''Képi Blanc'' is the monthly French magazine of the Foreign Legion in the

French Army The French Army, officially known as the Land Army (french: Armée de Terre, ), is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces. It is responsible to the Government of France, along with the other components of the Armed Force ...

. The press magazine is sold exclusively under membership subscription. The subscription fees are channeled to the ''Foyer d'entraide de la Légion étrangère'' (FELE) which ensures the functioning of the Institution des Invalides de la Legion Etrangere ( IILE). As of 2013, circulation exemplary is of 11,500 and consists of 80 pages.

History

The journal

The first bulletin associated to the Foreign Legion was designated as ''La Légion étrangère'', a historic revue and actuality of the Legion, created in 1912. Suspended throughout the course of

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, the revue was reborn in 1931, at the creation of the Union Veteran Legionnaires Societies (french: Union des Sociétés d'Anciens de la Légion étrangère, L'USAL). In 1945, the revue changed designation to ''Vert et Rouge'' which was published until 1959. On April 30, 1947, under the

Quill A quill is a writing tool made from a moulted flight feather (preferably a primary wing-feather) of a large bird. Quills were used for writing with ink before the invention of the dip pen, the metal- nibbed pen, the fountain pen, and, eventual ...

(french: La plume) of Captain Gheysens, the first

editor-in-chief An editor-in-chief (EIC), also known as lead editor or chief editor, is a publication's editorial leader who has final responsibility for its operations and policies. The highest-ranking editor of a publication may also be titled editor, managing ...

, and mainly at the initiative of Colonel Gaultier, commandant of the Communal Depot of the Foreign Regiments (french: Dépôt commun des régiments étrangers), appeared the be the journal of all foreign regiments of the legion. The journal was accordingly printed in Oran, and was totally independent, with its own presses starting Journal Number 13. In 1954, the journal changed and passed from a black-and-white format tabloid to that of ''news'', while introducing color. Despite the cluster of mismanagements (in 1962 from Sidi-Bel-Abbès to Puyloubier, in 1967 from Puyloubier to Aubagne and at last, in 1998 for a change in the interior household of quartier Viénot), the monthly journal of the Legion has never ceased to appear. Since May 2001, the journal ceased to be entirely autonomous, and the printing was externalized in a civilian printing firm. Having its own internet site, it is possible to consult a vast array of articles. The monthly ''Képi blanc, la vie de la Légion'' is a reflection of the actual legion and presents a well-rounded contour of activities in the regiments (training, operations), life of senior veterans or the history of the institution. It also plays a pivotal role in keeping a viewing sphere of contact, between the most senior to the youngest, among themselves and the institution.

Editors-in-chief

Insignia

At the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the creation of the journal, on April 30, 2007, a proper metallic insignia for the journal has been created. the French firm produced: * 10 exemplary in silver; * 50 exemplary, which were numbered and given to the editors-in-chief in the order of their ascension to the function; * 300 exemplary, which were numbered in

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numerals; * 300 exemplary, which were not numbered. The wearing of this insignia is not authorized in uniform for active legionnaires.

Symbolic

Silver rectangle bordered to left and right by green and red stripes; cast in the middle by an oriented silver quill broached by a Képi Blanc. Retaken of the regulatory insignia of the COMLE on which is found the logo of the editor-in-chief : La plume et Le Képi Blanc.

References