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List of battles involving the French Foreign Legion

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Throughout its long history since its inception on March 9, 1831, elements of the French Foreign Legion have engaged in combat on the behalf of France and its interests with distinction. The Foreign Legion has seen battle on five continents against numerous foes.

Afghanistan War

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Gulf War

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Peacekeeping Operations

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Date Battle Location Commanding Officer Result Casualties Foreign Legion Units Involved
Opération Licorne  Côte d'Ivoire Ended. But legionnaires are still present in the country. 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment

Algerian War

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Indochina War

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Date Battle Location Commanding Officer Result Casualties Foreign Legion Units Involved
Battle of Dien Bien Phu French IndochinaDien Bien Phu, French Indochina Defeat 13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade
2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment
3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment
November 20–23, 1953 Operation Castor French IndochinaDien Bien Phu, French Indochina French Union Victory 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion

Second World War

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Date Battle Location Legion Commanding Officer(s) Result Strength Casualties Foreign Legion Units Involved
May 26 – June 11, 1942 Battle of Bir Hakeim Bir Hakeim, Libya Lieutenant-colonel Dimitri Amilakhvari Victory
Successful Delaying Action
2nd Battalion of the 13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion
3rd Battalion of the 13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion
September 22–26, 1940 Battle of Lạng Sơn French Indochina Lạng Sơn, French Indochina Defeat
French Forces ordered to Surrender
2nd Battalion of the 5th Foreign Infantry Regiment
Battle of Narvik Norway
May 10 – June 25, 1940 Battle of France France Defeat 11th Foreign Infantry Regiment
12th Foreign Infantry Regiment
August 15, 1944 Operation Dragoon FranceSouthern France Victory
Allied forces successfully landed in southern France
1st Battalion of 13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion
2nd Battalion of 13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion

Rif War

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Date Battle Location Legion Commanding Officer(s) Result Strength Casualties Foreign Legion Units Involved
June 10, 1925 Siege of Mediouna Mediouna, Morocco Defeat 40 legionnaires 37 legionnaires 6th Battalion of the 1st Foreign Regiment

First World War

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Date Battle Location Legion Commanding Officer(s) Result Strength Casualties Foreign Legion Units Involved
April 28, 1915 First Battle of Krithia Lieutenant-colonel Nièger 3rd Battalion, 1st Marching Regiment of Africa
April 25, 1915 Landing at Kum Kale Kum Kale, Turkey Lieutenant-colonel Nièger Approximately 600 men 3rd Battalion, 1st Marching Regiment of Africa

Sino-French War

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Date Battle Location Legion Commanding Officer(s) Result Strength Casualties Foreign Legion Units Involved
August 1884 – April 1885 Siege of Tuyên Quang Tuyên Quang, Indochina Victory 600
March 2, 1882 Battle of Hòa Mộc, Indochina Tuyên Quang FranceFrench Victory 2nd Foreign Legion Battalion
3rd Foreign Legion Battalion

Franco-Prussian War

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Mexican Campaign

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Date Battle Location Commanding Officer Result Strength Casualties Foreign Legion Units Involved
April 30, 1863 Battle of Camerone MexicoCamarón de Tejeda, Mexico Captain Jean Danjou Defeat
Surviving legionnaires were allowed to leave under their own arms
65 Total
3 Officers
62 enlisted
40 dead
17 wounded ..
3rd Company of the Foreign Regiment of the Foreign Legion
December 1864 to February 1865 Siege of Oaxaca MexicoOaxaca, Mexico

Italian Campaign (1859)

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Date Battle Location Commanding Officer Result Strength Casualties Foreign Legion Units Involved
June 4, 1859 Battle of Magenta Magenta, Italy Victory
June 24, 1859 Battle of Solferino Solferino, Italy Victory 2nd Foreign Regiment

Crimean War

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Date Battle Location Commanding Officer Result Strength Casualties Foreign Legion Units Involved
September 20, 1854 Battle of Alma Alma River, Russia Victory 60 men [1] Eight companies from the 1st and 2nd Regiments of the Foreign Legion
October 17, 1854 – September 9, 1855 Siege of Sevastopol Sevastopol, Russia Brigadier Achille Bazaine Victory 1st Regiment of the Foreign Legion
2nd Regiment of the Foreign Legion
November 9, 1854 Battle of Inkermann Sevastopol, Russia Victory 1st Regiment of the Foreign Legion
2nd Regiment of the Foreign Legion

Second Deployment to Algeria

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Date Battle Location Commanding Officer Highest Ranking Legion Commander Result Strength Casualties Foreign Legion Units Involved
1849 Battle of Zaatcha Victory 5,000

First Carlist War

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Date Battle Location Commanding Officer Highest Ranking Legion Commander Result Casualties Foreign Legion Units Involved
June 2, 1837 Battle of Barbastro Col. Joseph Conrad Pyrrhic Victory
May 24, 1837 Battle of Huesca Col. Joseph Conrad 378 Casualties
350 legionnaires
28 officers
April 1836 Battle of Zubiri

First Deployment to Algeria

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Date Battle Location Commanding Officer Result Casualties Foreign Legion Units Involved
June 28, 1835 Battle of Macta Defeat
April 24, 1832 Battle of Maison Carrée Outside of Algiers, Algeria Victory 3rd Battalion

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Porch p. 125