French Foreign Legion
The French Foreign Legion( FFL;,," L.É.") is a military service branch of the French Army established in 1831.
Legionnaires are highly trained infantry soldiers and the Legion is unique in that it is open to foreign recruits willing to serve in the French Armed Forces.
When it was founded, the French Foreign Legion was not unique; other foreign formations existed at the time in France.
Commanded by French officers, it is open to French citizens, who amounted to 24% of the recruits in 2007.
The Foreign Legion is today known as a unit whose training focuses on traditional military skills and on its strong" esprit de corps", as its men come from different countries with different cultures.
This is a way to strengthen them enough to work as a team.
Consequently, training is often described as not only physically challenging, but also very stressful psychologically.
French citizenship may be applied for after three years' service.
The Legion is the only part of the French military that does not swear allegiance to France, but to the Foreign Legion itself.
Any soldier who gets wounded during a battle for France can immediately apply to be a French citizen under a provision known as Français par le sang versé(" French by spilled blood").
As of 2008, members come from 140 countries.
Since 1831, the Legion has suffered the loss of nearly 40,000 men on active service in France, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Madagascar, West Africa, Mexico, Italy, the Crimea, Spain, Indo- China, Norway, Syria, Chad, Zaïre, Lebanon, Central Africa, Gabon, Kuwait, Rwanda, Djibouti, former Yugoslavia, Somalia, the Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Afghanistan, Mali, as well as others.
The French Foreign Legion was primarily used to protect and expand the French colonial empire during the 19th century.
The Foreign Legion was initially stationed only in Algeria, where it took part in the pacification and development of the colony.
Subsequently, the Foreign Legion was deployed in a number of conflicts, including the First Carlist War in 1835, the Crimean War in 1854, the Second Italian War of Independence in 1859, the French intervention in Mexico in 1863, the Franco- Prussian War in 1870, the Tonkin Campaign and Sino- French War in 1883, supporting growth of the French colonial empire in Sub- Saharan Africa, the Second Franco- Dahomean War in 1892, the Second Madagascar expedition in 1895 and the Mandingo Wars in 1894.
In World War I, the Foreign Legion fought in many critical battles on the Western Front.
It played a smaller role in World War II than in World War I, though having a part in the Norwegian, Syrian and North African campaigns.
During the First Indochina War( 1946 – 1954), the Foreign Legion saw its numbers swell.
The FFL lost a large number of men in the catastrophic Battle of Dien Bien Phu. During the Algerian War of Independence( 1954 – 1962), the Foreign Legion came close to being disbanded after some officers, men, and the highly decorated 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment( 1 REP) took part in the Generals' putsch.
Operations during this period included the Suez Crisis, the Battle of Algiers and various offensives launched by General Maurice Challe including Operations Oranie and Jumelles.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Legion regiments had additional roles in sending units as a rapid deployment force to preserve French interests – in its former African colonies and in other nations as well; it also returned to its roots of being a unit always ready to be sent to conflict zones around the world.
Some notable operations include: the Chadian – Libyan conflict in 1969 – 1972( the first time that the Legion was sent in operations after the Algerian War), 1978 – 1979, and 1983 – 1987; Kolwezi in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo in May 1978.
In 1981, the 1st Foreign Regiment and Foreign Legion regiments took part in the Multinational Force in Lebanon.
In 1990, Foreign Legion regiments were sent to the Persian Gulf and participated in Opération Daguet, part of Division Daguet.
Following the Gulf War in the 1990s, the Foreign Legion helped with the evacuation of French citizens and foreigners in Rwanda, Gabon and Zaire.
The Foreign Legion was also deployed in Cambodia, Somalia, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In the mid- to late 1990s, the Foreign Legion was deployed in the Central African Republic, Congo- Brazzaville and in Kosovo.
The Foreign Legion also took part in operations in Rwanda in 1990 – 1994; and the Ivory Coast in 2002 to the present.
In the 2000s, the Foreign Legion was deployed in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, Operation Licorne in Ivory Coast, the EUFOR Tchad/ RCA in Chad, and Operation Serval in the Northern Mali conflict.
Other countries have tried to emulate the French Foreign Legion model.
Operational Group of the Foreign Legion
The Operation Group of the Foreign Legion was a unit of the Foreign Legion with an operational vocation.
Created on August 1, 1971 from elements of the 1st Foreign Regiment, themselves regrouped at the corps of the Foreign Legion Groupment( G.L.E), which included the attachment of the Instruction Group of the Foreign Legion at the 2nd Foreign Regiment 2 RE, recreated on September 1, 1972.
In 1976, while the Instruction Group of the Foreign Legion departed to the 4th Foreign Regiment 4RE of Castelnaudary and while being integrated within the 1st Foreign Regiment 1 RE; the 2nd Foreign Regiment 2 RE took charge of regimental operations.
The operational group was stationed in Bonifacio, Corsica until 1977, the year of dissolution of the( G.O.L.E) to become a main composing elements of the 2nd Foreign Regiment 2 RE, designated originally back in 1980: the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment 2 REI.
The Foreign Legion
The Foreign Legion is a 1928 American silent adventure film directed by Edward Sloman and starring Norman Kerry, Lewis Stone, and Mary Nolan.
The film is based on the 1913 novel" The Red Mirage" by I.A.R. Wylie.
It was one of several Foreign Legion- themed films produced in the wake of the successful 1926 film" Beau Geste".
The production cost around$ 250,000, but was the subject of diplomatic protests from French authorities due to its depiction of brutality.
Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte
The Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte is a detachment of the French Foreign Legion based on the island of Mayotte, near Madagascar.
It is the smallest operational unit of the French Foreign Legion.
The main role of the detachment is to maintain a French presence in the region, enabling the French armed forces to quickly react to events in the Indian Ocean and the east coast of Africa.
The Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte DLEM in its function, like all the various regiments of the Legion is an elite unit.
The DLEM and all regiments of the French Foreign Legion, under French command, differentiate from all armies of the world due to, that their Legion Majors, Legion Adjudant Chefs and Legion Adjudants, form both a French and non-French( Foreign) elite composition.
French Foreign Legion (disambiguation)
French Foreign Legion may refer to:
Foreign Legion Recruiting Group
The Foreign Legion Recruiting Group is an administrative unit of the French Foreign Legion responsible for recruiting volunteers from around the globe to the Legion and manned by members of the legion.
The unit reports to the authority of the Foreign Legion Command who determines the annual objectives based on the open rules consented by the army staff( l' Etat- Major de l' Armée de Terre( E.M.A.T)) and the initial prevision of the Foreign Legion Human Resources Division( DRHLE).
The GRLE was created July 10, 2007 at Fort de Nogent, near Paris.
The new unit assumed all recruiting responsibilities which had previously been assigned to the 1st Foreign Regiment's Recruitment Division.
Foreign legion
Foreign legion or Foreign Legion is a title which has been used by a small number of military units composed of foreign volunteers.
It usually refers to the French Foreign Legion, part of the French Army, established in 1831.
Foreign legion may also refer to:
Queen of the Arena
Queen of the Arena is a 1952 West German musical drama film directed by Rolf Meyer and starring Maria Litto, Hans Söhnker and Jan Hendriks.
It contains elements of both the revue film and the circus film genres.
The film's sets were designed by Franz Schroedter.
Foreign Legion Command
The Foreign Legion Command( official) is the Command of the French Foreign Legion.
The Legion is led by a French general, a Legion officer who is usually a general who spent his entire career in Legion units.
COMLE also includes the general staff headquarters of the foreign legion command( official), led by another senior officer, chief of the general staff headquarters of the foreign legion command( official).
As of 2017, the general staff headquarters of the foreign legion command includes several divisions related to the functioning of the Legion.
The general staff headquarters of the foreign legion command has adopted various inspecting, grouping, and commanding designations since 1931 and has been designated officially as C.O.M.L.E since 1984.
The Général de division commanding the Legion, also known as" Father of the Legion" or" Foreign Legion Command Chief"( official) is a direct subordinate of the Chief of Staff of the French Army( C.E.M.A.T).
The Division Général is also the technical counselor commanding for the ensemble related to the Legion( recruitment, traditions, employment, regimental formations and security).
The Divisional general commanding the Legion, commands also the 1st Foreign Regiment, the 4th Foreign Regiment and the Foreign Legion Recruiting Group( G.R.L.E).
The GRLE was not formed till 2007.
The commands of the C.O.M.L.E division general commandant extends to: The French Foreign Legion Music Band is led by the Music Chief.
Inspection of the Foreign Legion
Particularly following World War I, the French Foreign Legion grew exponentially reputable and important in the French Army.
Accordingly, new regiments have been formed which one of them was the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment 1 REC.
During the interwar period and in 1930, following the creation of the 5th Foreign Infantry Regiment 5 REI in Tonkin, the Legion stood strong at 30,000 Legionnaires.
Accordingly, the need to organize the Legion was necessary and also the need to provide a clear structure of command that would safe keep the evolution of the legion in relation to the foreign service of its volunteers proved to be even more important.
On March 2, 1931, the general staff headquarters of the Armies, a Général, signed the instruction of two formulations, which rather initial, would be the main founding legislative pillar acts of the Inspection of the Foreign Legion.
This reorganization has been mainly and for a while preoccupied by the intentions of the Colonel Paul- Frédéric Rollet while commanding the 1st Foreign Regiment 1 RE.
Since 1928, Marshal of France Louis Franchet d' Espèrey exposed in reports argumenting in favor of a new organization of the legion in reason of the increase of general enlistments and the existence of combat regiments mainly depending on two different arms, the infantry and armoured cavalry.
The date of creation of the Inspection of the Foreign Legion was fixed on April 1, 1931.
The inspection would be entrusted to a Général( or really exceptional Colonel), particularly specialized in Legion affairs.
On March 26, 1931, Colonel Rollet passed command of the 1st Foreign Regiment 1 to Colonel Nicolas.
On April 1, 1931, Rollet was promoted to Général de brigade and assumed the function of the Général Inspector of the Foreign Legion.
Until his retirement in 1935, Rollet would serve his tailored function in total submission while comforting the culture of the Legion and codifying the essence of traditions.
The inspection would be dissolved when Général Rollet would leave active duty.
In 1948, the Inspection would have been seen activated for 2 years under the command of Raoul Magrin- Vernerey.
Dissolved again in 1950, the inspection reappeared as Autonomous Group of the Foreign Legion( G.A.L.E) commanded successively by generals Jean Olié and Paul Gardy whom were designated as général inspector.
The Autonomous Group of the Foreign Legion( G.A.L.E) compromised then, 1 Headquarters Staff in Sidi bel- Abbès, the Communal Depot of the Foreign Regiments, the 1st Foreign Infantry Regiment 1 REI which regrouped all training/ instruction units and the moral service for works of the Foreign Legion( S.O.M.L.E).
The inspection of the French Foreign Legion would give later form to the Foreign Legion Command.

Question: Do the movies Queen of the Arena and The Foreign Legion, originate from the same country?
Answer: no