List of battles involving the French Foreign Legion

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

Gulf War

Peacekeeping Operations Date BattleLocation Commanding Officer ResultCasualties Foreign Legion Units Involved Opération Licorne Ended. But legionnaires are still present in the country.2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment

Algerian War

Indochina War Date BattleLocation Commanding Officer ResultCasualties Foreign Legion Units InvolvedBattle of Dien Bien PhuDien Bien Phu, French IndochinaDefeat13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment3rd Foreign Infantry RegimentNovember 20–23, 1953Operation CastorDien Bien Phu, French IndochinaFrench Union Victory1st Foreign Parachute Battalion

Second World War Date BattleLocation Legion Commanding Officer(s) Result Strength Casualties Foreign Legion Units InvolvedMay 26 – June 11, 1942Battle of Bir HakeimBir Hakeim, LibyaLieutenant-colonel Dimitri AmilakhvariVictorySuccessful Delaying Action2nd Battalion of the 13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion 3rd Battalion of the 13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign LegionSeptember 22–26, 1940Battle of Lạng Sơn Lạng Sơn, French IndochinaDefeatFrench Forces ordered to Surrender2nd Battalion of the 5th Foreign Infantry RegimentBattle of NarvikNorwayMay 10 – June 25, 1940Battle of FranceFranceDefeat11th Foreign Infantry Regiment 12th Foreign Infantry Regiment August 15, 1944Operation Dragoon Southern France Victory Allied forces successfully landed in southern France1st Battalion of 13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion 2nd Battalion of 13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion

Rif War Date BattleLocation Legion Commanding Officer(s) Result Strength Casualties Foreign Legion Units InvolvedJune 10, 1925 Siege of Mediouna Mediouna, MoroccoDefeat40 legionnaires37 legionnaires6th Battalion of the 1st Foreign Regiment

First World War Date BattleLocation Legion Commanding Officer(s) Result Strength Casualties Foreign Legion Units InvolvedApril 28, 1915First Battle of KrithiaLieutenant-colonel Nièger3rd Battalion, 1st Marching Regiment of AfricaApril 25, 1915Landing at Kum KaleKum Kale, TurkeyLieutenant-colonel NiègerApproximately 600 men3rd Battalion, 1st Marching Regiment of Africa

Sino-French War Date BattleLocation Legion Commanding Officer(s) Result Strength Casualties Foreign Legion Units Involved August 1884 – April 1885 Siege of Tuyên QuangTuyên Quang, IndochinaVictory600March 2, 1882Battle of Hòa Mộc, IndochinaTuyên QuangFrench Victory2nd Foreign Legion Battalion3rd Foreign Legion Battalion

Franco-Prussian War

Mexican Campaign Date BattleLocation Commanding Officer Result Strength Casualties Foreign Legion Units InvolvedApril 30, 1863Battle of CameroneCamarón de Tejeda, MexicoCaptain Jean DanjouDefeatSurviving legionnaires were allowed to leave under their own arms65 Total 3 Officers 62 enlisted40 dead 17 wounded ..3rd Company of the Foreign Regiment of the Foreign LegionDecember 1864 to February 1865 Siege of Oaxaca Oaxaca, Mexico

Italian Campaign (1859) Date BattleLocation Commanding Officer Result Strength Casualties Foreign Legion Units InvolvedJune 4, 1859 Battle of Magenta Magenta, Italy VictoryJune 24, 1859Battle of SolferinoSolferino, ItalyVictory2nd Foreign Regiment

Crimean War Date BattleLocation Commanding Officer Result Strength Casualties Foreign Legion Units InvolvedSeptember 20, 1854Battle of AlmaAlma River, RussiaVictory60 men Porch p. 125Eight companies from the 1st and 2nd Regiments of the Foreign LegionOctober 17, 1854 – September 9, 1855Siege of SevastopolSevastopol, RussiaBrigadier Achille BazaineVictory1st Regiment of the Foreign Legion2nd Regiment of the Foreign LegionNovember 9, 1854Battle of InkermannSevastopol, RussiaVictory1st Regiment of the Foreign Legion2nd Regiment of the Foreign Legion

Second Deployment to Algeria Date BattleLocation Commanding Officer Highest Ranking Legion Commander ResultStrengthCasualties Foreign Legion Units Involved1849Battle of ZaatchaVictory5,000

First Carlist War Date BattleLocation Commanding Officer Highest Ranking Legion Commander ResultCasualties Foreign Legion Units InvolvedJune 2, 1837Battle of BarbastroCol. Joseph ConradPyrrhic VictoryMay 24, 1837Battle of HuescaCol. Joseph Conrad378 Casualties350 legionnaires28 officersApril 1836Battle of Zubiri

First Deployment to Algeria Date BattleLocation Commanding Officer ResultCasualties Foreign Legion Units InvolvedJune 28, 1835Battle of MactaDefeatApril 24, 1832Battle of Maison CarréeOutside of Algiers, AlgeriaVictory3rd Battalion

See also History of the French Foreign Legion List of Commanders of the French Foreign Legion

References