The French Foreign Legion has a long and storied history of serving France in conflicts around the world, including Africa. Here are a few real-life stories of the Legion’s experiences in Africa:
- Battle of Camerone: One of the most famous battles in the Legion’s history took place in Mexico in 1863, but it is still remembered and celebrated by the Legion today. In this battle, a small detachment of 62 Legionnaires held off a force of 2,000 Mexican soldiers for several hours, refusing to surrender even after being vastly outnumbered. The Legionnaires fought until their ammunition was exhausted, and in the end, only 5 Legionnaires survived.
- Battle of Bir Hakeim: During World War II, the Legion fought in the Western Desert Campaign in North Africa, and one of the most notable battles of this campaign was the Battle of Bir Hakeim in 1942. The Legionnaires, along with other Allied forces, held off a much larger German and Italian force for 16 days, delaying their advance and giving the Allies time to regroup and mount a counteroffensive.
- Operation Serval: In 2013, the Legion was part of a French military intervention in Mali, known as Operation Serval. The Legionnaires, along with other French troops, fought against Islamist militants who had taken control of northern Mali. The operation was successful in driving the militants out of the cities and towns they had seized, although the conflict in Mali is ongoing.
These are just a few examples of the Legion’s experiences in Africa. The Legion has also served in conflicts in other parts of the world, such as Indochina, the Balkans, and Afghanistan, and continues to be a respected and feared fighting force today.
