French Foreign Legion 1831–71

Osprey Men at Arms #509

by Martin Windrow, Gerry Embleton (Illustrations)

Concluding his bestselling series on the French Foreign Legion, Martin Windrow explores the formation and development of the Legion during its "first generation." Raised in 1831, the Legion's formative years would see it fight continuous and savage campaigns in Algeria, aid the Spanish government in the Carlist War, join the British in the Crimean campaign, and fight alongside the Swiss in the bloody battles of Magenta and Solferino. With the ever-changing combat environments they found themselves in, the Legion had to constantly adapt in order to survive.

Taking advantage of the latest research, this lavishly illustrated study explores the evolution of the uniforms and kit of the French Foreign Legion, from their early campaigns in Algeria through to their iconic Battle of Camerone in Mexico, and their role in the Franco-Prussian war.

Genres: France, Military History

48 pages, Paperback

Published December 20, 2016

About the author

Martin C. Windrow is a British historian, editor and author of several hundred books, articles and monographs, particularly those on organizational or physical details of military history, and the history of the post-war French Foreign Legion. He has been published since the mid-Sixties.

Reviews

[Jereme · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty much just a recounting of the Legion's campaigns with virtually no information on training and what not. Uniform details are left to the plates at the very end. The plates themselves are however, excellent.