This article lists the principal units 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 For ...

created since 1831. Legion units are only cited once, based on their respective dates of creation. A dissolved Legion unit which is recreated under the same designation will only appear once. The last section of the list re-summarizes actual Legion units in service. Camerone 2006

19th century

French Foreign Legion The French Foreign Legion (french: Légion étrangère) is a corps of the French Army which comprises several specialties: infantry, Armoured Cavalry Arm, cavalry, Military engineering, engineers, Airborne forces, airborne troops. It was created ...

(1st formation) - 9 March 1831 * 2nd Foreign Legion (2LE) (2nd formation) - 3 February 1836 *

1st Foreign Regiment The 1st Foreign Regiment (french: 1er Régiment étranger, 1er RE) and the 2nd Foreign infantry Regiment are the original and most senior founding regiments of the Foreign Legion in the French Army. The regiment is also responsible for running sp ...

- 1 April 1841 *

2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment The 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (french: 2e Régiment Étranger d'Infanterie, 2e REI) is an infantry regiment of the Foreign Legion in the French Army. The regiment is one of two mechanized infantry regiments of the 6th Light Armoured Brigade ...

– 1 April 1841 * Foreign Brigade (unit designation in 1854 for two merged foreign regiments during the

Crimean War The Crimean War, , was fought from October 1853 to February 1856 between Russia and an ultimately victorious alliance of the Ottoman Empire, France, the United Kingdom and Piedmont-Sardinia. Geopolitical causes of the war included the de ...

) * Mounted Companies (Compagnies montées de la Légion étrangère) – 1881 *

Saharan Companies of the French Foreign Legion The Saharan Mounted Companies of the French Foreign Legion, Foreign Legion consisted of legionnaires of various nationalities and races transferred from the existing Foreign Legion infantry and cavalry regiments. These units were different from ...

, Saharan Companies and Squadrons of the French Foreign Legion – (CSPLE, ESPLE) – 1901 *1st Marching Regiment of the 2nd Foreign Regiment (1^erRM 2^eRE) - 1907 *1st Marching Regiment of the 1st Foreign Regiment (1^e RM 1^er RE) - 1913

World War I

2nd Marching Regiment of the 2nd Foreign Regiment The 2nd Marching Regiment of the 2nd Foreign Regiment, (french: 2e Régiment de Marche du 2e étranger, 2eR.M. 2eR.E) was a French Military regiment in the Legion which formed the Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion (R.M.L.E) and existed ephe ...

(2^e RM 2^e RE) - end of August 1914 *

2nd Marching Regiment of the 1st Foreign Regiment The 2nd Marching Regiment of the 1st Foreign Regiment, (french: 2e régiment de marche du 1er étranger, 2e R.M. 1er R.E) was a French military unit of the Legion which formed the Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion (R.M.L.E) and existed ephe ...

(2^e RM 1^er RE) - September 1914 *

3rd Marching Regiment of the 1st Foreign Regiment The 3rd Marching Regiment of the 1st Foreign Regiment, (french: 3e régiment de marche du 1er étranger, 3eR.M. 1erR.E) was a French Military unit of the Legion which formed the Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion (R.M.L.E) and existed epheme ...

(3^e RM 1^er RE) - (first called Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion entrenched camp of Paris) – September 1914 *

4th Marching Regiment of the 1st Foreign Regiment The Garibaldi Legion (french: Légion Garibaldienne) or officially the 4th Marching Regiment of the 1st Foreign Regiment (french: 4e régiment de marche du 1er étranger, 4eR.M. 1erR.E) was a unit of the Foreign Legion in the French Army which f ...

(4^e RM 1^er RE) - 5 November 1914 *

Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion The Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion (RMLE) (french: link=no, Régiment de marche de la Légion étrangère) was a French military unit that fought in World War I and World War II. Initially composed of marching regiments from the 1st Fo ...

(RMLE) - 11 November 1915

Interwar period

3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment The 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment (french: 3e Régiment étranger d'infanterie, 3e REI) is an infantry regiment of the Foreign Legion in the French Army. The regiment is stationed in French Guiana. Its mission includes the protection of the C ...

(3^e RE), ex-RMLE – 15 November 1920 * 4th Foreign Infantry Regiment (4^e REI) – 15 November 1920 *

1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment The 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment () is the only cavalry regiment of the Foreign Legion in the French Army. It is one of two armoured cavalry regiments of the 6th Light Armoured Brigade. The regiment recently moved camp after being stationed ...

(1^er REC) - 1921 * Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion in Indochina (DBLE) - 2 August 1930 *

5th Foreign Infantry Regiment The 5th Foreign Infantry Regiment (abbr. 5th REI, french: 5e Régiment Étranger d'Infanterie), nicknamed the "Regiment of Tonkin" (french: "Régiment du Tonkin"), was a regiment of the Foreign Legion of the French Army created under the Thir ...

(5^e REI) - 1 September 1930 *Foreign Legion Command (COMLE) - successive appellations and designations IILE (1931), GALE (1950), COLE (1955), ITLE (1957), GLE (1972) and COMLE (1984) - 1 April 1931. *

Communal Depot of the Foreign Regiments The Communal Depot of the Foreign Regiments (DCRE), or (french: Dépôt commun des régiments étrangers, D.C.R.E), was the primary training formation of the Foreign Legion from 1933 to 1955. History The Communal Depot of the Foreign Regiments ...

- successive appellations and designations DCRE (1933) and DCLE (1950) – 13 October 1933. *

2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment The 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment () was a cavalry regiment of the Foreign Legion in the French Army. the regiment was dissolved twice in 1946 and 1962; the regimental colors have been entrusted by the Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte since 19 ...

- 1 July 1939

World War II

Marching Regiments of Foreign Volunteers The Marching Regiments of Foreign Volunteers (french: Régiments de marche de volontaires étrangers, RMVE) were temporary formations of the Foreign Legion organized from Foreign volunteers during World War II . These regiments were formed on 1 ...

(1^er, 2^e and 3^e RMVE) - 29 September 1939, became the 21^e, 22^e, 23^e RMVE *

6th Foreign Infantry Regiment The 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment (french: 6e Régiment Étranger d'Infanterie, 6e REI) was an infantry regiment of the French Foreign Legion, Foreign Legion in the French Army from 1939 to 1941 and again from 1949 to 1955. History, creations ...

(6^e REI) - 1 October 1939 *

11th Foreign Infantry Regiment The 11th Foreign Infantry Regiment (french: 11e Régiment Étranger d'Infanterie, 11e REI) was a regiment of the Foreign Legion in the French Army which served during World War II from 1939 to 1940. History The 11th Foreign Infantry Regiment wa ...

(11^e REI) - 6 November 1939 *

97th Reconnaissance Group of the Infantry Division The 97th Reconnaissance Group of the Infantry Division (french: 97e groupe de reconnaissance de division d'infanterie, 97e GRDI) was a motorized cavalry unit composed of members of the French Foreign Legion which existed briefly at the beginning ...

- GRD 97 (first called GRDI 180) – 1 December 1939 *

12th Foreign Infantry Regiment The 12th Foreign Infantry Regiment (french: 12e Régiment étranger d'infanterie, 12e REI) was an infantry regiment of the Foreign Legion in the French Army which existed from 1939 to 1940 at the beginning of World War II World War&n ...

(12^e REI) – 24 February 1940 *

13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion ) and veteran foreign regiments (french: Anciens régiment étranger, link=no) of the Legion, in case of the CEPs, BEPs & REPs, the context reference is referring to the paratrooper veterans (french: Anciens legionnaires parachutistes, link=no) ...

(13^e DBLE) (first called 13th Light Mountain Demi-Brigade) – became the 13^e DBLE on 12 November 1940 *21st Marching Regiment of Foreign Volunteers – (21^e RMVE) - first called 1^er RMVE – 29 September 1939 *22nd Marching Regiment of Foreign Volunteers (22^e RMVE) first called 2^e RMVE – 24 October 1939 *23rd Marching Regiment of Foreign Volunteers (23^e RMVE) – first called 3^e RMVE – May 1940

Decolonization

Indochina War

Disciplinary Company of the Foreign Regiments in the Far East The Disciplinary Company of the Foreign Regiments in the Far East (french: Compagnie disciplinaire en Extrême-Orient, CDRE/EO) created on June 1, 1946, was the disciplinary company for serious French Foreign Legion offenders in the Far East. It w ...

(CDRE/EO) – 1 June 1946 *

Passage Company of the Foreign Legion (CPLE) The Passage Company of the Foreign Legion (french: Compagnie de Passage de la Légion étrangère (CPLE)) of Saigon was a logistics handling operation of the French Foreign Legion, in Cochinchina, and based at fort de Cay May. In 1950, the CPLE of ...

of the Far East - 1 May 1947 *

Armored Train of the Foreign Legion The Armoured Train of the Foreign Legion (french: Train blindé de la Légion étrangère) was an Armoured train (french: trains blindés) detachment of the Foreign Legion formed in Tonkin. In 1948, the 2nd Foreign Regiment 2e RE, formed one, t ...

(TBLE) - 1948 *

Parachute Company of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment A parachute is a device used to slow the motion of an object through an atmosphere by creating drag or, in a ram-air parachute, aerodynamic lift. A major application is to support people, for recreation or as a safety device for aviators, who ...

- Para Co.

(3^e REI) - 1 April 1948 - later designations:

1st Foreign Parachute Battalion The 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion (french: 1er Bataillon Etranger de Parachutistes (1er BEP)) was a parachute battalion of the Foreign Legion formed from the Parachute Company of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment. History 1er Bataillon E ...

(1^er BEP) *

1st Foreign Parachute Regiment The 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment (french: 1er Régiment Etranger de Parachutistes, 1er REP) was an airborne regiment of the Foreign Legion in the French Army which dated its origins to 1948. The regiment fought in the First Indochina War as th ...

– later names and designations:

(1^er BEP) - 1948 and (1^er REP) - 1955 – 1 July 1948 *

2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment The 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (french: 2e Régiment étranger de parachutistes, 2e REP) is the only airborne regiment of the Foreign Legion in the French Army. It is one of the four infantry regiments of the 11th Parachute Brigade and part o ...

– successive appellations and designations, 2^e BEP (1948) and 2^e REP (1955) – 9 October 1948. *

3rd Foreign Parachute Regiment The 3rd Foreign Parachute Regiment () was a parachute regiment of the French Foreign Legion, Foreign Legion in the French Army and previous 3rd Foreign Parachute Battalion, (List of French paratrooper units, 3e BEP) from September 1, 1955, to Decem ...

- successive appellations and designations,

3rd Foreign Parachute Battalion The 3rd Foreign Parachute Battalion (french: Foreign Legion formed based on the Parachute Instruction Company (C.I.P) of the 7th combat company of the 2nd Battalion of the 1st Foreign Regiment">1st Foreign Infantry Regiment. History, Creation a ...

(3^e BEP - 1949 and 3^e REP - 1955) – November 1949 * Foreign Air Supply Company (CERA) – 1 January 1951 *

1st Foreign Parachute Heavy Mortar Company The 1st Foreign Parachute Heavy Mortar Company () was an ephemeral foreign airborne heavy mortar company of the Foreign Legion which fought during the First Indochina War at the corps of the French Far East Expeditionary Corps. History In ...

(1^re CEPML) – 1 September 1953

Algerian War

After 1962

*61st Mixed Legion Engineer Battalion – 61^e BMGL - 1963 * 5th Mixed Regiment of the Pacific 5^e RMP (ex-5^e REI) – October 1963. *

5th Heavy Weight Transport Company (CTGP) The 5th Heavy Weight Transport Company (french: 5e Compagnie de Transport Gros Porteurs, 5e CTGP) was a heavy weight transport company of the Foreign Legion in the French Army. On April 30, 1964, following the dissolution of the 4th Foreign Reg ...

– 5^e CTGP – 1 May 1965. *

Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte Foreign may refer to: Government * Foreign policy, how a country interacts with other countries * Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in many countries ** Foreign Office, a department of the UK government ** Foreign office and foreign minister * United S ...

successive designations and appellations DLEC (1973) and DLEM (1975) – 2 August 1973. *

6th Foreign Engineer Regiment The 6th Foreign Engineer Regiment (french: 6e régiment étranger de génie) was a unit of the Foreign Legion in the French Army, part of the rapid reaction force and component of the 6th Light Armoured Division, (6e DLB). The 6th Foreign Engin ...

– 6^e REG – 1 July 1984. *

1st Foreign Engineer Regiment The 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment (french: 1er Régiment étranger de génie, 1er REG) is one of two combat engineer regiments of the Foreign Legion in the French Army. The regiment provides the combat engineering component of the 6th Light Arm ...

– 1^er REG (ex-6^e REG) – 1 July 1999. *

2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment The 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment (french: 2e Régiment Etranger de Génie, 2e REG) is one of two combat engineer regiments of the Foreign Legion in the French Army. The regiment provides the combat engineering component of the 27th Mountain I ...

– 2^e REG – 1 July 1999. *

Foreign Legion Recruiting Group The Foreign Legion Recruiting Group (french: Groupement de recrutement de la Légion étrangère, GRLE) is an administrative unit of the Foreign Legion responsible for recruiting volunteers from around the globe. The unit reports to the Foreign ...

– GRLE – 1 July 2007.

Current Legion units

* Commandement de la Légion étrangère – COMLE.
Division General Commandant of the

, Les Chefs COMLE * Foreign Legion Recruiting Group, Groupement de recrutement de la Légion étrangère (GRLE) * 1er Régiment étranger (1^er RE) * 1er Régiment Étranger de Cavalerie (1^er REC) * 1er Régiment étranger de génie (1^e REG) *

2e Régiment étranger de parachutistes The 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (french: 2e Régiment étranger de parachutistes, 2e REP) is the only airborne regiment of the Foreign Legion in the French Army. It is one of the four infantry regiments of the 11th Parachute Brigade and part of ...

(2^e REP) * 2e Régiment étranger de infanterie (2^e REI) * 2e Régiment Etranger de Génie (2^e REG) * 3e Régiment étranger d'infanterie (3^e REI) * 4e Régiment étranger (4^e RE) * 13e Demi-Brigade de Légion Étrangère (13^e DBLE) * Détachement de Légion étrangère de Mayotte * Musique de la Légion étrangère (MLE)

References

Notes

Sources

* Le Livre d’Or de la Légion étrangère (1831-1955) (Golden Book of the Legion 1831-1955), Jean Brunon et Georges Manue, éditions Charles Lavauzelle et Cie, 1958. * Histoire de la Légion, de Narvik à Kolwesi, (The History of the Legion from Narvik to Kolwesi), Henri Le Mire, éditions Albin Michel, 1978, * Division Communication et Information de la Légion étrangère (Communication and Information Division of the French Foreign Legion). * Division Histoire et Patrimoine de la Légion étrangère (History and Patrimony Division of the French Foreign Legion). * Monsieur Légionnaire - Général (cr) Hallo Jean - Lavauzelle – 1994 *Centre de documentation de la Légion étrangère (Center of Documentation of the French Foreign Legion). {{French Foreign Legion navbox Lists of military units and formations of France Units of the French Foreign Legion