Spanish Foreign Legion | Legión Extranjera Española | Ceuta | August 1966

August 1966.
Footage of an ITN News report on Ceuta capturing soldiers of the Spanish Foreign Legion. The Spanish outpost and its army was officially not welcome by neighbouring Morocco, but as the reporter revealed, King Hassan of Morocco privately welcomed their presence as a sort of insurance against a left-wing backed insurrection in his kingdom.
This is a excerpt from an ITN Report on August 3rd 1966, "Morocco: Spanish Foreign Legion Outposts".
Source: Getty Images.
1. Now known as the Spanish Legion (Legión Española), it is now a Special Forces unit that functions as a Rapid Reaction Force.
2. It was created by Lt. Colonel José Millán-Astray in 1920 as the Spanish equivalent of the French Foreign Legion and was designed to serve within the old Army of Africa which under General Francisco Franco had been used to launch the military coup against the Republican government; a venture that led to the Spanish Civil War.
3. José Millán-Astray y Terreros ("El Glorioso Mutilado"), who as a general became one of the key figures of the early era of the Franco regime, was the mentor of Francisco Franco.

[@Jmarmoles]

La única manera de destruir esa fuerza y allanar el camino a Marruecos para regalarle la provincia española del Sáhara era desde la política Española, la podredumbre y traicionera de los políticos no ha cambiado nada

[@alandesouzacruz5124]

Awesome footage

[@MegaJohny56]

los novios de la muerte

[@FHIPrincePeter]

Fascinating on so many levels. 1. Was this from Wickers World? 2. Very Rare footage of the Spanish Foreign Legion which still exists today. 3. The Marching at the end signifies they were light Infantry they are marching at the same pace as the British Regiment the Rifles.

[@adeyinkamakinde6164]

@ Prince Peter : It has a similar feel to Whicker's World. but it is actually an ITN special report. They did a lot of this sort of thing at a late evening slot from the late 50s to the late 60s before channelling it into "News At Ten". The overall report was about Spain hanging on to its North African possessions such as Ceuta and Melilla inspite of a blockade by Morocco.

[@FHIPrincePeter]

@@adeyinkamakinde6164 Your doing very good work. Keep it going.

[@MegaJohny56]

or the Italian Bersaglieri

[@BicornioSPA]

Its not Spanish Foreign Legion its just Legion, they are Spaniards not foreign.

[@adeyinkamakinde6164]

@@BicornioSPA The film is from 1966. Of course the name changed over time from Tercio de Extranjeros to Tercio de Marruecos and finally to Legion Espanola,/La Legion.

[@angelodiazrodriguez5186]

Simplemente extraordinario 👏👏👏 un gran honor de verlo en directo desde Inglaterra...una gran afinidad por este cuerpo militar...[...] un saludo compatriotas...👏🇪🇸🇬🇧

[@josepmoron5213]

Esa era la verdadera legión , ahora con arreglarse como las mujeres tienen bastante

[@estrategic9990]

@@empnadajhhh9469 XD sí

[@stigmadsen8582]

best army ever

[@ottogille]

Esto si es legion

[@kavbojctinko4131]

Does Spanish Foreign legion still exists? Is it a part of Regualr Spanish army?

[@salozinp]

The legion exists in Spain since 1921, but the foreigners are only from South American countries with which Spain had a historical relationship, for the rest, they are all Spanish military. The legion is part of the Spanish Land Army, but it has its own idiosyncrasy, hymns , and way of acting that differentiate it from the rest of the Spanish army. It is organized into 4 Tercios (regiments). Third Great Captain, Third Duke of Alba, Tercio Alejandro Farnesio and Tercio Juan de Austria. famous at the time when the Spanish Tercios militarily dominated Europe, from 1496 to 1643. The Tercios were Spanish infantry regiments, considered the most disciplined and combative in Europe, and the Legion is considered their descendant.

[@madgringo9263]

The spanish Troops to protect the cities of Ceuta and Melilla and not to defend the KINGDOM of Morrocco as this misinformed reporter says ....even more to sorround Gibraltar from all sides should the need arise .

[@Joshdyisdifh]

Moroccans played a big role in Franco's victory.

[@pedroviriato9356]

No tanto, la guerra la tenía ganada.

[@madgringo9263]

Morrocan soldiers which are very good fighting Troops...the Regulares are the most condecorated in the spanish army .

[@francofranco7447]

ESO ERA LEGION NO LA BASURA DE AHORA

[@alfonsosanchez2010]

La legion es la legion, no insultes, a la legion española, es la legion, no lo olvides.

[@josepmoron5213]

Esa si era la verdadera legión . Ahora están más en el gimnasio y la esteticista q currando .

[@javierramoshidalgo8498]

La Legión en la que serví en 1068, era diferente a la de ahora. Ni mejor ni peor, era otra cosa.

[@salozinp]

@@javierramoshidalgo8498 Si,eran las cruzadas,gran epoca esa.

[@richardmiller3146]

​@@josepmoron5213 Por favor, disculpe mi Español. Yo nací en Sevilla de una madre Española y un padre estadounidense. He vivido en los EEUU la mayor parte de mi vida y necesito practicar hablar y escribir en Español más Lo que dijiste en tu comentario es verdad, y es lo mismo con todos los militares de cualquier país. Pero, cuando es la hora de pelear, es algo completamente diferente. Mi madre era una sobrina del fundador de La Legion, Jose Millán Astray. Yo soy muy orgulloso de el y tambien de La Legion.