The French Foreign Legion: A Complete History of the Legendary Fighting Force

by Douglas Porch

The French Foreign Legion is a complete, captivating study of the famed fighting force, from its inception in 1831 to modern times. Historian Douglas Porch chronicles the Legion’s involvement in Spain, Mexico, Indochina, Madagascar, WWI, Vietnam, and Algiers (to name a few) and delves into the inner workings of legionnaires and their captains. Known for draconian discipline and shrouded in mystery, the secrets of the Legion are guarded by those who have gained admittance into its elite society. In this thoroughly researched and impressive account, Porch reveals the mysteries surrounding a Legion of “unparalleled exoticism, pathos, and drama.”

Genres: History, Nonfiction, France, Military History, War, Military Fiction, European History

788 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 1991

About the author

Douglas Porch is an American historian, academic and a Professor and former Chair of the Department of National Security Affairs for the Naval Postgraduate School at Monterey, California. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee in 1967 and a Ph. D. from Cambridge University in 1972. He has been a professor of strategy at the Naval War College, a guest lecturer at the Marine Corps University, a post-doctoral research fellow at the École Normale Supérieure in Paris and the Mark W. Clark Professor of History at The Citadel.

Reviews

[KOMET · Rating 5 out of 5]

A highly readable, well-written and comprehensive history of one of the most storied fighting forces ever assembled: La Légion étrangère .

[Andy Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Possibly the best history of the French Foreign Legion ever written. It is neither a glorification of the Legion's exploits, nor is it a condemnation of its shortfalls. It is an evenhanded treatment of the Legion's accomplishments, failures, traditions and its unique style of producing fighting men, who fight not for France, but for the Legion. Porch's writing style is eminently readable and not in the least dry... as many military historians can be.

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books, superbly researched and well written, and unbelievably funny at times. This is the model for what an institutional history should be for any military organization.

[Randall Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've had this tome on my bookshelf for 30 years. Finally getting around to reading it, spurred by a recent visit to France. It was a tough slog. The first hundred pages of the book were very difficult to read. Once I got past those, it was smoother sailing. However, it's still a challenging read. The narrative does not flow smoothly.

Believe this is still the definitive one-volume history of the Legion written in English. The research is extensive; Porch clearly knows his subject matter. However, I can't say the narrative flows in any part of the book. A common complaint I have with many books of this length is that it doesn't seem - after reading - that it needed to be as long as it was. I feel the same about Porch. Think he could have told the same compelling story in a couple hundred pages less text.

Don't know if people are still reading this book, now more than 30 years after publication, so imagine this review will fall on deaf ears. It's a tough book to read but fact-filled and comprehensive. You will know the Legion well after reading.

I particularly enjoyed the last few chapters, about the Legion after WW II. Would have liked to have seen the depth of detail in the chapters about the Algerian War and attempted coup against De Gaulle in the 60s. They kind of get short shrift, as if the author was tired of writing and wanted to end his narrative in current times. Guess I'll have to search that info out in another volume.

I found the subject matter interesting and well-researched. Just didn't find it an easy book to read.

[Billie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is an excellent history of the Legion from its beginnings to just before the first Gulf War. the Legion has been one the best fighting forces in history. Also one the most devastated from Mexico to Bir Hakeem to Dien Bien Phu. The book did temper the romanticism I held the Legion, but all in all a Good read for those interested in the subject.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Porch presents an academic study of the French Foreign Legion which is comprised of foreigners serving in France's military. While fairly comprehensive, drawbacks includes the extensive use of French terms and a tendency to use large words. The historic facts are informative though the work is a difficult read for the average person.

[Clay Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned much about the French Foreign Legion from how it was formed to what it does today.

[Checkman · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1987 I was a nineteen. I was a student at university and an enlisted soldier in the United States Army National Guard. As is typical of so many young soldiers who are starting out, I was in awe of veterans and especially veterans of elite formations (Marines, paratroopers, special forces etc.). At the start of the Fall semester there was a Marine Corp veteran in one of my classes. He represented everything I aspired to be at that time. Some of those things I would never be. For example, he was tall, dark, patrician features, laconic and so forth. I'm short, stocky, very Irish looking, talkative and so forth. He was a casting director's image of the hero. I'm the faithful comedic sidekick who gets killed in the first 30 minutes.

He was also a friendly man who wasn't an arrogant snob. We got to know each other. He had been a rifleman in the Marines and had seen service in Lebanon and Grenada and he missed the Corp. At the end of the semester, I asked him what his holiday plans were. He floored me when he told me he was going to enlist with the French Foreign Legion. It was one of those things that one doesn't expect to hear. The French Foreign Legion was one of those organizations that I had read about and seen dramatic cinematic portrayals, but in 1987 it sounded impossibly romantic and archaic. I said goodbye to him at the end of the semester. I didn't see him again until 2019. I was one of several officers dealing with a drunken squabble at one of our local bars and as things were winding down a large man walked up to and asked if I remembered him. He was heavier and his chiseled features had softened but I did remember him. He did it. He served five years and returned home in 1993. He was in Desert Storm and also deployed to Africa. It was enough and he returned to Idaho and got on with his life. In the end he was soldiering, but there is still an avoidable air of romance associated with such service. Perhaps not correct but it is there even in the 21st Century.

Douglas Porch is an American historian who has specialized in French military history over the past forty plus years. Not surprisingly he eventually got around to writing about the Foreign Legion in 1991. This is a kitchen sink historical account that covers the Legion from its inception in March 1831 to the failed Algiers Putsch in April 1961. It's over 700 pages long and it is dense. It is also a serious academic study of the Legion, not a lightweight puff piece consisting of lots of artwork and breathless accounts of the Legion's many battles and campaigns. In this work Professor Porch examines the Legion myth and goes beyond it to explore the Legion's mystique and describe its performance from its founding in 1831 to the mid-twentieth century. What he shows is that the Legion is an effective organization having earned its reputation as one of the premier French military units legitimately.

Many of the myths are shown to be exaggerations and, in some cases, outright fictional creations. Yes, the Legion would take people with almost no questions asked. Some of them were criminals, others were running from bad situations and then there were the recruits looking for adventure in faraway lands. Discipline could be fierce, but really no worse than was inflicted on French soldiers or by other nation's armies on their soldiers at the time (19th century). Desertion was a problem (it appears to have dwindled in the modern era) and degraded the Legion's combat efficiency and finally the stress of continuous combat operations would also take its toll.

In addition to examining the myths of the Legion Dr. Porch covers the military history of the Legion. During the 130 years that the book examines the Legion served in Africa, Mexico, Indochina, France, Italy, Syria and the Crimea. It is an extensive history, and all of the campaigns are worthy of their own books. Space is limited but he does solid work in covering the many different expeditions and how the Legion adapted and evolved as the years went by and the missions changed.

This is an extensive and serious academic study. It looks at the Legion with a clear eye and the Legion is shown to be a professional military organization albeit one with baggage. A solid academic study that is well written and enlightening. Give yourself time when starting it. It took me about fifty pages to get into it, but it's worth the effort.

[Christopher Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exhaustive (and sometimes exhausting) history of that legendary offshoot of France's military establishment. As befitting a book which clocks in at 744 pages, Porch covers every angle of the Legion's establishment, growth, mid-life crises and decline and never hides the glories and hells through which it and the polyglot group of many nationalities that comprise it lived and fought. He doesn't shirk from praise and certainly not from laying blame for failures both on the incompetence of commanders, the blind interference of politicians, the weakening of the fighting force from desertion and laxity as well as expounding on the intolerable conditions in which they had to fight. It does become repetitious at times and Porch's penchant for completeness does lead to the inclusion of just too many statistics necessary to make a point but overall, he's successful in debunking the mythical "Legion" as portrayed in novels and films and laying out the story of the real Legion, warts and all.

[Bill Harper · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hoping for a little more battle history, but it was mostly socio history and the politics involved with the Legion. That being said I did enjoy learning more about the background of the formation of the Legion and how it operated throughout its history. If you are looking for a book about the battles of the Legion you will be disappointed. If you are interested in learning about the uniqueness of the Legion than this is your book.

[Rock · Rating 4 out of 5]

This thing is a beast, probably not the best as a first book, but certainly a great choice if one wants to read a detailed story of the Legion.
It was very interesting and I learned alot about the FFL.

[Zeb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Long, extensively researched. Can get repetitious discussing desertion, etc. Unfortunately ends in the 1960's and doesn't cover more modern events.

[Neddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.65 stars

[Jacob Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Expertly written, in an unbiased manner

[Greynomad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well documented and just an incredible history

[Maxo Marc · Rating 5 out of 5]

This legendary fighting force has no equal. Their reputation is well earned. Their march through history has been with bloody foot prints. A great read.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow, I finished it. A very detailed history of the French foreign Legion. It was slow in parts but very informative.

[Straker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, deeply researched history of the famous fighting force. Chapters covering the Legion's early exploits in the 1830s and 1840s were a bit slow, but the pace picked up as the narrative moved into the 20th century. The final part of the book, covering the Legion's exploits in Indochina and Algeria, was actually the most interesting. Recommended for serious readers of history.

[Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very detailed account of a unique band of brothers.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book on the Foriegn legion goes into just enough details and give enough anecdotes to be fun.

[Bill Potter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good though long book. The writer was able to get the detail about right.

[Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a very readable book. For those having a scrupulosity about the French Foreign Legion, this is an excellent book that will answer most of your questions about the formation and history of the Legion.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

More than you ever wanted to know about the French Foreign Legion

This was a very long book and it was hard to finish. It makes you think about those old movies and how exciting they made everything seem; nothing could be farther from the truth. As usual the politicians messed up more than a few things. I learned a lot but all those unit abbreviations made it tough reading. I'm glad I finished it.