Foreign Legion 1939-45

Initially a sad episode in the history of France, the Second World War was destined to give birth to one of the finest armies that country has ever had, and among the most characteristic troops from the period of the Foreign Legion. The backbone of the Army of Africa, the Legion went to war in 1939 with horses and mules, redolent of the "Beau Geste" image and ended the conflict riding on half-tracks and Sherman tanks. It is this story, punctuated by the great dates of the war and the legendary characters involved, which are emphasized in this volume in text and illustrations.A selection of previously unpublished documents takes take the reader from Sidi bel Abbes and the camps at Barcares where the foreign volunteers were enrolled, to the triumphant march into Germany and the bloody surprise on March 9th, 1945 in Indo China.The dark hours of 1940, the forgotten sacrifices of the defeat; St-Germain-sur-Meuse, the success at Narvik, and then the Armistice Army; Dakar and the campaign in Syria. The famous epic of the 13th DBLE and its commanders who entered in lefend: Montclar, Amilakvari, Brunet de Sairigne' and Messmer, whose very names evoke Bir Hacheim, Italy, and Alsace. Then the rebirth of the French army and the bitter campaign in Tunisia, through to the beaches of Provence, the Liberation, Alsace and Germany with the famous Motorized Infantry Regiment of the Foreign Legion and Royal Etranger Cavalerie. Finally, the sacrifice of the 5th Regiment in Indo China.Pages of glory written in the indelible ink of bloodshed in battle.