The pictures of my amateur website:
"livres-legion-etrangere"
are pulled out of my books and
of "Kepis Blanc"
( Formal monthly magazine
of the French Foreign Legion)

From time to time, I will present a book from my bookcase, a novel, an historic documentary, a small novel, a comic, a novel, a biography, an autobiography...famous or rare.

This once, a collection of books about "Para-Legion" classified by author's alphabetical order. this list is obviously not exhaustive as it represent my
own books.


I'm waiting for your comments in case
you have informations to add or to correct.



Soon : Legion's Horsemen

The book: The life of Hélie Denoix de Saint Marc resembles a novel disturbed and tearing: Resistance, the gestapo, Buchenwald, the foreign Legion, three stays in Indo-China, Suez, Algeria, the putsche with the head of the 1st Foreign Regiment of Parachutistes(1st R.E.P.), a lawsuit with feeling and a judgment at ten years of criminal reclusion… A life which starts in the respectability of a family protected and succeeded on the dock.
Camp of Buchenwald to the Tulle prison, all those which cotoyé Hélie de Saint Marc underlined his radiation. At the time of its lawsuit, all the press, of which edge which it was, expressed its disorder in front of the revolt and the judgment of a man who did not have anything a fanatic. the General Ingold, menbre of the High military Tribunal, large chancellor of the Release, resigned not to have not to condemn it.
If it incarne the course of a whole generation, the commander of Saint Marc exceeds the destiny of the "lost soldiers". Strange mixture of courage and sensitivity, hardness and idealism, it carries a glance innatendu on the succession of tests and adventures which it crossed.
While following the wire of this life out of the commun run during a enquète of plusieures years, from Bordeaux with Hanoi, while passing by Algiers, the author joined together new documents and collected many testimonys - of which well on that of Hélie de Saint Marc which agreed to break for him a twenty years silence.
From this meeting between a man of action to the romantic destiny and young a twenty-five year old historian equipped with a rare maturity was born a biography from a great human density. It is a whole time which re-appears, with its doubts and its dashes, its hopes and its dramas, its ambiguities as Par the quality of the account, by the rigour of the analysis, the dimension of the problems as, as of the twenty years age, its hero must face, this book will impassion all the generations.

The author: Laurent Beccaria was born in 1963, and is diplomé Institute of Political Studies of Paris. Great nephews of the commander de Saint Marc, it also collaborated in the drafting of its Memories.

The Editor: Perrin. 1988. 316 pages. Format 14 X 22,5. ISBN 2-262-00636-9.

The book: Contribution to the history of the légionaries parachutists. This, is neither a novel, neither an account of adventure, nor even a warlike work.
It is a discussion thread through Epopée from 2nd Abroad of Parachutists who, created for Extrème Orient in October 1948, affirmed from the start, crédibilisa, acquired a certain fame, was strengthened and changed during thirty years spent to the exclusive service of France, at the point to become, under the impulse of burning and impassioned Heads, the Spearhead of the Army.
If many articles were published on this body, only one book, signed hand of Colonel Erulin, related to it, telling its brilliant action of Kolwézi in May 1978. Only, the attachment carried with the 2nd R.E.P., fidelity and the respect that it inspires to me as well as the desire to always serve it guided my hand and my heart throughout the pages which will follow.
Its History is attaching, because in the medium of the storm of the times of war, that it crossed, it remains a basically human history.
This regiment which had deeply marked my life of teenager and my life of man will always preserve beyond the events and of the human will, the infinite Love that I carry to him.
Intended that I would be at various times, one of its witnesses wanted, and it is the greatest honor which it could make me.
I keep some with deepest of myself, the memory without faults, of the immense values that it my always taught.
It is to the Légionaries Parachutists fallen under all the skies for the size from France, has which I especially thought by writing the text of this contribution to their History.

The author: J.P. Benavente.

The editor: Count of Auteur.1982. 317 pages. Format 21,5 X 30,5.

The book: In 1964, ten years after the fall of Dien Well Phu, the first edition of this book made the effect of a blow of foude. Whereas France recovered very badly from the Algerian drama, Erwan Bergot restored this Indochinese adventure without which the ultimate start of so many men of war confronted brutally with a situation without exit "2nd class with Dien Bien Phu could not include/understand" revealed the true face of engagements that one could believe fallen in the lapse of memory colonial night. It revealed also a writer. at that time, one knew only that this Breton of Bordeaux, seriously wounded in Algeria, still belonged to the race moving by those which were pilot and actors before becoming cantors of épopée that they initially lived at the price of their blood and, worse, of a pitiless captivity some étonnère that one graded, which ordered as lieutenant the heavy mortars of the légionaries parachutists of the 1st BEP, had chosen to place all in bottom of the hierarchical scale to revive this tragedy in the skin of the men of the rang.C' was there undoubtedly that the plume suprème of an officer which refused any personal justification and was located with.
Also, this book of sweat and blood remained it like most veracious testimony on what was, really Dien Bien Phu during fifty four days of hell.
After the battle, here those who were the soldiers. It is a novel enthralling, history of fidelity légionary, rich in moving anecdotes, but truer than the life and death in these weeks of iron and fire. And this time, the writer affirms himself there with equal of the officer: a Master. Besides the work having quickly become untraceable, Erwan Bergot, become writer of war with success, author filled of about thirty books, all marked of the same seal of the honor, courage and fidelity, decided on republished by rewriting it completely in 1988.
It is with all these second anonymous classes which one has if little spoken because it is so much more interesting to tell its life of officer, with these obscure that this book is dedicated.

The author: Born in 1930, Erwan Bergot spent one year to the 2nd Battalion of Paras of Shock like candidate. Then it leaves in Indo with the 22nd R.I.C., is made assign to the 6th B.C.C.P. or it serves one year.
With the creation of the "Heavy Mortars" with the 1st B.E.P., it is indicated to take the command of it, because he is a specialist in the mortars of 120. After Dien Well Phu, it undergoes the captivity. In A.F.N. it is used then for the 2nd B.E.P. or it is wounded by glare of mortar on the Tunisian border.
Become inapt for the T.A.P. because of its wound, it leaves the army and becomes journalist and military writer. He is a Officer of the Legion of Honour on a purely military basis.
He is the author of many works on the men and the military events of these quarantes last year, its literary work is considerable.

The editor: The Round Table. 1964. 328 pages. Format 14 X 20.

The book: "Foreign become wire of Fance not by received blood but by versed blood" - such are, in the poême of Pascal Bonetti, the soldiers of marble who form the most prestigious crack corps of the French Army: the foreign Legion. Former war parachutist and correspondent, intimate of the Paul Bonnecarrère, shock troops wanted to write on the Legion, if glorifiée, but if little known, a book not like the others. Violent one. Truth.
From the newspapers of walk of the units and testimonys of a hundred survivors, the author reconstitutes the engagements or the Legion poured more its blood, these painful battles of Indo-China which coutèrent more life to him human than the two world wars without concessions, in a style sharp and haletant, By versed blood tells feats of arms which until now were known only of their only authors: continuation of Ho Chi Minh in the jungle of the South Tonkin; odyssée of the armoured train which gained against the Vietnamese soldiers the battle of the rail in the Center-Annam; the hell of the R.C.4, the road of the blood which killed one on two of the men who borrowed it; life of the lost stations of the border of China which learned how with the young armies from the Vietnamese soldier-minh to make the war; the death of the 3rd Foreign Regiment with CAD-Bang or the parachutists of the Legion jumped to thousand to return only to twelve.
Deliver war relentless, By versed blood it is the Legion on the scale of the men. The heroism, the suffering, the tragedy - but also the joke and liveliness - soldiers whose death is the trade.

The author: With the release of Paris, 19 years old, Paul Bonnecarrère engages with the 1st Regiment of Hunters Parachutists or it remains until the end of the hostilities. Life income civil, it becomes correspondent war, and it everywhere is found or France fights encore:Iindochine, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Suez.
During these campaigns it lives within the shock troops and binds solids friendships which make it dream of a work on the last colonial wars of the French Army. One day, its plane falls down in the Sahara. Fear, sun, distress, thirst. At the end of 24 hours, one does not know or, a patrol of Legion. "I will have embraced them" tells Bonnecarrère. Impassive, the légionaries tighten a frozen beer quill At this point in time to him "I decided, says the author from poured blood, that my book would relate to the foreign Legion.

The Editor: Beech. 1968. 459 pages. Format 13,5 X 21,5

The book: To write this work, Jean-François Chauvel questioned the entourage of the President of the Republic of the time, Guéringaud, the Foreign Minister, Bourges, the Minister for Defense, the members of the SDECE, Colonel ERULIN, the ambassador of France to the kinshasa. his testimony clarifies in a singular way the operation of kolwézi.
a military operation which holds it even of the exploit. Jean-François Chauvel makes us the account without forgetting of it to explain each time the historical context and to locate the responsibilities for the actors of this drama whose stake is one of the points strategic of Africa coveted by the great powers.
A marked out book of revelations: - How Giscard d' Estaing made its decision to intervene.
- How a French diplomat had warned Russian.
- Why the Belgians did wait so much before launching their parachutists?
- Why the deterrent force was put in alarm?
- a colonel German of the East directed the Colombe operation!

The author: Jean-François CHAUVEL. Old to defer to the Barber, one of the best experts of Africa.

The editor: Olivier Orban. 1978. 279 pages. Format 13,5 X 21,5. ISBN 2 85565 079 8.

The book: The true légionary does not have a roof, not a woman, not of child, not of family!… Its family, it is the Legion!… He does not make a difference between the day and the night… He works, walk, combat by all times… In all the elements: sun, wind, rain, mud…
When it is likely to return from the bush, the mountain, or the rice plantation and Djebel, it sees known mouths but in fact beings do not carry more affection to him than of the tradesmen…
As soon as set out again for the adventure, nobody connait it any more, and the lapse of memory the envelope until his next return…
The true légionary, soldier of trade, but not mercenary as it wrongly is believed because it serve only France to which it bound for five years, makes fun well of Vietnam, of Algeria, of Madagascar…!
It fights to fight, a point it is all, because it is its trade…
Hay of any sirupeuse literature…! Its currency of today is not any more "Walk or bad cold" no matter what still real, but "you are legionnaire, démerde you!"
Of no say in their youths "I will be this or that". Me I knew since always that I will be soldier, because it is the most beautiful trade of the world, if it is well made, and if you have it in the skin…
With the Legion, there is not state of heart; there is not the right to put question. Only rights: to close its mouth and to save its skin! All feelings are confused in the discipline and the amalgamme nationnalities.

The author: Wire of a Russian aristocrat taken refuge in Belgium after the revolution of 1917 and which was to be useful in the army of Vlassov, Marcel de Tourtchaninoff of engages with less than fifteen years in the legion "Wallonia" and combat the Soviet forces in Poméranie in February 1945.
At the end of its captivity, it engages at 18 years in the Legion Foreign and joined the 2nd BEP. It fights in Cochinchine, Annam and in Tonkin. At the time of a second stay, it will jump on Na-San and Lang-Sound. After having accomplished a third stay in the Extrème-East, it is used for the 2èmr REFERENCE MARK Head of group of combat, in the 1ere company of the Captain Perrier, it will be seriously wounded with the foot dand the djebel Bou Gaffer, while carrying help with its head of section, lieutenant Menesson, mortally reached. It will leave in retirement in 1963, after having been useful in a Saharan company carried of the Legion. It wrote its memories, up to now new.

The editor: Company of the associated Writers. 2001. 237 pages. 14,5 X 21.

The book: It is the fear which made, of average Frenchman that I am, a Chaplain Parachutist! Fear… of being able "to support" very a long time the boy "normally made up" who I was, if it had suddenly refused to make, after so many others, some "small jumps" in… the vacuum.
I was going to be 41 years old. It was Indo-China, the beginning 1954. Of the two chaplains in exercise with the airborne troops of Vietnam, the P. Chevallier, at the end of a splendid campaign, the knobs sticking to the skin, was to be repatriated; P.Folliard, its fellow-member, "had broken" with the third jump: , urgently, a new chaplain para was needed. The station was proposed to me.
A few hours of reflexion, one night painful, convainquirent me rather quickly that all the objections, more or less vaguely formulated: "Yes, but!…" were actually only pitiful loopholes; and how only, at the bottom, retained me an intense "fun"!
… I accepted…

The author: Louis Delarue, Chaplain Parachutist

The editor: New Latin Editions. 1961. 253 pages. Format 14 X 23.

The book: A destiny: De Buchenwald with the putsch of Algiers while passing by great Indochinese passion, Hélie de Saint Marc lived the majority of the tumults and contradictions of our contemporary history.
A man: One said of him that it carried its life in its glance. Courageous and méditatif, tolerant and revolted, it diverts the analyses of only one part.
A will: With more than sixty fourteen years, Hélie de Saint Marc decided to tell what it learned from the existance. In the light of its adventure, it is explained on courage, engagement, fidelity, the honor, the love, the prison, death, the direction of a human trace…
A memory: The ember fields speak about these camps of deportees returned to rust and the wind, of Vietnam palpitating and meurtri that Hélie de Saint Marc liked so much, as of these Algerian years which left, on each side of médirettanée, a taste of ashes and unfinished.
Written in collaboration with Laurent Beccaria who had revealed with general public Fugure d' Hélie de Saint Marc, by his biography published in 1989, this text of a great power of evocation will impassion all the ages.
A book strong, singular, enriching, has to read and to make read.

The author: The camps of deportation marked forever three beautiful figures of the new Legion born in the upheavals of the Second World War and forged in the war of Indo-China: Jean Pierre, Jacques Morin and Hélie Denoix de Saint-Marc. These two last, school-fellows in 1941 in Sainte-Geneviève or they prepared Saint-Cyr military school, were found in Buchenwald. Saint-Marc spent there 22 month of suffering and fight. With its release in 1945, it was 23 years old, weighed 42 kilos, spit blood, did not manage any more to go and even more its name did not remember.
In 1948, it is in Indo-China, lieutenant with the 3rd R.E.I. or his/her friend Jacques Morin forms and orders the first unit of paras légionaries. In 1951-53, it accomplishes a second stay in Indo-China with the 2nd B.E.P.
In July 1954, it returns there, at the 1st B.E.P., this time, in the process of reconstitution after its destruction with Diên Biên Phu. In 1955-56, it orders in Algeria a company of the 1st R.E.P. In January 1961, assistant manager of staff of the General Saint-Hillier, head of the 10th division of parachutists, it is with the listening of the storms which agitate the hearts of his/her friends of the 1st R.E.P. of which, January 7, takes care of the referendum on the Algerian policy of the General, the captains refused to leave in operation as a sign of protest. Why, they say, to make kill our men whereas the capacity is decided to give up Algeria?
April 21, three days after being named ordering 1st R.E.P. by interim, Saint-Marc is convened by Challe, is arrived the day before to Algiers and agrees to join the takeover by force to which all its commander of company adhered.
He will be condemned to ten years of reclusion, whereas the prosecutor claimed five of them. Because of passed and qualities of heart of this officer, his lawsuit and the riguer of the verdict disturbed the opinion particularly.
(by Bernard Magnillat, special Historia 150ème anniversary of the L.E.)

The Editor: Perrin. 1995. 243 pages. Format 14 X 22,5. ISBN: 2 262 01118 4.

The book: I wanted to gather all that, in me, had resisted time. Each one advances with some ideas that the destiny transforms and hustles. Certainty leave us. Other mysteries live us.
After avoit lived all, and the opposite of all, certain wounds still burn as if one rubbed them salt. But of other shades, other silhouettes, take care in silence. I call them the sentinels of the evening. They help me to live.
In Vietnam, at each season, paysant them rice mends. It is by thinking of them that we wrote this book with Laurent Beccaria. These pages have direction only if other men and other women find among them some seeds to replant them elsewhere.

The author: See preceding book.

The editor: The Arenas. 1999. 203 pages. Format 14 X 22,5. ISBN: 2 912485 02 9.

The book: I wanted that this book is the memorial of without ranks, the album of the unknown soldier fallen in Indo-China. He did not set out again in cerceuil not leaded towards the metropolis. Its stele is a simple photography. You hold it from now on in your hands.
When it was necessary to leave Vietnam, we were this army of sentinels that the sky cuts out with the distance: each one took care on its memories. What to make war losqu' it is finished? We are always orphans. Today still, we suffer from knowing Vietnam under the yoke: its people did not finish any with the dictatorship. "the sorrow of the war, in the heart of a soldier, is similar to that of the love: A kind of nostalgia, like an infinite sadness, in a world which it did not reconnait any more. There remains to him only to have lived sorrow. The sorrow of the war "wrote the Vietnamese writer Bao Ninh. But eagerness should not make forget what Indo-China gave us. With we who were to give death, this war gave us the dazzling of the life. It learned brittleness from the moment, the parallel order of the things. It linked our blood and that of the Vietnameses. It rests from now on on each one to transmit this witness to those which succeed to him, as the small offerings which the peasants deposited in front of the furnace bridge of the ancètres: two flowers, a mango, a prayer rolled up in a rice sheet. This album is the prayer of the anonymities.

The author: See preceding book.

The editor: The Arenas. 2000. 96 pages. Format 23 X 31,5. ISNB: 2 912485 20 7

The book: This superb album, illustrated exceptional documents, for the majority colors, evokes pae the text and by the image, the adventure of the units parachutists of the foreign Legion, BEP of Indo-China and REFERENCE MARK of Algeria, always with the point of the combat.
The légionaries paras succeeded of the particularly difficult missions as of their arrival in the Extrème-East, or they paid a very heavy tribute with the adversity, losing with fire two their heads of body, the commander Segrétain and the commander Raffali. The drama of the RC4 deeply marked the survivors of this combat which counts among hardest ever delivered by the Legion. In Dien-Bien-Phu, the two BEP disappeared in the storm after having held good under the worst conditions.
Become regiments on the ground of Algeria, these prestigious battalions were of all the engagements and the name of colonel Jeanpierre remains forever engraved in the memory of those which had the honor to be useful under its orders, notemment at the time of this "hard battle of the borders" or it found death.
Dissolved to have taken part in the ultimate revolt of the centurions convinced to be betrayed, the 1st REFERENCE MARK from now on entered the history and it is its regiment brother, the 2nd REFERENCE MARK, which maintains the tradition of the green berets today.
The second part of this album is a visit, memée in an alert way strong, with the various units of the regiment. One can also découvrirdans their garrison Corsican, the 1ere company formed with the combat in locality, the 2nd company specialized with the life in mountain, the 3rd company entrainée with the action in aquatic environment, the 4th company designed to act on the backs of the enemy, the company of lighting and support to the varied missions (heavy information, mortars, anti-chards Milan or guns of 20 anti air, commandos CRAP).

The author: Pierre Dufour, born in 1947 in Colmar, graduate of modern letters. Engaged in 1973, it was used during sixteen years for the foreign Legion, initially in the combat units, then with the newspaper of the foreign Legion, WHITE KEPI, in the capacity as writer, then of assistant of the writer as a head. Several stays overseas, whose journalistic cover of the intervention in Iraq and in Kuwait, the publication of many works, enabled him to perfect its military knowledge and to acquire the experiment of the interventions external necessary to the realization of this work.

The editor: Editions of the Miner's scraper. 1989. 197 pages. Format 24,5 X 33. ISBN 2 907671 01 4.

The book: Veiled forty years, wrote the General Guignon, former head of corp of the 2nd REFERENCE MARK, was born, with the other end of the world, a new brotherhood of warriors: parachutists of the Legion.
Hurdy-gurdy legion, they had receuilli the traditions of rigour, solidarity, discipline, devotion; parachutists, they had youth, the flexibility, enthusiasm, the taste of the strange one. They very quickly formed a single troop in its kind: foreign battalions parachutists.
Since their first weapons of 1948, the BEP, become foreign regiments parachutists, knew glory and sacrifices: the RC4 in 1950, the battle of the Black river in 1952, the fortified camp from Na-Sam in 1953, then the ultimate one and total sacrifice of Dien-Bien-Phu.
In Algeria, the two REFERENCE MARKS will intervene in all the sectors, in particular at the time of the battle of the borders in 1958 and 1960 pennies the orders of the Challe General.
In 1994, the 2nd REFERENCE MARK, only unit of the task force of Indo-China to have received fodder the red of the Legion of honor, is single regiment TAP of the foreign Legion.
He is the agent of the memory and glory accumulated by the légionaries parachutists during their short but rich history.
At a peak of the units of intervention, the 2nd REFERENCE MARK was distinguished on several occasions in Chad since 1969 and for specific operations in Africa: Djibouti in 1978, in Gabon and Rwanda in 1990. It is in Beirut in 1982, then one finds it under the banner of the soldiers of peace in Somalia in 1992 and in Sarajevo in 1993.
difficult missions that the regiment fills without failing, faithful to its reputation. More Majorum.

The author: Pierre Dufour, born in 1947 in Colmar, graduate of modern letters. Engaged in 1973, it was used during sixteen years for the foreign Legion, initially in the combat units, then with the newspaper of the foreign Legion, WHITE KEPI, in the capacity as writer, then of assistant of the writer as a head. Several stays overseas, whose journalistic cover of the intervention in Iraq and in Kuwait, the publication of many works, enabled him to perfect its military knowledge and to acquire the experiment of the interventions external necessary to the realization of this work.

The Editor: Lavauzelle. 1994. 141 pages. 23,5 X 31. ISBN 2 7025 0361 6

:

The book: The 2nd Foreign Regiment Parachutists saves Kolwézi, an illustrated report of Rene-Paul Bonnet. Chronology of the operation, since the setting in alarm with Calvi, until the return.

The author: Colonel ERULIN.

The editor: Eric Baschet Editions. 1980. 120 pages. 22 X 29,5. ISBN 2 86 309 007 0.

The book: Hungarian of origin, the author is very early revolted against the invasion of his country by Russian. If 1945 mark for Europe the fall of the plague Nazi, Hungary as for it finds itself under the communist influence. While cheating on his age and thanks to his early experiments of the war, Janos Kemencei manages in spite of many adventures to engage with the foreign Legion. It is on the African ground which the adventure begins which will lead it in Indo-China on November 9, 1948 on the RC 4, October 9, 1950 in Coc-Xa or the 1st BEP was decimated. Belonging to the 48 wounded ones released by the Vietnamese soldier-Minh, the voluntary author left again for a second stay.
In the night from the 9 to April 10, 1954, the 2nd BEP jumps on Dien-Bien-Phu, one second time kemencei is made prisoner of the Vietnamese soldiers. Taken again escaped prisoner then. He is on released August 27 1954. "the duty makes African ground sign" of 1954 to 1962, or the Kemencei warrant officer frames the légionaries of the 1st REFERENCE MARK he lived in his intense engagement the last three conflicts of our history. Its example and its testimony are at the same time a lesson of courage, of honor and of patriotism "Légionary ahead" is read of a draft, hustled which is the reader per so many adventures, bounce, heroism…

The author: The wars of Janos KEMENCEI, this Hungarian of origin become French by poured blood, start whereas it is only fifteen years old.
With with dimensions of the Hungarian troops - its exceptional size the fact of passing for a man - it fights the Russians, destroys tanks, cuts down planes. Invaded Hungary, Kemencei gains France and engages in the foreign Legion.
They will be then two campaigns of Indo-China - prisoner of the Vietnamese soldiers, it escapes, re-enlists and asks for a "second turn of Indo", whereas if the yellow soldiers the reprennet, it is assured death - the countryside of Algeria, Madagascar.
Janos Kemencei will finish his career with an impressive skewer of quotations and decorations. He will have the honor suprème, at the time of a great ceremony in 1962, to carry the relic crowned for all those who were légionary: the wood hand of the Danjou captain.
"Légionary ahead" is read of a draft, hustled which is the reader per so many adventures, bounce, heroism…

The editor: Jacques Grancher. 1985. 345 pages. Format 15,5 X 23,5.

The book: Barthélemy Raffali, Corsican and niçois of origin, military cadet of promotion King Albert 1st (1933-1935), was those which faced the tumults of an existence rythmée by the one tormented time upheavals. Fallen in Indo-China in 1952, with the head of sound 2 2nd foreign battalion of parachutist, and at the 39 years age, this rider of formation in subjuga not less its men at the point to enter to the Pantheon of the foreign Legion. This head, with the direction most extremely of the term, becomes him even today the godfather of last the the XX 2nd century promotion (1998-2001). The author evokes the portrait of this officer who could carry high, with simplicity and effectiveness, the military values tested by the engagements. He revives, also, a history of love strong and impassioned between two beings that the military vocation and the war often separated. Lastly, this book tends to show that the richness of a life is not measured with the ell of the money and the capacity.

The author: Olivier Maestrati was born in 1958. Its maternal and paternal Corsican roots are established in the canton of Both Sorrus particularly with Létia Saint Roch like in Levie. Teacher and researcher of formation, his specialities are the contemporary History and paleontology. It has car published two other works, "Indo-China, autopsy of a failure", and "Algiers, April 1961, the death of an army". It teaches the History, the Geography and the Economy.

The editor: Count of Author. 2001. 148 pages. Format 16 X 24. ISBN: 2 9513552 1 1

The book: Little after the war Indo-China, a campaign opinion was created abruptly against the parachutists, the paras, treaties of mercenaries, roughneck soldiers, considered as the Praetorian ones of civil war, plotters of pronunciamentos. "the men leopards" still became and remain in the spirit of much, of the anarchists. This book, fact of extracts of letters written in Indo-China by one of these "mercenaries", tries to bring, with the echo of a lived experiment, a clearer comprehension of these men and role which they were forced to play. It is a newspaper written almost from day to day between the 09/12/50 and the 06/02/56 with many allusions to the drives, missions of the 1st B.E.P., political context, personal readings of the author

The author: Merglen Albert, officer with the 1st B.E.P. in Indo-China.

The Editor: Arthaud. 1970. 273 pages.

The book: A "deliver-shock", a lived history, full with event and adventures having primarily for théatre the war of Algeria, in the event duration of engagement in the foreign Legion of a young English who held from day to day, not without humour, its log book to the instruction, then in the rows of famous the 2nd R.E.P.
To récir of Murray is neither a plea, nor an indictment. It is an objective testimony with even cruel brutal scenes extrèmements. The author however did not seek to add some, being simply satisfied to report what it lived or that of which it had been itself pilot. Of or the documentary interest of the book bus Murray hides us nothing of the Legion, while correcting honestly, in the event of error, of the sometimes severe judgements.
A rough all things considered document, for all those which like the adventure and the action, to pour in the active of a crack corps to the traditions and the ideals of an exceptional value.

The author: Simon Murray was born in Leicester in 1940 and made his studies with Bedford School. By qittant it, it engages in Rotterdam like foams on board a steamer in departure for South America In 1960, it is twenty years old, it engages in the foreign Legion returned with the civil life, it becomes director in a significant company in Hong-Kong. it since created in this same city its own company, that it directs personellemnt. Simon Murray is married and pêre of three children.

The Editor: Pygmalion. 1948. 322 pages. Format 15 X 24. ISBN 2 85704 159 4.

The book: The war of Algeria lived by a lieutenant of the 2nd R.E.P. A novel truer than many historical accounts, written in 1982. Rough and imposing landscapes, beaten by snow and the wind, with the heart of which reign a legendary cedar… Several times centenaire, this "Tree of Prey" is the witness of the fury and the size of the men: we are in Aurès, during the war of Algeria. The légionaries of the 2nd REFERENCE MARK faces a rebellious band, in an equal weapon fight, of man with man. The ones have for them the science of the combat, the automatisms acquired by a long experiment of the war, the solidarity born of a spirit of proverbial body. The others oppose an ancestral knowledge of the ground, a roughness of mountain dwellers who allows them to resist violence elements, and a courage equal to that to them their adversaries. It is the sense of smell of the hunter against the instinct of the poacher!
In this sumptuous fresco, there are neither goods, nor malicious. And, perhaps, neither winner nor overcome…
Never the war of Algeria had not been depicted with such an accuracy, such a honesty, such a dignity. Jean-Marie Selosse does not give any opinion on the reasons which push légionaries and rebels between-to be committed suicide. Finding the spirit of the old tales of chivalry, it is with an admirable breath epic that it makes us discover the secrecies of the hearts and the hearts, through an extraordinary gallery of characters of or emergent the figures at the same time heroic and moving by lieutenant Saint-Prat and the fell "Belqacem", that the destiny will join together with the foot of "the Tree of Prey".

The author: Jean-Marie Selosse, 29 years of service as officer, including 20 with the Legion, was a lieutenant in Algeria, with the 1st R.E, then with the 2nd R.E.P. It was seriously wounded with the head of its section during the combat of Djébel Chélia which it evokes in this novel.

The editor: Italic Editions. 2002. 220 pages. Format 15,5 X 24. ISBN: 2 910536 31 9.

The book: A document: first history of the most glorious unit of the French Army in Indo-China and Algeria. An author: Pierre Sergeant, lieutenant, then captain, in the rows of these green berets, which took part in person in the events that it describes and which in knew all the actors.
A tragedy: this unit of légionaries parachutists was destroyed three times. Twice in Indo-China: 500 berets green engaged in the disastrous business of CAD Bang, 470 died and disappeared; and a thousand with the point of the combat with Dien Biên Phu, 600 killed, 400 wounded. And this third and last destruction in Algeria: after having gained the war of the djebel and that of Algiers, the 1st REFERENCE MARK was the spearhead of the putsch of April 22, 1961. Eight days after, the regiment was definitively dissolved.
Actors with unforgettable courage, finest warrior of the young French Army: Jeanpierre, Degueldre, Morin, Martin, Faulques, Cabiro, Tasnady, and hundred others, French of birth, or French "by versed blood"…
Segretain, ordering 1st BEP, and Jeanpierre, ordering 1st REFERENCE MARK, were killed with the combat. In Indo-China, all the captains, half of the lieutenants, almost the totality of the warrant officers and légionaries died in the field of honor or in the camps Vietnamese soldiers. In Algeria, out of now foreign ground, the cemeteries of Zéralda and Guelma are filled with tombs of légionary-parachutists. In France, the square of shot cemetery of Thiais received the mortal remainss of two green berets: lieutenant Deguelde and the Dovecar sergeant… the combat ceased. Almost all the officers of the 1st REFERENCE MARK left armée.Quelques the warrant officers dream of their past in the metropolitan barracks. The surviving légionaries set out again in their countries. But, in the heart of all, the flag with fodder the yellow and green and the five palms lives, which sleeps with the museum of the Legion.
"Not, I do not regret anything" sang the légionary-parachutists while leaving for the last time, today ten years ago, their camp of Zéralda. The famous refrain of Edith Piaf entrainait them in the history.
The captain Pierre Sergeant you entraine with their continuation on the ways of glory and death. Nobody will regret.

The author: Pierre Sergeant, born in 1926, makes his first weapons in the maquis at the 17 years age. At its exit of Saint-Cyr military school, it chooses the foreign Legion, which it will not leave any more. It fights in the rows of the 1st BEP in Indo-China, or it is wounded. It saw all the war of Algeria since All Saints' day 1954 until the dissolution of the 1st REFERENCE MARK. It was, with Roger Degueldre, one of principal the artisants of the engagement of the regiment in the putsch of April 1961. After the failure of the military revolt, it chooses clandestinity and takes part in the top of the creation of the metropolitan OAS. Twice condemned to death, it escapes during seven years from research from all the police forces. Amnestied after the events of May 1968, it selected the literary career: become writer by profession, it belongs to the Office of Literary production. He is the author of many works on the Legion

The Editor: Beech. 1972. 405 pages. Format 15,5 X 23.

The book: Kolwézi, May 13, 1978. One Saturday like all the others, the day before the festivals of Pentecost. The life is soft, the pleasant climate, happiness present. And then of only one blow, any rocker in the horror. The gusts crépitent, katangais them are ruent with the attack. The houses are invested, the civil ones are cut down. From hour in hour, the massacre is organized. Everywhere summary courts, firing squads. Everywhere corpses piled up in the ditches, the streets, in the houses, Kolwézi becomes the city of terror.
In Kinshasa, two men learn the tragedy. Andre Ross, ambassador of France, and Yves Fatty, ordering the mission of military aid. They are two men alone who, four days during, will fight to obtain from their country, their government do not assist, indifferent to this butchery. They live terrible hours. They are entêtent. They badger. And it gain. Friday May 19 finally, the 2nd Foreign Regiment of Parachutist jumps on Kolwézi.
Far from the ministerial negociations, slides of the policy, divagations of the press, Frenchwoman and international, here, from day to day, the "infernal week" of Kolwézi such as one lived, on the ground, witnesses and actors. And, among the latter, those which counted the most: légionary-parachutists of the 2nd REFERENCE MARKS, once again worthy of their tradition, the their old ones.

The author: Pierre Sergeant, born in 1926, makes his first weapons in the maquis at the 17 years age. At its exit of Saint-Cyr military school, it chooses the foreign Legion, which it will not leave any more. It fights in the rows of the 1st BEP in Indo-China, or it is wounded. It saw all the war of Algeria since All Saints' day 1954 until the dissolution of the 1st REFERENCE MARK. It was, with Roger Degueldre, one of principal the artisants of the engagement of the regiment in the putsch of April 1961. After the failure of the military revolt, it chooses clandestinity and takes part in the top of the creation of the metropolitan OAS. Twice condemned to death, it escapes during seven years from research from all the police forces. Amnestied after the events of May 1968, it selected the literary career: become writer by profession, it belongs to the Office of Literary production. He is the author of many works on the Legion.

The editor: Presses of the City. 1978. 241 pages. Format 15,5 X 24. ISBN2 258 00426 8

The book: "I ASK to three questions you to you will answer me in any frankness: Do you agree to jump does not import or, in blind? Do you agree to jump with twenty two meters second of wind? Do you agree to jump without support-drives out?
- I answer yes your three questions, my commander ". It is the vocation of the légionaries parachutists: to jump, whatever the atmospheric conditions, whatever the danger.
The history of the légionaries parachutists of the 2nd BEP starts, in Indo-China, in 1949. The stay begins in Kampuchea in relaxation. Not for a long time. To fly to the help of a station, of a unit in difficulty very quickly becomes an often fatal routine… then, in the night from the 3 to October 4, 1951, the battalion intervenes in unit made up. It will be the battle of Nghia Lo, followed that of Ba VI, the operations "Lorraine", "Marion", Na San, Langson… April 10, 1954, the men of the 2nd BEP jump on Diên Biên Phu. The majority disappear with the combat or are made prisoners. The 3rd BEP, which arrived in reinforcement, asserts the honor of appeller 2nd BEP. November 1, 1955, the 2nd BEP definitively leaves Indo-China on board "Pasteur".
Algeria in Chad, in Kolwézi, the history of the 2nd REFERENCE MARK, heir to the 2nd BEP, starts. It will be the object of the second volume of this épopée which Pierre Sergent wanted to make live again, in homage to all his/her comrades fallen to the other end from the world, in the shade of the Tricolour.

The author: Pierre Sergeant, born in 1926, makes his first weapons in the maquis at the 17 years age. At its exit of Saint-Cyr military school, it chooses the foreign Legion, which it will not leave any more. It fights in the rows of the 1st BEP in Indo-China, or it is wounded. It saw all the war of Algeria since All Saints' day 1954 until the dissolution of the 1st REFERENCE MARK. It was, with Roger Degueldre, one of principal the artisants of the engagement of the regiment in the putsch of April 1961. After the failure of the military revolt, it chooses clandestinity and takes part in the top of the creation of the metropolitan OAS. Twice condemned to death, it escapes during seven years from research from all the police forces. Amnestied after the events of May 1968, it selected the literary career: become writer by profession, it belongs to the Office of Literary production. He is the author of many works on the Legion.

The editor: Presses of the City. 1982. 250 pages. Format 14,5 X 24. ISBN 2 258 00986 3

The book: "Give me your twenty years, gives me your place. Take my medals. With you honors, you glory. Give me your impossible missions. Give me your pitons to be conquered, your adjudant to be supported, the jungle to be faced. Still give to me the opportunity to sing with the buddies, to fall on the way or to overcome with the combat ".
It is not today old 2nd REFERENCE MARK which is not ready with the exchange.
Born from the 2nd BEP of Indo-China, the 2nd REFERENCE MARK becomes, in 1956, in Algeria, the spearhead of the zone Is Algerian. It cuts a solid reputation and accumulates the most significant assessments.
In 1962, folded up in Bou Dfer, in protection of the base Seas to el-Kébir, the 2nd REFERENCE MARK enlise in mud and stagnation. Then, its colonel decides to specialize his regiment, to make it able to achieve any mission, in any context, under any latitude. Frameworks and légionaries deviennet operational chuteurs, marksmen to all the weapons, naval frogmen, mountaineers. The 2nd REFERENCE MARK found its way: it will be the unit of the impossible missions.
It makes countryside in Chad. It jumps on Kolwézi. It delivers the hostages in Djibouti. It unloads at the head in Beirut in 1983. it sets out again in Chad in January 1984.
This book tells the enthralling adventure of a group of men belonging to a prestigious shock unit supérieurement entrainée, with the service of the fatherland which these foreigners chose.

The author: Pierre Sergeant, born in 1926, makes his first weapons in the maquis at the 17 years age. At its exit of Saint-Cyr military school, it chooses the foreign Legion, which it will not leave any more. It fights in the rows of the 1st BEP in Indo-China, or it is wounded. It saw all the war of Algeria since All Saints' day 1954 until the dissolution of the 1st REFERENCE MARK. It was, with Roger Degueldre, one of principal the artisants of the engagement of the regiment in the putsch of April 1961. After the failure of the military revolt, it chooses clandestinity and takes part in the top of the creation of the metropolitan OAS. Twice condemned to death, it escapes during seven years from research from all the police forces. Amnestied after the events of May 1968, it selected the literary career: become writer by profession, it belongs to the Office of Literary production. He is the author of many works on the Legion.

The editor: Presses of the City. 1984. 288 pages. Format 25,5 X 24. ISBN 2 258 01370 4

The book: In December 1950 engaged the battle of CAD Bang, watershed in the war of Indo-China. Since the previous month, Viêt-minh laid out on the famous RC4 of a body of battle of more than 30 000 men strongly armed by China. The French government and command then decided to fold up the forces on CAD Bang and maintained this operation although the Giap General, taking the initiative, had ensured himself of the key position of Dong Khé. Against attacker, the Charton columns and the Page were absorbed in the jungle and were carried under the waves of assault of the adversary. The 1st foreign battalion parachutists - or 1st BEP - tried to make jump the bolt and was sacrificed during the one of the wildest confrontations and bloodiest of the war.
The book of Louis Stien, one of the officers "founders" of this unit of elite, three times wounded before CAD Bang, is the pathetic and precise account of these combat which were completed, for his/her comrades and him, by four years of internment in the camps of Viêt-minh. Louis Stien, who tried by twice escaping, gives us on these camps or reigned the hunger, misery you it disease and on the system of rehabilitation and endoctrinement polotic to which were subjected the prisoners, a testimony seizing and final.

The author: Louis Stein belongs to these young people lieutenantsardents and enthusiastic who in 1948 formed and ordered the sections of a very new unit: the 1st Foreign Battalion Parachutists.

The editor: Albin Michel. 1994. 332 pages. Format 15,5 X 24. ISBN 2 226 06310 2.

The book: April 26, 1954, the beginning of the conference of Geneva, and on May 17, 1954, the fall of Diên Biên Phu, are a prelude to with the sovereignty and the independence of Viêt Nam.
Lle June 3, 1954, one cease general, effective fire for the whole of French Indo-China between July 27 and on August 1, closes an incredible vice of sacrifices légionaries.
Unloaded since February 6, 1946 (elements of the 2nd REI), the units of the foreign Legion made this ground of Indo-China their field of honor par excellence, by leaving there 309 officers, 1082 warrant officers and 9092 légionaries.
Among those, "légionaries of the sky", parachutists of the BEP… initially called to play Saint-Bernard of the stations in danger besieged by Viêt Minh, then "to break of the Vietnamese soldier", to take part in operations known as of police force and reinforcement of sector… for finally sinking in the infernal cauldron of Diên Biên Phu, in a combat-symbol of the honor parachutist and fidelity légionary.
Forty years later, at the time or time and the lapse of memory erased many divergences and of passions, Raoul van Onsem bears witness, a testimony which is placed at the top of any palaver since abundantly illustrated by brought back documents of Indo-China, whereas it produced with his team of the Photographic Service and Information, of the thousands of photographs of the combat and the life in shift.

The author: Raoul Van Onsem, known as Raoul Ravon.

The editor: Editions Scaillet. 1991. 149 pages. Format 23,5 X 30,5. ISBN: 2 930002 00 X.

The book: This voice has an unusual tone: raucous and forces. It is that less than one soldier whom of a warrior who broke the law of silence and who does not speak any more to his hierarchical ex-superiors at the lawful distance. Engaged in ten eight years in the Legion, Antoine Ysquierdo took part in the forefront, without disabling, with all the engagements of 1942 (Tunisia, countryside of Italy, Germany) at 1961 (Algeria). This book recalls the long way traversed by a unit of elite (some 1st R.E.P., you remember?); but the matter of the author is not to join together pious images, nor to distribute medals. It is of saying the truth, so hard, if little jokes that it is and to denounce the staffs responsible for so many disasters.

The author: After the disaster of 1940, as of the 18 years age, Antoine Ysquierdo, pushed by his will to take part in the war, engages with the Foreign Legion. During more than 20 years, it follows the immense trajectory of the men of war of the R.M.L.E, the 3rd R.E.I, the Foreign Legion parachutist.
Légionary of 2nd class in Tunisia (1942), head of group, Provence to Austria, head of section in Indo-China or it fights several years, and takes part in the tragedy of Diên Biên Phu, it is a captain in Algeria. Wounded with the combat, fourteen times quoted, he is a Officer of the Legion of Honour in exceptional circumstances.
A successful civil career which left him the leisure write other works, proof of its talent of writer:
"These men of the Legion… who die for glory" (Edition of the Street pedlar and the Merry Guard) and "Of the cut to the lips" (New Latin editions).
No one appears more qualified only him to tell the epic of his/her comrades in arms, the heroic saga of these French by versed blood.
Officer of the Legion of Honour, fourteen times quoted, including five with the order of the army.

The editor: The Round Table. 1966. 247 pages. Format 14 X 20.

The book: "the war is a simple art but very of execution". Antoine Ysquierdo recalls this maxim napoléonienne on several occasions and, simply, it tells the war and those which do it. The work tells the life and the combat of these men of war who are the soldiers of elites of the Legion etrangère. However, there are no hero, only excécutants which, from one war to another come and die proud to be useful under the green and red flame. This book is an instructive praise, written by one of them, of the virile clan of the units of elites.
The blood of the men runs for the often frileuse nation which employs them. They do not ask him anything, even not consideration or recognition, requirement of the failbles. Their superb pride resembles sometimes a scornful contempt for those which live out of the clan which has as a currency Légion Patria Nostra. They they are besides.
After the hard training of Saida, the Ysquierdo légionary is with those of the R.M.L.E. in Tunisia or, the almost naked hands, badly équipéé of obsolete weapons, the Foreign Legion is committed against Africakorps. With Lattre, the R.M.L.E. becomes the spearhead of the 5th D.B., combatant of the first at the last day of the countryside.
With the 3rd R.E.I., the author is of all the combat delivered on the R.C.4, with CAD Bang, khé That. With the Foreign Legion parachutist, it fights with the volunteers of the elite légionary, these new famous units all, several decimated times, each reconstituted time. They die in Diên Biên Phu and, like the phoenix, reappear to fight in Algeria.
They all are there, around the corporal, of the sergeant, lieutenant Ysquierdo, one as of their, which depicts them and tells them with all its talent and of all its fraternal heart. They live, fight, die simply, like scornful of the closed world external with their dreams: they are the LEGIONNAIRES!

The author: After the disaster of 1940, as of the 18 years age, Antoine Ysquierdo, pushed by his will to take part in the war, engages with the Foreign Legion. During more than 20 years, it follows the immense trajectory of the men of war of the R.M.L.E, the 3rd R.E.I, the Foreign Legion parachutist.
Légionary of 2nd class in Tunisia (1942), head of group, Provence to Austria, head of section in Indo-China or it fights several years, and takes part in the tragedy of Diên Biên Phu, it is a captain in Algeria. Wounded with the combat, fourteen times quoted, he is a Officer of the Legion of Honour in exceptional circumstances.
A successful civil career which left him the leisure write other works, proof of its talent of writer:
"a war for nothing" (the Round Table) and "Of the cut to the lips" (New Latin editions).
No one appears more qualified only him to tell the epic of his/her comrades in arms, the heroic saga of these French by versed blood.
Officer of the Legion of Honour, fourteen times quoted, including five with the order of the army.

The editor: Editions of the Street pedlar and the Merry Guard. 1993. 351 pages. Format 15 X 22.
ISBN:2 87898 003 4

The book: A clear glance, an honest smile, short writings a rare depth, here what characterizes best the head of Raffali squadron, our godfather of promotion. This made collection of photographs and words very moving, resembles to him étonnament, and makes it possible to better seize the exceptional richness of its personality. It also makes it possible to revive its course out of the commun run, thanks to the stereotypes that it left us, with the back of which it affixed sometimes some hasty lines to reassure its family remained in metropolis.
Our promotion did not want with this work to make work of historian, but rather to give to see the glance of THESE Raffalli, reflection of its heart. The values which made of it the loved officer of its men and the military head are of all the times, and the second lieutenants of our promotion want to do them theirs for the exciting life which awaits them.
That its smile always guides us. (Morel Second lieutenant).

The author: Collective, promotion Head of Raffalli Squadron, (1998-2001) the military Special School of Saint-Cyr military school.

The editor: Editions Lavauzelle. 2001. 77 pages. Format 25 X 25. ISBN: 2 7025 0493 0.

Here of other books or plates Paras-legion which exist, but that I do not have in my collection:
(Thanks for announcing them to me to supplement this list):

Presentation: Friendly of the Former Légionaries Parachutists. Printed with the EIAT. 1993. 242 pages, plus pages of charts and plans. Format 21 X 29,7. Drawn with 750 specimens only, reserved to the members of the friendly one. Gather testimonys of Old which took part in these operations, generally new testimonys, just as the many photographs of illustration. A specimen of this work at summer given to the Museum of the Foreign Legion with Aubagne, with the SHAT and the BNF.

DIEN WELL PHU, a name hidden with the subsoil of ourself which, each time we evoke it, us disturbs deeply. Diên Biên Phu, symbol of a military defeat, announces the end of the centenaire presence of France in the Extrème-East and the beginning of the communist dictatorship on what was French Indo-China then independent Viêt-Nam.
Symbol for us of the disappearance and the dissolution of the three units of légionaries parachutists engaged in this basin, died to have very given the they same ones. But also symbol of respectful pride in front of the heroism and the abnegation, their moral indestructible until the last day, in spite of the roughness of the fight, the hardness of the captivity and the bitter feeling to be sacrificed and forgotten.
Since 1954, a promotion of Saint-Cyr military school wanted expressed this pride by choosing to be baptized "Those of Diên Biên Phu". The young officers thus paid a homage official to all these combatants; they registered them forever in the history of the French Army while placing them at the row of "Those" of Camerone, Bazeilles, Sidi-Brahim…
Much as of ours which were of these combat or they was recognized among the whole better accepted, forty years after, to awake their memories to say what they lived, and how much expensive are paid future glories.
This receuil wants to be a homage:
- with the head of Guiraud battalion, ordering the 1st B.E.P.
- with the head of Liesenfelt battalion, ordering the 2nd B.E.P.
- with the lieutenants successive Molinier, Turcy, Singland, Bergot, commanders on the ground of the CEPML, which led the fight to the head of their subordinates of all known or anonymous ranks, being useful with solidity of the Legion and ardour of the parachutists.
It is a homage:
- with all those which were killed with the combat or disappeared forever;
- with all those which were wounded, often several times, of which much voluntarily took again their station of combat in first line, of which some were returned by the Vietnamese soldiers so much were serious their wounds;
- in all those which took the way of the captivity and died there of exhaustion in a total dignity;
- with all rescapés of this storm, set out again almost at once towards new combat with satisfying and the same faith.
That they have been also a homage particular to our Vietnamese comrades taking part for more than three years with courage and cheerfulness in the "Saga" of the B.E.P., if proud to carry the green beret of the operations, and the white beret of the catches of weapons, and unfortunately if not very many to remain among us, here or over there, always also légionaries and parachutist of Heart.
Commander J Morin. President of the A.A.L.P. from 1979 to 1993.

Presentation: Friendly of the Former Légionaries Parachutists. 1987. 80 pages, plus pages of charts and plans. Format 21 X 29,7. Drawn with 750 specimens only, reserved to the members of the friendly one. Gather testimonys of Old which took part in these operations, generally new testimonys, just as the many photographs of illustration. A specimen of this work at summer given to the Museum of the Foreign Legion with Aubagne, with the SHAT and the BNF.

Presentation: Friendly of the Former Légionaries Parachutists. 1999. 470 pages, plus pages of charts and plans. Format 21 X 29,7. Drawn with 750 specimens only, reserved to the members of the friendly one. Gather testimonys of Old which took part in these operations, generally new testimonys, just as the many photographs of illustration. A specimen of this work at summer given to the Museum of the Foreign Legion with Aubagne, with the SHAT and the BNF. This work is consulted and considered to be exceptional