The Foreign Legion Veteran Societies Federation () is an association of the ''association law type of 1901'' () federating different representations of veteran Legionnaires () across the world.
History
If the associations regrouping veteran Legionnaires () rapidly saw daylight throughout the course of the history of this institution, it was in 1912 where the ancestor of the FSALE was created. The first President was Jacques-Emile Maurer, President of the first friendly veteran legionnaires association, (), ''La Légion'', created in 1898.
[
Due to ]World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
, the veteran association ceased its activities in 1914. In 1920, a new re-launching tentative was initiated, led by Braunschweig, former secretary general, however the regrouping initiative was not made possible due to the insufficient number of associations available to be federated.[
]
L'Union des sociétés d'anciens légionnaires (l'USAL)
Union Veteran Legionnaires Societies (USAL)
In 1931, following the "Centennial Celebration" (centennial of the creation of the French Foreign Legion), général
is the French word for general. There are two main categories of generals: the general officers (), which are the highest-ranking commanding officers in the armed forces, and the specialist officers with flag rank (), which are high-level offic ...
Rollet, Inspector of the Foreign Legion, regrouped a congressional session of the veteran legionnaires uniting more than 200 participants, members of 23 societies, at Sidi bel-Abbès, "Maison mère" of the Legion during that époque.[
It was during this occasion, that was decided the creation of a union whose purpose was to federate the different societies and associations of veteran legionnaires. This union was officially created on June 3 1931][ Journal officiel de la République française JO of July 20 1931] under the presidency of Jacques-Emile Maurer. The union counted accordingly 33 associations members.[
]World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
was the occasion again to place the initiative in a dormant phase.[
Since 1945, the veteran members of the USAL regrouped in order to put in place a congressional session which was held in ]Paris
Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...
in 1947, and which united 28 societies.[
]
La Fédération des Sociétés d'Anciens de la Légion étrangère
French Foreign Legion Veteran Societies Federation
In 1960, the USAL changed designation to French Foreign Legion Veteran Societies Federation ().[
]
List of presidents of the USAL and FSALE
Organization
The association is not a group of particularities, however regroups associations, the general assembly is constituted of representatives of different associations of veteran legionnaires members at the prorata of their active members numbers.
The functioning is governed by a bureau, the latter having a delegation of the administrative council elected during the course of general assembly.
Each three years, the general assembly takes motion under the form of a national congressional session organized by one (or several) local(s) association(s) (congressional session: 1998, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2010).
Notable veterans of the institution
* Peter J. Ortiz
See also
* Major (France)
() is the seniormost non-commissioned officer rank in France and other Francophone countries. Unlike most other countries which use the old European rank system, France uses as its lowest ranking Senior officer#France, senior officer.
While t ...
* French Foreign Legion Music Band (MLE)
The Music of the Foreign Legion (), formerly known as the Principal Music of the Foreign Legion () is a Military band of the French Foreign Legion.
French or Foreign, musicians or not, they all volunteer for the Legion and receive, first, basic m ...
* Képi Blanc (publication)
''Képi Blanc'' is the monthly French (language), French magazine of the French Foreign Legion, Foreign Legion in the French Army.
The press magazine is sold exclusively under membership subscription. The subscription fees are channeled to the '' ...
* French Foreign Legion Museum
* Society of Friends of the French Foreign Legion Museum (SAMLE)
References
External links
Site officiel de la FSALE
Official Website of the French Foreign Legion Veteran Societies Federation (Légion étrangère)
{{French Foreign Legion navbox
French Foreign Legion
Organizations established in 1898