Book Description
To safeguard foreign installations and individuals, and to provide security for Metropolitan France itself, France has concentrated all its air, land and sea special forces in a single Special Operations Command, or COS. (English Text)
Customer Reviews:
Of the best - French SF.......2003-04-24
French Special Forces, Eric Micheletti, Histoire & Collections, 160 pages.
IF IT'S special forces that has your interest, Eric Micheletti's new French Special Forces will be right up your alley.
As a former member of the French airborne and editor of RAIDS, a French military magazine, Micheletti is well-placed to pen this detailed account of his country's SF.
The book looks at the most secretive of French SF - 1RPIMa, naval commandos, and special operations aviation assets as well as the basic, run-of-the-mill SF.
We see the various French operations around the world, different exercises, training and day-to-day activities.
The book is comprehensive in its explanation of the role of the special forces in France, and profiles each of the regiments clarifying their position in the greater scheme of things. You can learn about their equipment, kit, weapons - even operational history.
Set out like a flashy, hard cover magazine, French Special Forces is an easy, but very informative read, filled with amazing pictures of the boys in action.
French Special Forces.......2000-08-26
Former French para and military writter Eric Micheletti has written a number of books over the last decade. He has covered topics rangig from a study of French hotels to the conflict in the former Yugosolvia.
In his latest work, French Special Forces, he provides a detailed look into the unit s that compose France's Commandement des Operations Speciales (COS) including the 1 RPMIa, the Commando Hubert combat diver unit, and CPA No.10. The book is coffee table format, hard back and contains a large number of high quality glossy photos.
Micheletti has broken the book up into several main sections, with each section covering the special operations unit s of each armed service.
Micheletti describes in great detail the makeup of each individual unit, their equipment, selection,training, and some of their recent operations.
The final section of the book provides information on how COS units fit into France's military strategy, and orders of battle for each of the units.
Overall French Special Forces is well worth the price, and would be a excellent addtion to anyone interested in special operations, or French military operations library.
A fresh look at the French SF community.......2000-02-21
Mr Michelletti has down a good job at presenting a complete status report on the French SF which underwent a complete reshuffle in 1993. Far from the anglo-saxon view that tends to think that the French SF are made up by the 2eme REP and nothing else, the reader will discover who is who in the French SF circles. Rarely seen units such as the DAOS (SF Aviation unit),the Navy commandos,the Air Force CPA 1O CSAR unit, are reviewed along more publicized units such as the 1er RPIMa or the Combat Swimmers from the "Commando Hubert". The pictures are of very high standard,never publicized before for most of them and rich in interesting details for "kit" fanatics. Weapons rarely seens in French hands such as Colt 735/M203s,SIG 550s and heavy sniping rifles are clearly visible. Overally a very pleasant and well researched book by a former member of the French Airborne Forces.
Book Description
This powerful look at the French Foreign Legion explores the authors' experiences with the brutalities, adventure, destruction, danger, and criminal encounters over his five years of service in this dehumanizing regime. Well known as the most notorious, bloody, and ruthless band of mercenaries in the world, in 1998 the Legion accepted Tony Sloane at the age of 18, inviting him as an elite member of this secret and mysterious fighting force. The legend and the myths of the Legion captivated Sloane and he quickly learned that life as a legionnaire was not just about physical training, but also about pledging mind and soul to the missions and operations.
Customer Reviews:
The Naked Soldier: A True Story of the French Foreign Legion.......2007-05-08
Great book for those of us who thought about running off to join the Legion. Very sobering for the hopeless romantic.
Very real stories from his experiences; no Rambo tales.
A great read.
The darker side of willpower and the combat mindset.......2007-05-04
This is an interesting book, if nothing else because of a fascination with the idea of the legion. But let's just say, if you aren't interested in the darker underside of civilization this book isn't for you. It can best be described as a walk on the wild side. At worst it's an example of minimalist behavior on the part of hardened men. If you can't handle that then don't read this book. Reality, isn't found at a StarBucks coffee house.
I can understand, due to some of my own past, some of what these men seek. You'll never be more alive when you are close to death. You'll never understand the meaning of brotherhood until you've stood with other men like a stone wall.
We should be grateful for the knowledge these men go where others would not dare. As George Orwell said, "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
Je ne regrette rien.
Making Monsters.......2007-03-29
A straightforward, apparently factual account of how a naive British youth joined the FFL, endured unbelievable physical hardships, emotional abuse and cruelty, lost all of his innocence, and became a hardened soldier.
The world may need soldiers -- to fight other soldiers -- but releasing these kind of people back into the real world outside the army seems like a bad idea. Sloane's summing up in the last chapters is chillingly cold-hearted and inhuman, and the fact that he returned to fighting for other armies (in the UK and in Desert Storm) only goes to prove his statement that he became "inept for civilian life."
The book was well-written (probably ghost-written) although there is almost no analysis of any of the political situations mentioned above (by reviewer Dimitrios). This is most definitely not a book about world politics or even the French Foreign Legion; it's strictly the story of one self-centered little bully and how he was turned into a self-serving militaristic monster.
Brilliant - Must Read Book.......2007-03-24
The Naked Soldier is a must read book, for everyone who has a little legionaire inside themselves, or if you just want some REAL action! The book is rather easy to read, and I asure You, that from the first page, you can't put it down. Buy it, read it and make up your mind. It's worth it all.
Captivating!.......2006-12-31
After reading reviews on various other foreign legion books, I decided to get my husband this particular book for x-mas. He's not much of a bookworm but he can't put it down! He says the writing is great and the story flows very nicely. It HAS to be interesting for my husband to get so involved with the story.
Book Description
In late 2000, the book 'Pour l'Europe: the French volunteers of the Waffen-SS' was published privately in a limited edition of 500 copies. Helion are pleased to present a heavily revised and expanded edition of this book which provides the definitive account of its subject, impeccably researched directly from French and German sources, and with assistance from former volunteers. 'For Europe' covers: * The formation of the French Sturmbrigade of the Waffen-SS and its engagement in Galicia/* The formation of the French Division of the Waffen-SS called 'Charlemagne', including brief histories of its main component parts, namely the LVF and Milice franaise/* The bitter fighting and and massacre of 'Charlemagne' on the Eastern Front, in Pomerania 1945 /* The reformation of 'Charlemagne'/* A blow-by-blow account of the French Sturmbataillon in the final battle for Berlin/* The French Waffen-SS in NW Europe 1944-45, including a new and detailed study of the events surrounding the murder of 12 French volunteers of the Waffen-SS at Bad Reichenhall with information provided by a relative of one of those murdered/* The story of a French nurse of the Waffen-SS/* New material on the French volunteers who served with the NSKK and SK-OT/* The postwar years/* The former French volunteers of the Waffen-SS who fought in the ranks of the BILOM in Indochina. Key sales points: * For years, knowledge of the history and fate of the French volunteers of the Waffen-SS has been plagued by inaccurate and misleading accounts. 'For Europe' now tells this story accurately for the first time./* An exhaustive account of the formation and service of all French SS units, focusing on the 33rd 'Charlemagne' Division/* Includes officer lists/* One of the most important books relating to the Waffen-SS published in recent years. REVIEWS "I picked up this book because I had long wondered about the people who joined the Nazi Army. I couldn't imagine why anyone from outside Germany would do that. This book answered those questions. ...the book is extremely complete. It seems that every action, no matter how small is covered in great detail. Especially fascinating is the chapter on the post war years where it seems that the treatment of the returning soldiers was almost arbitrary in nature with some going to jail, some being set free, some joining the French army to fight in Indo-China. All in all, a fascinating book, extremely detailed in its research and presentation." John Matlock Books On Line 5-31-2007
Customer Reviews:
French Soldiers in German Service.......2007-05-30
I picked up this book because I had long wondered about the people who joined the Nazi Army. I couldn't imagine why anyone from outside Germany would do that. This book answered those questions.
They joined for various reasons, but mostly because they were still kids - 17 years old was common. They looked at their life in France and were attracted to the colors. Some were admirers of Germany. Some were going with the winners. Some were anti-communist and wanted to fight them in Russia. In short all of the reasons that people of all types join the military. It becomes easier to understand as you hear the stories of the individuals.
After that, when the units had been formed, this is a story of what the French units did for the remainder of the war. In this area the book is extremely complete. It seems that every action, no matter how small is covered in great detail. Especially fascinating is the chapter on the post war years where it seems that the treatment of the returning soldiers was almost arbitrary in nature with some going to jail, some being set free, some joining the French army to fight in Indo-China.
All in all, a fascinating book, extremely detailed in its research and presentation.
A Truly Monumental Work.......2007-05-27
This subject must have been a fixation of the author's for decades. Otherwise he never would have been able to produce this book. Every contact with th enemy is documented as well as keeping track of the division's ever changing order of battle and equipment. Every officer in the division must have been mentioned by the time the book ends. Details of recruitment and training are also included. If a squad knocked out a tank on 24 Feb 1945 then it's in the book. The author also gives alternate views of an action if first hand accounts differ. Of course any book that is this detailed does not flow like a novel, it can be heavy going at times. But the payoff it acquiring detailed knowledge of the French volunteers in the Waffen SS and even other French paramilitaries fighting on the Eastern Front. One minor quibble is the lack of maps. As with most military histories maps are key to understanding the combat narratives. This book as few maps and the ones it does have are poor. But if the topic of the foreigners who were willing to fight for Hitler interests you this book is a must.
Outstanding work..........2007-03-27
Undoubtedly, Robert Forbes has written with "For Europe : ..." the most precise, objective, accurate (to that date) and exciting account about the french serving in the Waffen SS between 1943 and 1945 and notably in the 33rd Grenadier Division of the SS "Charlemagne".
Forbes details the different backgrounds of the frenchmen (from working class to aristocracy!) who opted for a military collaboration with the germans, their motives ('greater europe', anti-communism), their training (tough but too short), their military achievements (as good as it could have been) on the eastern front and finaly their end in the third's reich capital, Berlin...
The author separates the two main formations of the frenchmen serving in the Waffen SS. The french SS "Assault Brigade" and the "Charlemagne" division. If the first was made solely of volunteers for the ss and was well equiped and correctly trained, the second was a mix of different collaborating french formations (from the Heer L.V.F infantry regiment to the Organisation Todt labor units...).
While the "Assault Brigade" performed very well but suffered high losses during the red army great offensive of july 1944, the "Charlemagne", poorly equiped, without tank and aerial support, undertrained and without most of its specialists, had a variable combat record : If all units did their best to halt the red army formations, inflicting to the soviets heavy losses, some managed to maintain some cohesion while other rapidly disintagrated... For the frenchmen, it was a bloodbath...
Virtually distroyed in february-march 1945 in pomerania, the "Charlemagne" and its survivors were reorganised. Whose from the "Assault Brigade" and the LVF choosed to continue the fight. Most of them would be sent to their death by defending fanatically Hitler's Bunker... The others, mainly from the 'milice française' ranks opted to serve in contruction battalions. It has to be said that men from the milice didn't have frontline experience for most of them and consequently, they sustained the highest losses... That is why their morale was very low...
Forbes has done a good job with 'For Europe...'. It is well written and includes numerous veteran sources. It is not a propagandist book about whose who joined the waffen ss. It is just an honest try to EXPLAIN why so many frenchmen joined... Many mistakes from orther authors are corrected. The military accomplishments of the SS frenchmen are accurately described but not exagerated.
Finaly that book is probably the best testimony about these men who believed fighting for their country, "for europe" and against "the communist threat" by joining nazi germany.
Rare Insight into Foreign Volunteers.......2007-01-31
This is one of those rare books that gives an insight into the Foreign Volunteers of the Waffen SS, in this case French members of the Charlemange Division.
Formed originally as a Sturmbrigade the unit grew into a formidable fighting force which fought its way through Galicia, Pomerania, Danzig and finally its destruction in the inferno of Berlin.
I was amazed at how Frenchmen for a variety of reasons would join such an organisation as the Waffen SS, but the various reasons why these men joined are varied and complex.
Many of these men were extremely proud to belong to the Waffen SS and had volunteered gladly, others as the fortunes of Germany wavered opted to join to escape the vengance of the French people who many had helped to suppress in such units as the Milice.
Its fighting spirit never wavered and even in the final battle for Berlin its soldiers fought to the bitter end in tank hunting units armed with panzerfaust where they were extremely effective.
The book is very long over 500 pages with a few maps of the battlegrounds and pictures of some of the volunteers. I found it to be a very easy read and appears to be very well researched with lots of footnotes to explain parts of the story.
The book has many many personal accounts of the men who fought in the unit and where possible lists the fate of the survivors, where some fought in Indo China (on both sides !) and others were not so lucky who were executed.
It also deals with a war crime which I did not know about, where 12 French SS Volunteers who had been captured by the free French Army forces were executed.
This is an impressive book well written and researched and I highly recommend this book to others
Book Description
Known for its austerity and discipline, deprivation and sacrifice, the French Foreign Legion is perhaps the most intriguing and famous fighting force in the world. In Life in the French Foreign Legion, Evan McGorman writes about his personal experiences between 1989 and 1994 during his time with the elite corps. He discusses every aspect of Legion life including the pros and cons of desertion, and he strips the veil of mystery from one of the world's most secretive and misunderstood military organizations.
Customer Reviews:
For when you get tired of the cubical farm........2007-06-07
This is a one-of-a-kind manual for the alienated or adventurous youth of the world an utterly fascinating read.
If you're thinking about joining, or just want to know more, this is the most practical book you'll find on the subject. It should help dispel any illusions that you have of romantic days spent marching mile after mile through the desert. Be prepared for a life of Spartan confines and discipline.
But it's more than that. I can't really tell you how many times I've picked up this book just to have something to read. But it says something about a book when you return to it over and over again. I even emailed the author a few questions and was pleasantly surprised by receiving an answer.
The book even caused a minor controversy with my parents as the author explained some of the finer points of "telling people off" in French. Apparently, my rather sensible French mother didn't quite understand the totality or extremeness of some internationally known gestures or expressions. Needless to say, my father and I had a good laugh over this.
I left this book on my desk at work in 2004 just before going on vacation in Europe. Oh, how the rumors started to fly!
A Good Manual for Wanna-be's .......2007-02-12
This is a great book for anyone contemplating joining the Legion and it's a great read for anyone remotely interested in the Legion. I think the author is very honest in his assessments of the Legion and its ventures.
Life in the French Foreign Legion.......2007-01-09
Good intro to the Legion life and what to expect.
A must read if you have any idea that the Legion is for you.
FFL 2eme REP.......2007-01-04
This book is set up almost like an instruction manual (like the title implies). It's an easy read that isn't too much like a dry term paper. I thought it was very interesting. When I was younger I entertained thoughts of being a paratrooper in the French Foreign Legion and I wish I would've had this as a reference. I definitely recommend this for anyone who has ever even thought about joing in the Legion. It may encourage you to make a decision that would surely change your life!
Look Inside the Hype.......2006-09-20
Very good nuts and bolts look at day to day life in the Legion. Well worth reading (I don't automatically give 5 stars). One thing I noted. Training at the small unit level seems to be OK but with seemingly an over-arching emphasis on physical fitness over tactics. Training at the battalion level and above seems to be scarce. Combined arms or joint training seems to be totally lacking. What this means is that in the legion (and maybe the whole frog army) you have units who can't shoot, manuver and communicate at a level above (perhaps) company. Combat isn't totally or even primarily a PT test. Not reassuring if we ever have to depend on them on our flank in a pinch, granted an unlikely scenario. And who could ever depend on the french anyway??
Book Description
nside these pages you will meet over 960 infamous men Ð the officers of Nazi Germany's Totenkopf (Death's Head). You will encounter the 256 SS officers who worked at Dachau Ð the SS concentration camp that doubled as a training school for death. You will encounter twelve SS officers who served in Treblinka and the other very secret camps of Operation Reinhard Ð Heinrich Himmler's extermination plan for the Jews of Poland. And, you will confront the 161 SS officers who ran the largest killing center of all time Ð Auschwitz. These officers of the Death's Head, many of whom later served in the Waffen-SS, were not the bureaucrats who meticulously planned Adolf Hitler's Final Solution from behind a desk in Berlin, or those who quietly scheduled the trains that carried the victims to the camps. Quite the contrary; these men stood on the front-line of the Nazi war to exterminate the Jews Ð they poured the gas pellets, they conducted the gruesome medical experiments, they supervised the crematoria, they smelled the stench of death, they heard the screams, they ordered the guards to shoot. They were The Camp Men Ð and they were at the heart of darkness. The photographic section of the book, with well over one hundred photographs Ð a large portion previously unpublished Ð is the largest collection of photographs of SS camp personnel ever to appear in one work. The images come from the extensive files of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Berlin Document Center, Yad Vashem and many other institutional collections. There are additionally photographs from private sources, including almost twenty rare pictures from the Gross-Rosen camp kommandant's personal photograph album. , over 140 b/w photographs, maps, 8 1/2" x 11"
Customer Reviews:
Misleading descriptions and a disappointing book.......2007-09-14
Based on the initial description of this book and several of the reviews, I thought this was a book that would give in depth information about the SS officers and their roles in the concentration camps. Instead, most of the book consists of lists of officers with short biographical info. There are some very good pictures and some information, but the majority of the book is simply lists. Based on the initial description, I purchased this book for my students to use as a research tool to learn more about how the SS operated, their day to day lives, etc. I was extremely disappointed. Considering the price, I wish the description of the contents had been clearer. I would not have purchased the book.
for those who know about the subject but miss the photos.......2007-03-08
Consisting of a long section presenting (very abridged) cv's, and a photo section, the photos are what makes the tome valuable. These pictures aren't to be found elsewhere, and for those who are fond of reading facial features, they make for a very interesting journey into the heinous world of everyday neighbors turned mass murderers.
As more information related to the persons shown is to be found on the internet at a mouse's stroke, the cv section is basically just a starter, and could well have been done away with.
Disappointing Book.......2002-05-16
This was the first WW2 book I read that I was not happy with. The previous reviews gave a false impression as to the content of the book, which was the original reason for my purchase. The book is nothing more than a "directory" of names of those personnel that served in the camps---no pictures at all! The photo section was not impressive, except for several photos of Auschwitz-Birkenau. This would probably be better advertised as a history reference book, don't expect anything more than cold, hard facts here.
Outstanding Reference Work.......2000-08-18
Many books have been written about the Holocaust, SS and the Nazi regime in general. Where many of them fail is in referring to individuals as if the reader understands exactly where they fitted into the overall picture and is familiar with them.
If you have made more than a cursory journey through this fascinating and terrifying period this book is an essential source of reference.
The author has diligently uncovered, at the very least, the basic identity of virtually every individual who served in the concentration camp system. That many of them subsequently 'graduated' to front line service in the Waffen SS does not disguise the reality that they had camp 'pedigrees' - somewhat at odds with the popular 'we were only soldiers' cop out.
So next time a name, whether familiar or unfamiliar, crops up in a World War 2 oriented publication you are reading chances are you could reach for this book and find his ( or her!) personal details, service record, and maybe even a photograph.
Had this book been released shortly after 1945 I am certain it would have caused a great deal of discomfort to a number of individuals who subsequently covered themselves in shrouds of anonymity.
Una grande ricerca.......2000-03-04
Per gli appassionati i libri di French MacLean sono stati una rivelazione. In particolare, in questo "The Camp Men" viene fatta definitiva luce sui rapporti fra le SS impegnate nei campi e le Waffen SS e più in generale sulla storia personale di quanti offrirono la propria anima al folle incubo nazista (provenienza, studi, onoreficenze, stato di servizio). Il lavoro sulle fonti è denso e accurato, l'organizzazione dei dati è puntuale, le conclusioni sono semplici e dirette. Non si tratta di un libro di uno storico: direi che l'approccio è più archivistico o statistico. Ma questi dati sono talmente immediati che chiunque abbia un minimo di conoscenza della storia delle SS non potrà che riconoscere che di uno studio del genere si sentiva assolutamente bisogno. Altamente raccomandato assieme a "The Field Men" e a "The Cruel Hunters", sempre di French MacLean.
Book Description
The French Foreign Legion is one of the most famous fighting organizations in the world, jealously guarding a reputation that dates back to the 1830s. This strikingly illustrated review of the French Foreign Legion today utilizes modern color photos of legionnaires in training and on maneuvers in France, where they are now based. Readers will witness the mechanized infantry, engineering, armored cavalry, and paratrooper units that are among the modern French army's most valuable assets.
Customer Reviews:
FFL Operations 1990-2000.......2005-07-25
Great book, Yves Debay presents a fact filled description of the current FFL operations...Great pictures also.
Book Description
The decision, in Spring 1948, to form two battalions of Foreign Legion paratroopers was prompted by the requirement for enlarged airborne forces in Indochina, and the healthy recruitment then employed by the Legion. There were some initial doubts. The Legion were known to be magnificent heavy infantry, but were felt by some to lack the flexibility and agility demanded by independent airborne operations. In the Legion itself there were some misgivings over the possible clash between the self-consciously exclusive 'para mentality', and the Legion's own very marked ésprit de corps. Over time, however, all these doubts evaporated with experience.
Customer Reviews:
The Paratroopers.......2000-04-26
The book from my point of view was great! I found it interesting how everything was explained and the bit of history about the unit was just the last spice to make the book worth reading.. It explains the different tasks of the 2REP wich are the paratroopers of the french foreign legion. Their hard training and tough life is described as well as the requierments of getting accepted.. Even some own stories of the reasons of joining. A great book about the elite force of the legion. Even special unit C.R.A.P.s are mentioned and explained as well as the naval and attackdiverunit the DINOPS... I, as a great admirer of the legion and other elite forces today found this book educational,informative and very well written! It has all and evenmore.. My advice is, as I have read most of the books out there, Buy It!
Book Description
Two thousand nine hundred forty-five men lined up in four motorized columns immediately behind the German Army on June 22, 1941 as it prepared to launch Operation Barbarossa Ð the German attack on the Soviet Union Ð an attack designed to win the war. Their mission Ð for the glory of Greater Germany Ð was to butcher as many human beings as they could get their hands on Ð men, women and children who were at that very moment peacefully sleeping in their warm beds in dozens of large cities and scores of small hamlets from the Gulf of Finland to the Black Sea, and from the border with old Poland to the outskirts of Moscow. The field men of the Einsatzkommandos, the men of Bach and Beethoven, Grimm and Gutenberg Ð and now Hitler and Heydrich Ð were very thorough at what they did. Over the course of the next two years, by means of machine-guns, carbines, gas vans, explosives, rifle butts or ax handles, the field men would slaughter 1,300,000 people. The Field Men, a companion volume to MacLean's The Camp Men: the SS Officers Who Ran the Nazi Concentration Camp System, covers the entire gamut, from the organization of the units, to the SS officers who served in this scourge on the Eastern Front. Some 380 SS officers are described in full detail and extensively analyzed. The photographic section of the book contains over 175 photographs, while detailed maps show the locations for each unit throughout the campaign., over 175 b/w photographs and maps, 8 1/2" x 11"
Customer Reviews:
very interesting photo section.......2007-03-08
Consisting of a long section presenting (very abridged) cv's, and a photo section, the photos are what makes the tome valuable. These pictures aren't to be found elsewhere, and for those who are fond of reading facial features, they make for a very interesting journey into the heinous world of everyday neighbors turned mass murderers. The leaders of the Einsatzgruppen in particular were a crowd of often accomplished lawyers conversant in several languages, so their voyage into the abyss is all the more disturbing.
Not a few of the likenesses shown in this volume might have blended in at any Ivy League law school. Also, note a faint resemblance of one of the most bloodthirsty Einsatzgruppen leaders standing trial in Nuremberg, Paul Blobel, to the Unabomber. (Blobel having been the person who, driving with Albert Speer to Blobel's quarters near Kiev one night in 1941, passed through the Babiy Yar valley. According to Speer, the car headlights illuminated the earth erupting with eerie fog plumes the way the Yellowstone Park earth erupts. Blobel turned to Speer and remarked: "Here, my 30.000 Jews are resting.")
As more information related to the persons shown is to be found on the internet at a mouse's stroke, the cv section is basically just a starter, and could well have been done away with.
Great Research!.......2000-11-14
I'm a little surprised that a review of this excellent book has not been written sooner. French McLean has once again proven his ability to conduct archival research and translate it into a creative and effective reference tool for serious historians. I highly recommend this book--it is a jolt to the senses to see how mainly ordinary bureaucrats could be lured by the "system" into committing the massive-scale murders that they did. This is probably the first book of its kind to present that depth of insight into Heydrich's SD. Well done, French.
Book Description
In this worthy addition to the Men-at-Arms series, Martin Windrow examines the history and uniforms of the French Foreign Legion from the start of the First World War to the end of the Second World War. The author's knowledgeable text covers such topics as a comprehensive battle history of the Legion on the Western Front 1914-18, the colonial campaigns in Morocco, Syria and Indochina, the Battle of France and campaign in Tunisia. This volume is splendidly illustrated throughout, containing a wealth of contemporary photographs and eight full page colour plates by Mike Chappell.
Customer Reviews:
Fine Overview of Fascinating Forces.......2002-01-24
The author has had a long and distinguished career in popular military history for over twenty five years.
Originally raised in the nineteenth century for pacifying the inhabitants of then Algeria, the so-called "romance" of the Foreign Legion has long fascinated the general reader around the world.The reality was much different. Not Beau Geste at all. Before the Great War of 1914, the Legion was composed of long service men most of whom had no other home. Their loyalty was pledged to the Legion not to France, thus they did not forsake their own nationalities. It was a hard and dangerous life but not without its satisfactions to the many hard men who joined it.
When the war broke out in 1914, nationals of many nations not directly involved rushed to enlist in the service of France. The political decision was made to enroll these men in the Legion, not in the French Army. This led to clashes of view between the idealistic new comers and the hard-bitten "old sweats". But this was finally smoothed out and the Legion earned its laurels. One unit was decorated so many times that it wore a double fouraguerre (a braided cord worn on the shoulder as an award of unit valor akin to an individual's award of the Croix de Guerre.) and they were told that if they continued to excell in bravery, the Army would continue to invent new insignia for them.
This work is a splendid example of the new emphasis of the publisher on producing comprehensive works in a handy inexpensive format compared with the earlier broad brush treatments which covered too much in too little detail.
The new emphasis is on sets and volumes covering various national armed forces in as much detail as is available, consistent with the current purpose of the works in the series, which have evolved from an original emphasis on serving the military miniature maker market into works intended to enlighten the general reader in enough detail to satisfy the merely curious and to point the way to further reading.
Most of us, including myself, have little need for, or the patience to read, voluminous studies, often in foreign languages, covering many eras and nations. My main interest is in the US forces, their allies and their enemies in the twentieth century.
That said, these works should be purchased as presented, in sets within the series. Since they are produced as a set, the volumes cover only relevent parts of the general history and the clothing and individual equipment is covered as it appears in each period. The French Army, US Army, British Army, and Italian Army series all have three volumes, covering the major theatres and time periods of the war. The German set has five.
This should be read along with the volumes on the French Army of the same period.
If you want an introduction to the fascinating variety of clothing and equipment of the forces covered, this set is for you.
Not very extensive, almost a childrens book........2001-08-19
I thought this book would be a little more extensive. It had only a few color photos of hand drawn images from the author and the rest were black and white. It had a good explanation of the Legion's history but again, not as extensive as I thought it would be. Seems almost like a childrens book.
Vive la France!.......2000-05-18
After reading this book, I plan to join the French Foreign Legion. For scholars of the time period, this offers a much looked-over perspective of the two world wars and the period between them. The Foreign Legion didn't just hang out in Africa, they traveled all over Europe and Asia as well, and this book is fantastic, as are all of the Osprey Men-at-Arms titles.
Book Description
From Booklist:
Simpson actually covers only the history and present circumstances of the French Foreign Legion's one remaining parachute regiment, the Second. Based in Corsica, its 1,300 officers and men virtually constitute a miniature, highly mobile, elite army, able to conduct both regular and irregular warfare anywhere in the world. Their history, which constitutes the lesser part of the book, includes battles as well known as Dien Bien Phu and as little known as some interventions in sub-Saharan Africa. Their present condition is unique even within the unique military institution that is the French Foreign Legion, and their officers and men show a range of skills, motivations, ethnic origins, and plans for the future that are in the classic legion mold. Simpson writes favorably but not uncritically of his subject, always with great clarity, sometimes with wit. His conclusion, that the Second Legion Parachute Regiment is a possible prototype for future international rapid deployment forces, is worthy of consideration.
Customer Reviews:
Survey of 2REP.......2006-11-07
I enjoyed reading Mr. Simpson's book. It's a survey of 2REP with a bit of history of the disgraced and disbanded 1REP. To tell the story of FFL's parachutists, he included some history from the disastrous drop into Dien Bien Phu in the border region between Laos and Viet Nam. 2REP is not a typical FFL regiment and Mr. Simpson does a great job explaining what they do and how they do it (with emphasis on Low Intensity Conflicts).
If you want a novel built around legionnaires or an "I was there" account, this is not the book for you. Mr. Simpson doesn't say it is.
The book gets five stars from me because it covers what it says it's covering with elegance and a sense of insight without sensationalism that is lacking in many similar military accounts.
The only thing left to do is to get Mr. Simpson to go through the jungle training school in Guiana and write about it.
GREAT BOOK.......2006-04-24
I REALLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN FRENCH FORIEGN LEGION HISTORY,ESPECIALLY THE 2E REP, THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU.
Not at all entertaining.......2004-08-30
I was not at all entertained by this book. I have read several books on the French Foreign Legion and this one was probably the most boring; in fact, it was text-book-boring. I tried reading it and just could not endure it beyond the first 100 pages. It may have historical detail as mentioned in other reviews, but it is certainly very dry and has no exciting moments or narrative. Sort of like telling war stories while on elephant tranquilizers.
Great book, touches all bases.......2004-06-04
This is a good book. I think it's best for those who are more interested in military history in general. I expected something else but that's my fault for not reading the description. This book gives and accurate account of history as well as interviews with legionaires AND personal thoughts. I recommend this book for those intersted in history. Not for those interested in joining.
A look inside a lifestyle of adventure and tradition........1999-03-28
This book, having bought and read it about 18 months ago, finds me now - 31 March 1999 in Metz, France - about to follow in the path of those men written about by the author. Its descriptive narrative combined with historic facts and personal stories of the various men, convinced me after many years of self doubt that this, The French Foreign Legion, is the lifestyle and destiny I seek for myself! It makes for easy reading, that is hard to put down till the end.
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