Phone: 0049 (0)30 315 700 0
- You are here:
- Books & Media
- Books
- Military History General
- France
-
Books & Media
- Novelties
- Offers
- Bestseller
- Books
- Osprey
- Book series
- Zeughaus Verlag
- Second Hand Books
- Historical novels
- Comics
- Music, Movies
- Others
Description
The French Foreign Legion is a living myth with a history of almost 200 years. Why was it founded in 1831 and how has it evolved over the last two centuries? What role did it actually play in France's wars and why did foreigners and Frenchmen alike join the Foreign Legion in the first place? The historian Eckard Michels impressively describes the lives and deaths of the legionnaires by means of individual fates, among other things.
He also reveals the political and military framework conditions that made the Foreign Legion's deployment on four continents possible. In an exciting and well-founded way, he provides the first comprehensive German-language account of the history and present of the world's best-known mercenary formation. His account does not exhaust itself in a retelling of military operations, but explains why France has held on to the Foreign Legion to this day - despite occasional strong doubts. In chronological order, he shows the contribution of the Foreign Legion to France's wars in comparison with its other army formations, and analyses the military strengths and weaknesses of the mercenary force in the respective missions. His historical analysis reveals mechanisms and traditions that the Foreign Legion has developed over the last two centuries to attract certain categories of men in times of war as well as peace, to bind them to itself in the long term and to shape them into more or less effective soldiers in the service of France. German-speaking legionaries in particular made up by far the largest proportion among their soldiers. The author also sheds light on the fact that legionaries did not renew their contracts or deserted in large numbers. Finally, it becomes clear that, contrary to its current proclamations that it was a multinational force that met every applicant without prejudice, the exclusion of certain ethnic and religious groups determined the personnel policy of the mercenary force for much of its existence and still casts shadows on the institution today.
He also reveals the political and military framework conditions that made the Foreign Legion's deployment on four continents possible. In an exciting and well-founded way, he provides the first comprehensive German-language account of the history and present of the world's best-known mercenary formation. His account does not exhaust itself in a retelling of military operations, but explains why France has held on to the Foreign Legion to this day - despite occasional strong doubts. In chronological order, he shows the contribution of the Foreign Legion to France's wars in comparison with its other army formations, and analyses the military strengths and weaknesses of the mercenary force in the respective missions. His historical analysis reveals mechanisms and traditions that the Foreign Legion has developed over the last two centuries to attract certain categories of men in times of war as well as peace, to bind them to itself in the long term and to shape them into more or less effective soldiers in the service of France. German-speaking legionaries in particular made up by far the largest proportion among their soldiers. The author also sheds light on the fact that legionaries did not renew their contracts or deserted in large numbers. Finally, it becomes clear that, contrary to its current proclamations that it was a multinational force that met every applicant without prejudice, the exclusion of certain ethnic and religious groups determined the personnel policy of the mercenary force for much of its existence and still casts shadows on the institution today.
- Group
- Books (first-hand)
- Author
- Michels, Eckard
- Title
- Fremdenlegion. Geschichte und Gegenwart einer einzigartigen militärischen Organisation
- Details
- With b/w illustrations 464 pp.
We also recommend this article
The following articles may also interest you
Take a look at our similar products.Copyright © 2024 Berliner Zinnfiguren & Preussisches Buecherkabinett
Berliner Zinnfiguren, Knesebeckstr. 88, 10623 Berlin, Germany
Phone 0049 (30) 315 700 0