Osprey Elite 6 : French Foreign Legion Paratroops

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, 'genre rouleau compresseur' ['steam roller types']; 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. The history, organisation, appearance and equipment of these troops are here described by the joint efforts of two recognised experts. Martin Windrow is the commissioning editor of Osprey's Men-at-Arms, Vanguard and Elite series, the editor of Military Illustrated magazine, and the author of Uniforms of the French Foreign Legion. Wayne R. Braby is a specialist military book dealer whose collection of Foreign Legion books and memorabilia goes back 20 years. This book is accompanied by over 40 photographs and eight full page colour plates by Kevin Lyles.

Contents

• The Indochina War 1946-54
• Dien Bien Phu
• The Algerian War 1954-62
• Para-Commandos
• The Plates