Foreign Legion:

http://www.br-legion.com/ang/accueil.htm

Taken from:

http://members.tripod.com/~vet4/foreignlegion.html

Birth Of The Foreign Legion

Formed by

King Louis Philippe

March 10, 1831

It was not very new, since France had always
foreign troops five centuries before France had
foreign troops, under the reign of King Philippe le Bel, [pietons],
then Charles VII, Scottish Guards,
Francois Ier Swiss Guards etc...
In the beginning, the Legion was organized around 7 battalions:

1st Battalion - Swiss
2nd and 3rd Battalions - Swiss and German
4th Battalion - Spanish
5th Battalion - Italian
6th Battalion - Belgian and Dutch
7th Battalion - Polish

During the Spain's campaign in 1835,
Col. Bernelle changed the battalions to
strenghten the unity of the Legion.
The batallions were made of all the nationalities

Legions Code of Honor

Legionnaire:

You are a volunteer serving France
faithfully and with honour

Every Legionnaire is your brother at arm,
irrespective of his nationality, race or creed.
You will demonstrate this by an unwavering
and straight forward solidarity which must
always bind together members of the same family

Respectful of the Legions traditions,
honouring your superiors,
disipline and cameradery are your strength,
courage and loyality your virtoues

Proud of your status as that of a Legionnare,
you will display this pride, by your turnout,
always impeccable, your behavior, ever worthy,
though modest, your living-quarters, always tidy

An elite soldier, you will train vigorously,
you will maintain your weapon as if it were your
most precious possession, you will keep your
body in the peak of condition, always fit

A mission once given to you becomes sacred
to you, you will accomplish it to the end of all cost

In combat, you will act without relish of your task,
or hatred, you will respect the vanquished enemy
and will never abandon neither your wounded nor your dead,
nor will you under any circumstances surrender your arms


The most cherished battle in the history of the Foreign Legion

A convoy carrying gold bullion is about to leave Vera Cruz,
bound for the interior of Mexico.
Escorting the convoy is the
Third Company of the First Battalion of the Foreign Legion.
Its effective strength (due to yellow fever)
is 62 legionnaires (no officers).
Three officers volunteer to go with them:
Captain Danjou, Lt. Vilain (the pay officer), and 2nd Lt. Maudet.

The Mexican sector commander, Colonel Milan,
learns of the convoy and makes plans to capture it.
He musters 2,000 men, including 800 cavalry armed with
Remington and Winchester rifles.
The French have no idea that a large Mexican force
is in the area.

Before 7 a.m. on 30 April, the convoy passes through
the village of Camerone. A mile later, the legionnaires halt
and make fires to boil coffee.
At that moment, the Mexican cavalry attacks.
The legionnaires form square.
The terrain is not good for a cavalry attack,
due to waist-high grass and clumps of tropical vegetation.
Milan's men are kept at a distance by French volleys,
and maneuver instead to surround the Legionnaires.
The Legion's mules have run off, taking the rations and
reserve ammunition with them.

To avoid being surrounded, the Legionnaires move
still in square the mile back to Camerone.
They arrive with 42 men left, including wounded.
The village consists of a farmhouse and outbuildings,
plus some ruined hovels, all enclosed in a courtyard.
The French begin setting up barricades and
improving their positions.

At 9 a.m., the Mexican infantry (three battalions, 1200 men) arrive.
They make several assaults on Camerone. Around noon,
Milan calls on the Legionnaires to surrender.
Danjou instead persuades his men to fight to the end.

About this time, a Mexican assault reaches the
upper story of the farmhouse.
Danjou is killed, and Vilain is in charge.
Two hours later, Vilain is slain, and Maudet takes command.
At 5 p.m., only Maudet and 12 legionnaires remain alive.
The Mexicans light the farmhouse on fire, forcing the French
to flee across the courtyard to an outhouse.
The Legionnaires still refuse to surrender.

After a brief lull, the Mexicans mass and slowly approach the
outhouse, it is 6 p.m. Maudet and the 5 survivors fire a volley,
then charge the Mexicans with bayonets fixed.
They are engulfed by the Mexican infantry.
Three of the legionnaires who made the final charge
were captured, and survived the battle.

April 30th is celebrated as Camerone Day by the Foreign Legion,
and is the most cherished battle in the history of the Legion.
The word "Camerone" is inscribed in gold on the walls of
Les Invalides in Paris.
Danjou's wooden hand rests in the
Legion Hall of Honour in Aubagne.

Taken from:

http://members.tripod.com/~vet4/foreignlegion.html

Is it an urban legend that convicted felons, wanted criminals or escaped convicts could join the Legion and still earn French citizenship?

I didn't see this specifically addressed in the FAQ, but I did see a bunch of references to "original identity" (whatever that means), and that certain things could only be done by those who maintained it.

http://www.br-legion.com/ang/kepi.htm

Is it an urban legend that convicted felons, wanted criminals or escaped convicts could join the Legion and still earn French citizenship?
At one time they could, but this is no longer true. Now they do background checks on you and if you're wanted they hold you until the proper authorities arrive to get you.

Something interesting: the Legion never surrenders. They fight until there is no one left alive. They also have their own march, which isn't in step with the rest of the French military. They also never salute on pass and review.



 The Paras' Prayer
Give me, God, what you still have,
Give me what no one asks for;
I do not ask for wealth
Nor for success, nor even health --
People ask you so often, God, for all that
That you cannot have any left.
Give me, God, what you still have;
Give me what people refuse to accept from you.
I want insecurity and disquietude,
I want turmoil and brawl,
And if you should give them to me, my God,
Once and for all
Let me be sure to have them always,
For I will not always have the courage
To ask you for them.
--Zirnheld
(Often recited by the French Foriegn Legion before a mission.)

Originally posted by Ponycar_302

At one time they could, but this is no longer true. Now they do background checks on you and if you're wanted they hold you until the proper authorities arrive to get you.

Something interesting: the Legion never surrenders. They fight until there is no one left alive. They also have their own march, which isn't in step with the rest of the French military. They also never salute on pass and review.



 The Paras' Prayer
Give me, God, what you still have,
Give me what no one asks for;
I do not ask for wealth
Nor for success, nor even health --
People ask you so often, God, for all that
That you cannot have any left.
Give me, God, what you still have;
Give me what people refuse to accept from you.
I want insecurity and disquietude,
I want turmoil and brawl,
And if you should give them to me, my God,
Once and for all
Let me be sure to have them always,
For I will not always have the courage
To ask you for them.
--Zirnheld
(Often recited by the French Foriegn Legion before a mission.)
Also they do not take an oath of allegence to France but to the legion itself. Their motto is "The legion is my Fatherland."

The legion once did attract many men wanted by the Mafia. It was also a refuge for fromer Nazis. After WW 2 many former members of the Waffen SS enlisted, as did some French who collaborated with the Nazis. It was said the the Post WW 2 legion spoke French to their officers but German among eachother.

As a kid, I once dreamed of joining the legion. I often thought of myself wearing a black baret.

Here is an informative site:

http://www.foreignlegionlife.com/