Voices of the Foreign Legion: the History of the World's Most Famous Fighting Corps

Description

The French Foreign Legion has established a reputation as the most formidable of military forces. Created as a means of protecting French interests abroad, the legion spearheaded French colonialism in North Africa during the nineteenth century. Accepting volunteers from all parts of the world, the legion acquired an aura of mystery-and a less than enviable reputation for brutality within its ranks. Attracting recruits from all over the world, these new soldiers explain in their own words why they submitted themselves to such brutal training. Voices of the Foreign Legion looks at how the legion.;Intro; Title Page; Copyright Page; ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS; Table of Contents; PART I -- THE MAKING OF A LEGIONNAIRE; CHAPTER 1 -- CROSSING THE LINE; CHAPTER 2 -- THE POWER OF TRADITION; CHAPTER 3 -- BASIC TRAINING; CHAPTER 4 -- INTO THE LEGION; PART II -- LIFE IN THE LEGION; CHAPTER 5 -- BARRACK-ROOM CULTURE; CHAPTER 6 -- THE LEGION ON CAMPAIGN; CHAPTER 7 -- DEPRESSION AND DESERTION; PART III -- THE LEGION AT WAR; CHAPTER 8 -- AN EMPIRE IN AFRICA; CHAPTER 9 -- THE CONQUEST OF INDOCHINA; CHAPTER 10 -- THE FIRST WORLD WAR: DEATH IN THE TRENCHES; CHAPTER 11 -- THE INTER-WAR YEARS. Intro Title Page Copyright Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Table of Contents PART I -- THE MAKING OF A LEGIONNAIRE CHAPTER 1 -- CROSSING THE LINE CHAPTER 2 -- THE POWER OF TRADITION CHAPTER 3 -- BASIC TRAINING CHAPTER 4 -- INTO THE LEGION PART II -- LIFE IN THE LEGION CHAPTER 5 -- BARRACK-ROOM CULTURE CHAPTER 6 -- THE LEGION ON CAMPAIGN CHAPTER 7 -- DEPRESSION AND DESERTION PART III -- THE LEGION AT WAR CHAPTER 8 -- AN EMPIRE IN AFRICA CHAPTER 9 -- THE CONQUEST OF INDOCHINA CHAPTER 10 -- THE FIRST WORLD WAR: DEATH IN THE TRENCHES CHAPTER 11 -- THE INTER-WAR YEARS. CHAPTER 12 -- THE SECOND WORLD WAR: A HOUSE DIVIDEDCHAPTER 13 -- TRAGEDY IN VIETNAM CHAPTER 14 -- THE END IN ALGERIA CHAPTER 15 -- POST-COLONIAL CONFLICTS POSTSCRIPT APPENDIX SOURCE NOTES SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX.