belongs to Army). Regiments of the Legion are sprat among three Brigades of the Army; the 6th Light Armored Brigade (2nd REI, 1st REC, 1st REG), the 11th Parachute Brigade (2nd REP), the 27th Alpine Brigade (2nd REG) and overseas deployment (3rd REI in Guyana, 13th DBLE in Abu Dhabi). An initial training Regiment (4th RE) and a small administrative and recruitment unit (1st RE) are directly under the command of the Foreign Legion Command (COMLE), headed by a Brigadier General, simply named “Père Légion” (the Father of the Legion…), who reports directly to the Army Chief of Staff (CEMAT). Almost all officers (90%) of the Légion Etrangére (LE) are French, mostly from Saint-Cyr, except a small proportion coming from the ranks. Legionnaires are NOT mercenaries; they don't fight for money (monthly wage, the "solde", is exactly the same as in the Army), or for ideology, not even for French citizenship, which is difficult to get, unless you are wounded in combat (Français par le sang versé, “French by spilled blood”). They are volunteers under contract, to serve France, a country they hardly know, but they fight for the Legion: the motto is “the Legion is our fatherland” - Legio Patria Nostra in Latin. The Legion offers them a new start, a new identity, a family, with rules, discipline, limits and even a future. Contracting with the Legion does not imply to abandon your first nationality. Around 130 different nationalities are represented in this 8500+ strong force (900 more to come, mostly to reinforce the 13th DBLE). On purpose, around 25% are francophone of even French origin but enlist under a different nationality. All NCOs are from the ranks and highly professional. Few of them become officers. Women are not permitted. “Honneur et Fidélité” are fundamental values (when regular Army motto is “Honneur et Patrie”). A Legionnaire serves with honor, and is loyal to the Legion. In the legion, traditions are very important, numerous and highly respected. They evolve slowly but regularly and are listed in the Recueil des traditions de la Légion Etrangère, set by a special Committee. They include a specific uniform (with the famous Képi Blanc), the Boudin marching song (“We shall soon all perish according to tradition…”), the Code of Honor, slow pace marching and many, many more. It is important to understand that the French Military is a very old institution, set as a professional force during the Middle Age, with core values coming from the code du chevalier (“knight’s code”) and the Monarchy, Napoleon’s era, colonial empire and the decolonization period, WW1&2 etc. As a result, traditions, corps, missions and commitments are very diverse. For centuries, it has been a tradition in France to hire foreign volunteers in specific regiments within the Army framework. French Kings always had foreign troops at their service, usually coming from loyal or controlled vassal states or principalities (Swiss, German, Italian, Belgium etc). The Republic has simply maintained the tradition. Criminals are not accepted anymore, and there is a very serious and long check on each candidate, with Interpol assistance. Selection is very harsh, as there are 9 candidates for one “seat”, probably the highest rate worldwide for a conventional military force. The main strength of the Legion is its unique cohesion, based on people from different culture and background, all ready to start a new life and to fight for their new family: their comrades in arms from the Legion. Selection, training and equipment are important, but they would not make the difference without tradition and this “esprit de corps melting-pot”, which is unique to the Légion Etrangère. Vive la Légion ! (long life to the Legion !)

The American who's real name is Bill Blue, but served under the name John Barkett. He stayed in France after his time in the Legion and died in 2020. It seems he lived in the Gorges de la Nesque and went totally off the grid. He was known as the Guardian of the Sangliers. He had no electrify in his house and didn't have a phone. By all accounts a top man and top soldier

They're march is eerie, their song is haunting..

Man this American dude is hitting home with these lines 6:38 Onwards! 7:43 "But why someone stays here man, is cause he found something that makes his life worth living a little bit longer for!" DAMN 😢 That hit so hard!!

They are not mercenaries. They are professional Soldiers.

My father fought with, The Legion, Indochina, 1951--54.....i have his maroon beret with silver clasp....

Shit, that is Bucket, when I met him in 1988 he was still corporal, I was in 2rep 1988- 90, 2nd section 4th company I see many people that I met, I’m 55 today, still miss and the lieutenant in jungle 3eme Rei I remember him, we had stage commando in 1987 with 6eme Reg that time , he took us to deep into jungle for 3 weeks, so happy to see him again.

I'm a former FFL officer and I served 8 years with the 1st Foreign Cavalry (1er REC), including the first Gulf War, Africa and Bosnia. I’m glad to share here a few details about the Legion. It is important to understand first that the French Military is a very old institution, set as a professional force during the Middle Age, with core values coming from the code du chevalier (“knight’s code”) and the Monarchy, Napoleon’s era, colonial empire and the decolonization period, WW1&2 etc. As a result, traditions, corps, missions and commitments are very diverse. For centuries, it has been a tradition in France to hire foreign volunteers in specific regiments within the Army framework. French Kings always had foreign troops to their service, usually coming from loyal or controlled vassal states or principalities (Swiss, German, Italian, Belgium etc). The Republic has simply maintained the tradition. Almost all officers (90%) of the Légion Etrangére (LE) are French, mostly from Saint-Cyr, except a small proportion coming from the ranks. The Legion is made of foreigners, is under regular Army command, with the same equipment and organization. The Legion is not a special force or a militia. It is an elite corps of the French Army with different people and adapted rule of procedure. Within the Army, there is a strong competition between the Legion and the Marines (named Troupe de Marine, or “Coloniale”, which also belongs to Army). Regiments of the Legion are sprat among three Brigades of the Army (out of 13 brigades); the 6th Light Armored Brigade (2nd REI, 1st REC, 1st REG and recently 13th DBLE back from Abu Dhabi), the 11th Parachute Brigade (2nd REP), the 27th Alpine Brigade (2nd REG) and overseas deployment (3rd REI in Guyana and DLEM in Mayotte island). An initial training Regiment (4th RE) and a small administrative and recruitment unit (1st RE) are directly under the command of the Foreign Legion Command (COMLE), headed by a Brigadier or Major General, simply nicknamed “Père Légion” (Father of the Legion…), who reports directly to the Army Chief of Staff Legionnaires are NOT mercenaries; they don't fight for money (monthly wage, the "solde", is the same as in the Army), or for ideology, not even for French citizenship, which is difficult to get, unless you are wounded in combat (Français par le sang versé, “French by spilled blood”). They are volunteers under contract, to serve France, a country they hardly know, but they fight for the Legion: the motto is “the Legion is our fatherland” - Legio Patria Nostra in Latin. The Legion offers them a new start, a new identity, a family, with rules, discipline, limits and even a future. Contracting with the Legion does not imply to abandon your first nationality. Around 140 different nationalities are represented in this 8500+ strong force. On purpose, around 25% are francophone of even French origin but enlisted under a different nationality. All NCOs are from the ranks. Those highly professional NCOs are the true strength of the Legion. Few become officers. Women are not permitted. “Honneur et Fidélité” are fundamental values (when regular Army motto is “Honneur et Patrie”). A Legionnaire serves with honor, and is loyal to the Legion. In the legion, traditions are very important, numerous and highly respected. They evolve slowly but regularly and are listed in the Recueil des traditions de la Légion Etrangère, set by a special Committee. They include a specific uniform (with the famous Képi Blanc), the Boudin marching song (“We shall soon all perish according to tradition…”), the Code of Honor, slow pace marching and many, many more. Criminals are not accepted anymore, and there is a very serious and long check on each candidate, with Interpol assistance. Selection is very harsh, as there are 9 candidates for one “seat”, probably the highest rate worldwide for a conventional military force. The main strength of the Legion is its unique cohesion, based on people from different culture and background, all ready to start a new life and to fight for their new family: their comrades in arms from the Legion. Selection, training and equipment are important, but they would not make the difference without tradition and this “esprit de corps melting-pot”, which is unique to the Légion Etrangère. Vive la Légion ! (long life to the Legion !)

"I can't cope any longer with my environment and with the world around me; so I come, and I give you my skin, I give you my blood. You do what you want with me." Said the Legionnaire, "but please, *love me*."

The Legion Of The Damned is based on a novel by Sven Hazel about a German Legion on the Eastern Front in WW2

I watched this when I was 15. I was ready to go! I really wish I had.

Thats why i love the FFL, they are the damn ones the ones that have only pain from their lives, and thats why they are the strongest and the greatest, to all the damns out there i know what means to be fucked up in life and try to survive for nothing, much respect, keep pushing!!!

Discipline is such an important part of a boys / mans life. I’ve always felt that every country should have a similar (but diluted in many ways) concept to deal with troublesome adolescents. Instead of just locking them up (at a great cost) for stepping out of line, teach them ways of bettering themselves through routine, hard work, discipline and respect towards your fellow man

in the legion its called character building they make u tough and u do get hit in the chest if u can't follow instructions we are not mercs we are soldiers of France many become mercs after there service in the legion but so do us soldiers

I had a street thug in my platoon while in the seabees, who tried to take on a legionaire in a fight. That thug got cut up just enough to be hospitalized for a month. I'll take a couple of FFL into a bar fight over a SEAL team any day.

you,men are not "dammed" and you are not mercenaries. You are SOLDIERS!!! Don't let the media put a label on you. You are soldiers for France.

walking in the desert because there is nothing better to do in the desert than go for a walk

8:27-9:00 really sets the tone for the rest of the documentary.

Vive la legion etrangere!!🇫🇷

Honneur et fidélité à la France 🇫🇷 Honneur et fidélité à la légion étrangère.Légio patria nostra more majorum.

No one can mess around French Foreign Legion

"an army of foreigners", Note that the main nationality (around 20% if i remember well) is french but they enlist as belgian or canadian or swiss...

MARCH 2020 im going to aubagne and enlisting already bought the ticket see you there my brothers! Legio Patria Nostra!!

Yep the english sous officier had a child left his family joined legion served in a different name i feel sorry for gis child and the mother,ye hes a real man

Loving this. Buster 177/736. I should have been on this but was in infirmary lool. Rodney. Steph, Andy/David and Jaime/HAROLD;)

Legionnaires aren't exactly mercenaries.

I think its cool the French foreign legion gives men a 2nd chance, however I feel that they should never accept men who are abandoning wive, kids. Thats despicable!

i dont' understand how come people always refer the FFE as the mercenary ... real life merc got paid a lot more you know lol

Who is this skinny officer/philosopher? Does anyone know his name? For a Franchie he has a perfect command of English!

Bon , reportage, mon époque

Song at the beginning is "contre les viets"

If you watch the greatest annual parade in the world, The Defile de Paris, le Quartorze, la Fete Nationale, down the Champ, the Legion is the ONLY unit that doesn't split into two lines to go around the saluting dais. A sign that the Legion is SPECIAL. Although the RPIMe regiments are at the same level of expertise, especially the 1er RPIMe.

"We are the damned of all the world, we are the wounded of all the world..." Sounds like I belong there

Una cosa che mi porterò dietro tutta la vita, è di essermene andato troppo presto. 😢

If a man who is looking for a chance and change in his life and joins the FFL, well good on him and good luck in finding a purpose and place in life.

Anyone know what song they're singing in the beginning?

Salute from the Netherlands. T.

Respect

Oh the French. So dramatique.

Mercenary? Just because they lived outside some imaginary lines on a map does not make them mercs.

Over four decades ago , a short conversation with my ( divorced Dad . : " nothing for nothing Dad , what were you thinking banging out six children , knowing the hell you and guys like you face in family court How can system expect men to endure the burdens they place on you " ( I paraphrase of course ) . .......... " no , you don't understand , they are providing a service . The world needs mercenaries . After a time many men just want to escape the bind , go somewhere they can avoid the courts , keep their paycheck and live a life . And believe me , after a few years of being humbled and harassed they are ready to commit sanctioned violence " .00:45

Nothing is wrong with my life, but I just want that military experience and discipline. Is that a bad reason to join?

Once you take the legion, your past life is redacted. New name, new life, new identity.

That Officer is very good.

What more do you need when you've got 2 Zulu warriors!!

Great documentary! Very informative

Best not to fuck with these men!!!! I would be there I n a minute but I'm too old... For now I want you all as my brother's

yeah the dirty works.

Wanneer doet men het goed ? Zolang je helemaal niets doet , verwacht dan het onverwachtte. Wat is er sneller dan een terreuraanslag ? Tijd. - F.K. Apeldoorn

Oh not the 40k legion of the damned

In the Foreign Legion they never leave their dead or wounded, or surrender their arms...too bad joe doesn't practice this.

Fact The Legion doesn't have a recruitment crisis Fact They look after and care for their Veterans

I'm going in a year, who's with me?

What's the chant at the starting?

They are not Foreigner's they are made French Citizens. Ive read somewhere.

Wish I was young enough and healthy. I would join tomorrow.

3:34 He must be the first mexican-american in the Legion. By the way his haircut looks like Biff Tanner form Back to the Future.

2:52 le tgv orange 😂

Anyone know what the opening monologue comes from? Is it a legion song?

the jungle life would be a trip

8:40 c'est un ex-légionnaire ce colonel ?

I wanted too join when I left the Australian Army 2 years ago!!!!! 22 years of service I found out that I was too old for FL!!!!! I miss my former lifestyle Civi street totally sucks I got this stupid 9to5 gig of driving a truck wtf .......man I miss it all weapons the parties fuck me the jumping out the hercs Deployments but just the pure brotherhood!!!!! Especially within infantry combat arms fuck me

*SHOULD'VE LEARNED FRENCH.*

Seems to me foreign legion is more ethically diverse these days. Am I right?

They should have made a whole documentary about the cowboy

everyone wins...

I don’t have a problem with the legion but some of the soldiers I do question former soldiers who enlist which oath do they put first are happy to kill former colleagues , battle partners and countrymen his there word of no value and if so how can you trust them to watch your back remember allies today can be enemies tomorrow

is this still around how can I join

Warrior monks?🤔

Bonjour a tous du Canada When a parade is schedule in public all légionaire stop to shave when you have a long beard it's more difficult to identifie a guy

????????????

scum of the earth gets to do what ever they want. not to me "my friends" have fun with that........

Absolute bullsh*t when he said people from brit, America and Australia serve, maybe but very little from these countries, the majority is from Russia, central Europe and Asia......

“Women are not allowed”. If the political leadership of France ever decides the Legion must accept women in the name of “equity” or “justice” or “fairness”, they can start the clock on the disintegration of this great combat unit.

Can women join the Legion?

at 4:00 1931?? or 1831...?

"for united europe"

wonder whats their pay like?

on my way to forte de nogent in 21 days they will accept me for i will not take no for an answer

Think carefully before you join.

"don't like blacks" ahem brother

10:45 finally got rid of that ridiculous hairstyle lol ! His criminal past consisted of felonies for that god awful hairdo.

I'm not knocking the Legion but where were they in WW1 and WW11 when we the British had to bail the French out.France fell like a house of cards on both occasions and have never really shown any gratitude.Just saying.

73-76. Invalided out.

LOL these young men are so imaginative. Dudes, Imagine waiting all your life to finally get dumped by your nagging girlfriend & to be presented with golden opportunity to escape the arcane diplomatic route of queuing at the local embassy just to get your crappy name changed & finally the though of putting that fat local cop off your tail well, at least for now - you're at the Foreign legion gate & get told "Congrat dream boy you're in" & you get showered with the privilege of being given the following ultimate action boy's name: John Rambo :) Then you make your 1st call home & say "Guess what I'm call now mum"? She goes "... John Rambo"? :) Classic. How well oiled a machine can be???

why make it seem like something absurd, i would do this just to get that military style discipline

Dude John is a really fucking interesting guy

An officer and a philosopher.

Every country should have a legion.

I abeolutely love the French Foreign legion, as a normal guy, not genetically enhanced as maybe the SAS guys are, I could do this. Marche ou crěve, like speaks to me.

The great Errol Flynn also did a stint in the Legion

Amazing history.

10:34

'' very ''

What is the name of the song in the beginning... "We are the damned of all the world...". Thanks! Jason.

Ahhhhh very good - they make an oath not to surrender their arms any circumstances. They fight to the death.

Silly Aussie reporter ! FFL are not mercs.

I never knew havi KGB too much hair on your head would look bad

thx for the info i have still good memories of the legion vive la legion

United Europe my arse