18 Mar 2023

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

Stuff You Should Know

This podcast episode explores the history, purpose, and unique aspects of the French Foreign Legion, a military force composed of individuals from diverse backgrounds, including criminals and those seeking a new beginning. It delves into the legion's distinctive uniform, its origins during the reign of King Louis Philippe, and the provision that allows recruits to join under an assumed name for the first year of service. The episode also discusses the legionnaires' perception as expendable and nihilistic, their willingness to sacrifice themselves for their country, and the changing popularity of breakdancing hats in the 1980s. Additionally, it features a listener's email sharing his fascination with the autopsy process and the distinction between cause of death and manner of death.

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