Created as a temporary expedient in a french army that otherwise barred foreigners from serving in its ranks, the french foreign legion. Battle of dien bien phu french foreign legion information. Doesnt surprise me that all armys and countrys used these types of expertise to reclaim colonies after the war, just like the british used japanese soldiers to keep the peace after the. The hard truth about the foreign legion by max hastings. Waffenss and wehrmacht soldiers fought in the foreign legion in indochina and. As an integral part of the french army, the french foreign legion is a professional fighting unit using the same equipment and with the same missions as any other infantry, tank, or engineer unit of the french army. Did ex members of the waffen ss escape germany and join. How to join the french foreign legion with pictures wikihow. This force, raised in 1815 after the defeat of napoleon when france was in disarray, was disbanded in 1831, its foreign troops incorporated into the newly formed french foreign legion that same year. Paperback book ss in french foreign legion after ww2.
I thought it was a good read set in the algerian war and gives some good in sight to the legion. The world contains more misfits, sadists, masochists, and people who enjoy fighting than we sometimes like to suppose. But in the meantime it can be said that every legionnaire, be he in the jungles of tonkin, or on the boiling sand of the desert, should his time come, will be prepared to face death, either with a smile or a curse on. Wehrmacht, ss, or luftwaffe had always been the same to stalin, yet now he was endeavoring to turn the wehrmacht against the ss and vice. Germans have always been well represented in the legion. Feb 11, 2009 many found their way to france, often on foot, to enlist in the french foreign legion. The legion absorbed many refugees who crowded into france as well as unemployed soldiers, such as members of the swiss regiments who had. The 33rd waffen grenadier division of the ss charlemagne 1st french german. The true story of the hitlers waffen ss soldiers that joined the foreign legion in vietnam following the myths and legends about nazis recruited by the french foreign legion to fight in indochina, eric meyers new book is based on the real story of one such former waffenss man who lived to tell the tale. At the end of the first contract, the legionnaire will have the option to choose between contracts varying in duration from 6 months to 5 years to pursue his career. Devils guard and millions of other books are available for instant access. Most of these units were sent to the front before the germans invaded and they fought bitterly to resist the blitzkrieg when it was launched. Devils guard, by george robert elford published in 1971, is the story of a former german waffenss officers string of nearconstant combat that begins on world war iis eastern front and continues into the book s focusthe first indochina war, as an officer in the french foreign legion.
Men who are accepted into the ranks can achieve french citizenship and opt for a fiveyear contract or life as a career soldier. Towards the end of the war in april 1945 remnants of several waffenss. Waffenss foreign volunteers and conscripts wikipedia. Ive heard that the options they were given were not very good. A legion marching song the release of the book the devils guard caused a major scandal when it was first released in 1971 and tells the story of ss soldier hans josef wagemueller who spent decades in continual combat, in unconditional warfare as he called it. We will find him, again, at the head of the french waffen ss brigade and, later waffen ss division. Waffen ss and the french foreign legion englishmanlegionnaire simon murray in his book legionnaire mentioned at least one legion sergeant who was an ss man during the war. The true story of the hitlers waffen ss soldiers that. Americans struggle to meet the french foreign legions. This is the naziapologia war novel that apparently inspired.
There is also a heavily romanticized myth largely due to the book devils guard that dien bein phu was the last battle of the waffen ss, this is of course absolute bollocks. This is the naziapologia war novel that apparently. In an age when most of the worlds armies strive to make military service a less bestial and more enlightened experience than it used to be, the legion. Oct 14, 2010 the world contains more misfits, sadists, masochists, and people who enjoy fighting than we sometimes like to suppose. Foreign applicants less than 18 years of age should have all necessary documents translated into french by an approved french translator. The french convinced a significant number of waffen ss troops to join the french foreign legion after the armistice. Nov 12, 2017 for almost 200 years, the french foreign legion has prided itself on offering a haven for men yearning for adventure and a new start in life. This organization advertises a chance for a new life. So a certain amount of german dna entered the legion, and there remains a sneaking regard for german military prowess.
However, whatever is stated on the legions official website, enlisting in the legion during monday to friday between 08. Once inside the legion, wagemueller and his fellow ss compatriots form a unit led by nazi officers that eventually is deployed to vietnam, part of what was then known as french indochina, to quell. Statistically speaking they were bound to be some ss in the french foreign legion after wwii. Mar 02, 2009 french foreign legion nazi indochina vietnam world war 2 limoboy3. Dien bien phu and the french defeat in vietnam by martin windrow, our f. Aftermath french troops up to 14,000 french troops participated in the battle 3,2003,800 of them belonged to the foreign legion up to 2,300 french troops are known to be killed between them, many legionnaires more than 11,700 french troops were missed or imprisoned. Friedrich timm of the medical faculty at the institute of forensic medicine and scientific criminology of the university of jena.
Rather charmingly, ouidas foreign legion romance under two flags. The rare book offered for sale on this usmbooks web page is an original third reich published example of the june 1940 doctoral thesis of ssuntersturmfuhrer dr. This is the naziapologia war novel that apparently inspired seal. The book is presented by the author as nonfiction but considered to be untrue by military historians, and. If these applicants are no longer under their parents custody, they should produce the appropriate certificates. They are volunteers of any nationality, race or creed, always ready to serve france. Apr 10, 2017 this force, raised in 1815 after the defeat of napoleon when france was in disarray, was disbanded in 1831, its foreign troops incorporated into the newly formed french foreign legion that same year. Once inside the legion, wagemueller and his fellow ss compatriots form a unit led. Not even their former adversaries could deny that the waffen ss was the most efficient, fanatical, well trained and. In the final months of the war the division formed the nucleus of the new 23rd ss volunteer panzergrenadier division nederland. But in the meantime it can be said that every legionnaire, be he in the jungles of tonkin, or on the boiling sand of the desert, should his time come, will be prepared to face death, either with a smile or a curse on his lips according to his own temperament, just as his predecessors have done in. Fighting for the french foreign legion by paul robinson 14 feb 2014 0 like the 7 th cavalry, the waffen ss or the special air service the french foreign legion is one of those iconic be that through fame or infamy military units that most students of military history know something about. Members of the waffen ss join the french foreign legion fighting in vietnam. One of the authors who wrote about the conflict in indo china from 1945 to 1974 made a point of stating that the ffl forces there.
Faster fire rate, larger capacity and farther effective range of the mas. Nine new regiments were raised but most lacked the standards and experience of the true french foreign legion. In then french colony, the regiment of tonkin a nickname related to then title for northern vietnam, its birthplace was keeping order and building local infrastructure between 193045. Oct 22, 2010 the true story of the hitlers waffen ss soldiers that joined the foreign legion in vietnam following the myths and legends about nazis recruited by the french foreign legion to fight in indochina, eric meyers new book is based on the real story of one such former waffenss man who lived to tell the tale. The true story of the hitlers waffen ss soldiers that joined. Colonel edgard puaud 18891945, first and second class iron cross, 4445, former foreign legion officer, who is appointed as brigade general. American ss renegades the george washington legion. Best books about the french foreign legion from the past. French foreign legion french foreign legion history. The true experience of an american in the french foreign legion.
Mar 29, 2019 the french foreign legion is a military mercenary group that accepts recruits from around the world. When war broke out, the legion also took the preventative measure of arresting german legionnaires suspected of. The duration of an initial contract with the foreign legion is 5 years nonnegotiable. In total some 500,000 nongermans and ethnic germans from outside germany, mostly from germanoccupied europe, were recruited between 1940 and 1945. The units were under the control of the ss fuhrungshauptamt ss command main office beneath reichsfuhrer ss heinrich himmler. The foreign legions recruiting centers should be open 247365 yes, all year long officially. Exwaffen ss troops who fought after ww2 axis history forum.
That one i remember took part in the the defense of monte cassino. History, uniforms, headgear, insignia, weapons, equipment by raymond guyader 19 sep 2014 4. Not within the last 20 but you could try legionnaire. Greetings to you on this site, i will deal with the french foreign. Get the best deals on french foreign legion when you shop the largest online selection at. Concerning the devils guard book and its myth about thousand of former german ss in the french foreign legion there has been a discussion on this forum. Fighting for the french foreign legion by paul robinson 14 feb 2014 0 like the 7 th cavalry, the waffen ss or the special air service the french foreign legion is one of those iconic be that through fame or infamy military units that most students. The french foreign legion and its most famous us legionnaires. For comments on the french foreign legion during the battle of dien bien phu and the myths of waffenss participation, i would point to martin windrows book on the battle. Devils guard, by george robert elford published in 1971, is the story of a former german waffen ss officers string of nearconstant combat that begins on world war iis eastern front and continues into the book s focusthe first indochina war, as an officer in the french foreign legion. The french convinced a significant number of waffenss troops to join the french foreign legion after the armistice. Score a book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. Discover the true story behind the george washington legion, the purported american ss unit, and the incredible story of one american officers defection to the germans during world war ii.
Those with knowledge of the foreign legion and access to its records claim that no unit comprised entirely of germans fought in french indochina. Followed the exploits of a legion battallion comprised entirely of germans. A new book by jeanvincent blanchard examines the legendary, vicious and racist french foreign legion, whose soldiers marched in 50c heat till their boots filled with blood. Not even their former adversaries could deny that the waffen ss was the most efficient, fanatical, well trained and well lead fighting force ever created. After the second world war france lacked the will to keep fighting another war and was short on men. The 5th foreign regiment 5e regiment etranger, 5e re, the only regiment of the french foreign legion established in asia even two times, in french indochina. Wren, but it has had other writers and it has been occasionally spoofed, notably by charles schulz.
High quality french foreign legion gifts and merchandise. The french foreign legion in world war ii was filled with. French foreign legion soldiers were toughest in the world. Jan 10, 2017 once inside the legion, wagemueller and his fellow ss compatriots form a unit led by nazi officers that eventually is deployed to vietnam, part of what was then known as french indochina, to quell. Americans in the french foreign legion the french foreign. The larger magazine and fullyauto capabilities of the mauser gives it my edge. In 1941, many of the volunteers from denmark, flanders, holland and norway formed their own foreign legions under the auspices of the waffen ss. In 1941, many of the volunteers from denmark, flanders, holland and norway formed their own foreign legions under the auspices of the waffenss. Elford overview the personal account of a guerrilla fighter in the french foreign legion, reveals the nazi battalions inhumanities to indochinese villagers.
Did ex members of the waffen ss escape germany and join the. The french foreign legion, ww2 mercenaries hired by the french army. During world war ii, the waffen ss recruited significant numbers of nongermans, both as volunteers and conscripts. To my knowledge, there are no known cases of germans wanted for war crimes serving in the foreign legion. Yes and no there definetely were former members of the ss in the foreign legion, but a lot of it is based on exaggeration. The fascinating, true story of the french foreign legion s nazi battalion by george r. Waffen ss and the french foreign legion stormfront. Waffen ss veterans fighting vietnam axis history forum. The legion recruited widely from soldiers left unemployed and homeless by the defeat of germany in 1945. A complete history of the legendary fighting force. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
Devils guard, by george robert elford published in 1971, is the story of a former german waffenss officers string of nearconstant combat that begins on world war iis eastern front and continues into the books focusthe first indochina war, as an officer in the french foreign legion. Now, is it possible that former german soldiers or even ss men joined the foreign legion after the second world war. The french foreign legion accepts recruits from all over the world. Following the myths and legends about nazis recruited by the french foreign legion to fight in indochina, eric meyers new book is based on the real story of one such former waffen ss man who lived to tell the tale. 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. How else can one explain the fact that the french foreign legion is heavily overrecruited. Books about the history and activities of the french foreign legion. Many found their way to france, often on foot, to enlist in the french foreign legion. Free shipping on many items browse your favorite brands. In an age when most of the worlds armies strive to make military service a less bestial and more enlightened experience than it used to be, the legion still drives its trainees to.
The foreign legion was founded by king louisphilippe on march 9, 1831, as a military unit to support the conquest of algeria, which the french had invaded the previous year. The legion was aware of the background the germans but it also needed the experience and expertise of these warhardened veterans of countless battles. Sep 17, 2007 i read this book in paperback years ago. In this illustrated study of the dutch waffen ss legion and brigade, specialist massimiliano afiero explores the full history of this important formation from its establishment in 1941 until it was incorporated into. The real story devils guard, book 1 by eric meyer fantastic fiction. Apr 24, 2019 discover the true story behind the george washington legion, the purported american ss unit, and the incredible story of one american officers defection to the germans during world war ii. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. Martin windrow is also an expert on the french foreign legion, so if anything, hes the man who should have the final word. It is legendary as a place where people with a mysterious past go to disappear, and of course bereaved lovers, political refugees, and various rogues and.
Vs the waffen ss, nazi germanys elite shock troops. Americans struggle to meet the french foreign legions high. These ss legionnaires wore their own national arm shields that were made in their respective countries. The french foreign legion and the men who made it glorious by geoffrey bocca and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Read a few things about the nazi division of the french foreign legion and all claims have been either dismissed or claimed as exaggeration by war historians. One of the authors who wrote about the conflict in indo china from 1945 to 1974 made a point of stating that the ffl forces there, which were only a small. The fascinating, true story of the french foreign legions nazi battalion. Who is deadliest weapons my personal edges close range. The french foreign legion is one of the most mythologized military units in the world. Inspired designs on tshirts, posters, stickers, home decor, and more by independent artists and designers from around the world. I doubt there were many or else the proof would have surfaced. For almost 200 years, the french foreign legion has prided itself on offering a haven for men yearning for adventure and a new start in. Jan 24, 2009 one french officer stated that the number of ss men accepted into the legion shortly after the war was not more than 60 or 70.