The Spanish Legion

[Ken Estes]

 

Our fellow TNetter Daan posted one of these a while back.

 

A good way to begin to know them, the above and the related videos. I had a great time with these guys. I drank 'Leche de la pantera' [panther's milk], and they taught me their credos, the songs, and eventually made me an honorary legionnaire. If anybody on active duty serves with them, they can be trusted with your flanks. Enjoy!

 

Times are not as tough as when they were founded, 1920, in midst of the guerrilla war in Sp Morocco, whence Col. Millan Astray told them:

The Tercio opens its doors to you, beckons you, in anonymity, honor and glory. You will be proud to be legionnaires. You will have a tough life, a difficult, man's life, full of constant risks, fatigue and sacrifice. You will fight always in the vanguard, death will become your inseparable companion. Many of you will die, perhaps all. Those who do not feel motivated can go away. Those that cannot find the valor to face such a tough life, take one step forward. The spirit of death, death in combat, is the greatest honor. One does not die more than once. Death comes without pain and to die is not as terrible as it appears. More terrible is living as a coward.

 

My observations in 1992:

At the end of his training, the new legionnaire has been instructed in all general military subjects, platoon weapons and communications equipment, fundamental tactics of the infantry company and has passed by squads through the ritual “corridor of fire,” featuring live small arms fire and demolitions. Specifically, he has mastered the following minimum standards:

· Accurate marksmanship at 100m

· Tactical march of 22 Km in 4 hours

· 8 Km run with combat equipment in 1 hour

· Disassemble/assemble personal weapon in 3 minutes

· Vault gymnastic apparatus and obstacles

· Basic movements of personal defense

· Pass the standard physical fitness test at 1st class level

 

Any observer spending time with the Legion will note immediately that its traditions and values are honored in word and deed. The leaders urge the new legionnaires into the esprit of the Spanish Legion. There is no mere lip service paid to the history, traditions and aura of this organization. Basic training includes instruction in the history, creed, and traditions of the Legion, and these continue to be observed in the day-to-day life of the Legion. The creeds are recited, songs are sung and the mythology honored. A legionnaire never states that he is tired, until he collapses from exhaustion. Rooms and lockers are left unlocked in the barracks. Officers tend to their own meals and comforts only after the troops have received theirs. Formations in garrison and stand-to in the field are smartly executed and the execution of orders is crisp.

Edited May 15, 2008 by Ken Estes

[Ariete!]

I think that many people who value military bravery and patriotism might still take exception with the Tercio's "cult od death". Aside from its general unsavoryness, it does not transalte well into modern warfare (I prefer the Pattonesque injuction of helping the other sumbitch die for his country).

 

Re. the officers vs. enlisted priorities. Did you witness this directly? If so, that is very impressive for a Spanish/Southern European unit. Certainly in thw draftee Italian Army units I served in most officers were aloof from the enlsited 'scum' and hardly very concernedwith their welfare.

 

Re. the tercio, i always thought those shirts-open-to-the-sternum uniforms were a bit gigolo-like but hey, what's love of the military withoiut a strong undercurrent of repressed homoeroticism?

[swerve]

...

Re. the officers vs. enlisted priorities. Did you witness this directly? If so, that is very impressive for a Spanish/Southern European unit. Certainly in thw draftee Italian Army units I served in most officers were aloof from the enlsited 'scum' and hardly very concernedwith their welfare....

 

I once spent almost 24 hours in the company of a Chilean army captain (I was hitchhiking across Patagonia & he gave me a lift. It takes that long to get anywhere down there). Among much else, we discussed the recent Falklands war, & he said that the Argentinean army had a great divide between officers & other ranks, which he thought was a source of weakness. Said that as a lieutenant commanding a platoon, he'd been required to spend many nights in barracks with his men (he had his own room), was expected to know every man, & had responsibility for their welfare. He claimed that an Argentinean officer in the same position would usually live off base, rarely see his men, not know them, & communicate via the platoon sergeant. Asked me what the British army was like. I said I believed that it was more like what he described as Chilean practice. He laughed, & said "That's why you won."

[Ken Estes]

I think that many people who value military bravery and patriotism might still take exception with the Tercio's "cult od death". Aside from its general unsavoryness, it does not transalte well into modern warfare (I prefer the Pattonesque injuction of helping the other sumbitch die for his country).

 

Re. the officers vs. enlisted priorities. Did you witness this directly? If so, that is very impressive for a Spanish/Southern European unit. Certainly in thw draftee Italian Army units I served in most officers were aloof from the enlsited 'scum' and hardly very concernedwith their welfare.

 

Re. the tercio, i always thought those shirts-open-to-the-sternum uniforms were a bit gigolo-like but hey, what's love of the military withoiut a strong undercurrent of repressed homoeroticism?

As in other forms of military culture, the Novio de la Muerte notion remains an exaggeration; the Legion hates taking casualties and mourned its losses in the Balkans and Afghanistan as any other organization would. Yes, I spent time in the field with X Bandera and they live what they say. In garrison, they may eat the 'rancho' of the troops at mid-day, but have their separate officers' mess, etc. One day, as I attended an exercise conference between the Legion Inspectorate and a USMC MEU at their old Malaga HQ, I asked them to take a lieutenant back to the airport as the airline had produced his luggage a day late. The duty officer came to me and pointed out the car & driver for the Lt, and the latter began to walk over there. The duty officer stiffened visibly; I realized it, said, "Lieutenant, stay here, the driver will bring the car to you." Some things do not change!

 

I think the French For Legion march cadence is equally odd with its 80 paces per minute, as they are no longer knee deep in the Sands of the Sahara. Nevertheless, it remains evocative and worth seeing.

[sunday]

There is a recent biography of Millán Astray, title of Millán Astray, Legionario, by Luis E. Togores, ISBN 84-9734-374-3 that could be useful. Also, Francisco Franco's (before the SCW) Diario de una Bandera, that is in the internet, legally free of charge, but only in Spanish, AFAIK.

 

There also is a French movie of the 1930, La Bandera (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0026095/), filmed in the then Spanish Morocco. One of the characters is based on the aforementioned general.

 

edited to add:

 

Minor nitpick: According to some lejías I know, the name of the beverage is Leche de pantera. Same as goat milk is leche de cabra.

 

/edit

Edited March 5, 2008 by sunday

[SCFalken]

A mi los Mutilados!

 

 

Crazy guys.

 

 

Falken

[Ariete!]

As in other forms of military culture, the Novio de la Muerte notion remains an exaggeration; the Legion hates taking casualties and mourned its losses in the Balkans and Afghanistan as any other organization would.

 

No doubt; was referring more to their origins or at least up to the Civil War.

 

Yes, I spent time in the field with X Bandera and they live what they say. In garrison, they may eat the 'rancho' of the troops at mid-day, but have their separate officers' mess, etc. One day, as I attended an exercise conference between the Legion Inspectorate and a USMC MEU at their old Malaga HQ, I asked them to take a lieutenant back to the airport as the airline had produced his luggage a day late. The duty officer came to me and pointed out the car & driver for the Lt, and the latter began to walk over there. The duty officer stiffened visibly; I realized it, said, "Lieutenant, stay here, the driver will bring the car to you." Some things do not change!

 

How very interesting. I always enjoy Mr Estes’ “historical” posts.

 

I think the French For Legion march cadence is equally odd with its 80 paces per minute, as they are no longer knee deep in the Sands of the Sahara. Nevertheless, it remains evocative and worth seeing.

 

In the Itie army the Alpini (mountain troops) I think have a slower cadence and the Bersaglieri, of course, never march but always “run” (more of a fast jog). My paternal grandpa’s life might have been saved by the pre-war obsession in the Itie army with acrobatics. He was a second lieutenant in the Bersaglieri and he broke his tibia doing some sport of jumping nonsense and could not leave with his regiment…to North Africa (he was retained at the regimental depot to train others). Not many of those guys made it back.