An Cosantóir July/August 2019 www.dfmagazine.ie
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BY PAUL O'BRIEN MA
T
he freelance soldier, whether fighting for money
or reputation or for an adopted cause, has always
been a fascinating and controversial phenomenon.
While the Wild Geese had flown, the Dogs of War were
waiting in the wings.
The 20th century was to be filled with conflict; World
Wars, revolutions, counter revolutions, coups and Civil Wars.
The soldiers of fortune were to be found in all of these, ply-
ing their trade as guns for hire. However, one of the most
legendary mercenary armies that still exists today was cre-
ated during the 19th century.
There is no more famous fighting force than the French
Foreign Legion. Since its foundation by Royal decree of Louis
Philippe in 1831, the Legion has been a focus of fascination to
the outside world, attracted by its unique aura of mystery
and heroism. When P.C. Wren wrote 'Beau Geste' young men
from all over the world flocked to the ranks of the Legion in
the hope of good pay and adventure. In reality they found a
training regime that was the toughest in the world, followed
by a posting to one of France's colonial outposts, where they
lived, fought and died under the French flag.
In the aftermath of World War II, the Cold War was to
provide a new outlet for mercenaries with Africa as their
battleground. While the war in Vietnam dominated the
headlines throughout the
1950s and 1960s, Africa and
its people were caught in
a conflict that would last
decades. Millions of people
were to be killed as West-
ern powers used Africa as
a battleground against
Communism. The Congo,
Angola, Biafra, Rhodesia
and Rwanda made names
such as Mike Hoare, Bob
Denard, Colonel Schramme
and Rolf Steiner notorious.
Millions of dollars in cash
and uncut diamonds exchanged hands as governments were
overthrown and millions of people were displaced by wars,
which ravaged their countries.
With the fall of the Berlin Wall and the subsequent col-
lapse of Communism, the Cold War came to an end. As previ-
ous Communist states in the Balkans sought independence,
mercenaries once again found employment on both sides of
the struggle.
While former colleagues fought to stem the drug trade,
