Soldiers of Misfortune

 the history of mercenaries

Myth Foreign Legion

Probably because the French Foreign Legion was the last permanent mercenary unit in the age of mass media its history is hidden behind piles of popular images.

Adventures with exotic women

Pulp Cover Foreign Legion
Pulp Cover Foreign Legion
Pulp covers of the 1930s. There are mostly some exotic women fond of the Legionnaires.



Defending the lonesome fort (Zinderneuf?)

Defending the Fort
Defending the Fort
Fighting for the fort in the desert.



Beau Geste: the root of most

Beau Geste 1926
1926 Cover of the famous novel Beau Geste by P.C. Wren (first ed. 1924)



Beau Geste Movie Poster
Poster of the film Beau Geste (1939) with Gary Cooper, Ray Milland and Robert Preston



Beau Hunks poster
Beau Hunks poster
Beau Hunks is a 1931 movie starring Laurel and Hardy mocking the first Beau Geste film from 1926.



The Last Remake of Beau Geste
The Last Remake of Beau Geste is a 1977 American historical comedy film. It starred and was also directed and co-written by Marty Feldman. It is a satire of Beau Geste films and novel.



Snoopy as Beau Geste
Beau Geste at fort Zinderneuf was also a great idol for dog Snoopy.



The last Myth

Foreign Legion Wine
Foreign Legion Wine produced by veterans, a clever marketing for tough guys.