In the Foreign Legion

The desert and the kepi blanc

The young author of this book thought he knew something of military life. He had served with American forces during the Spanish-American War, but by 1904 he was out of luck and desperate for a new way of life. Like many young men before and after him the 'glamour' of life in the French Foreign Legion exerted its irresistible appeal. Also like many Legion recruits he came to understand just how far from the gruelling reality his idealistic view was. Rosen shortly found himself in North Africa and so began the training which would turn him into a fully fledged Legionnaire. This was the French Foreign Legion of the era prior to the First World War where 'March or Die' was not just a slogan but a way of life-or death! This is a riveting account of what it was to be part of the French mercenary corps in the early years of the twentieth century by one who experienced it. Recommended. Available in softcover and hardcover with dustjacket.

Erwin Carle (Pseudonym Erwin Rosen ; 7 June 1876 in Karlsruhe; 21 February 1923 in Hamburg) was a German Author and Journalist. Carle was enrolled in college in Munich. Being nothing but a prankster he had to terminate his studies. To save his family from this embarrassment he was sent to America being 19 at the time. There he quickly learned to stand on his own two feet, taking on any job he could find. He worked as farmhand in Texas, Apothecary, dishwasher, translator for the German Western Post in St. Louis, and as Journalist in San Francisco. In the year 1898 he found himself as part of the US Army reporting on the battle of Signal Hill in Cuba.This stage of his life was documented in his novel Der deutsche Lausbub in Amerika which translates as "The German prankster in America". Having returned to Germany and subsequently trying to escape a failed relationship with his "jewel" as he called her, he joined the French Foreign Legion signing his 5 year contract on October 6 1905 He became Legionnaire 17889. Fortunately, after 2 years, he was able to escape and eventually published his experience as In the Foreign Legion (1910)