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Mar 7 2013

Do People Really Run Off to Join the French Foreign Legion?

20 min 2 movies discussed
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Anyone who knows anything about Jean-Claude Van Damme knows he played a French legionnaire in the movies. He was just one of many actors to star in films that romanticized this mercenary force. Check out the details in this episode with Josh and Chuck.

AI Summary

In this episode of Stuff You Should Know, Josh and Chuck explore the fascinating world of the French Foreign Legion, the legendary military force that's been accepting foreign fighters and giving them fresh starts since 1830. They dive into the unique traditions of this elite unit, from the mandatory name changes and anonymity rules to their distinctive kepi hats, and discuss how these tough soldiers have been in continuous combat for nearly two centuries. The hosts also cover the modern-day Legion, including current recruitment practices, pay scales, and their ongoing missions around the world.


Movies Discussed

Legionnaire
Legionnaire
1998 1h 38m
★ 5.8
"I think Legion Was a movie called Legion or Legionaire — Josh mentions a Jean-Claude Van Damme movie about joining the French Foreign Legion." — Josh
The Expendables
The Expendables
2010 1h 43m
★ 6.3
"there's a Article in the December 2012 vanity fair called the expendables — Josh references a Vanity Fair article titled 'The Expendables' about the French Foreign Legion, which shares its name with the action movie." — Josh

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