Bastille Day 2003

[He219]

http://a1112.g.akamai.net/7/1112/492/03312000/news.lycos.com/news/ot_getImage.asp?op=img&id=372796

http://a1112.g.akamai.net/7/1112/492/03312000/news.lycos.com/news/ot_getImage.asp?op=img&id=372846


The Alphajets of the Patrouille de France fly over the Arc de Triomphe at the opening of the Bastille Day military parade Monday, July 14, 2003, in Paris. France is celebrating July 14,1789, the date of the fall of the Bastille prison in Paris during the French Revolution. (AP Photo/Jacques Brinon)

http://a1112.g.akamai.net/7/1112/492/03312000/news.lycos.com/news/ot_getImage.asp?op=img&id=372802

French President Jacques Chirac smiles as he arrives in a command car to attend the Bastille Day military parade in Paris, Monday, July 14, 2003. Officer in front is unidentified. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler)

http://a1112.g.akamai.net/7/1112/492/03312000/news.lycos.com/news/ot_getImage.asp?op=img&id=372851

French transport and attack helicopters fly over the Arc de Triomphe while armored vehicles drive down the Champs Elysees in Paris during the Bastille Day military parade Monday, July 14, 2003. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

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Pioneers of the Foreign Legion wear traditional leather a****s and carry axes, symbols of the challenge of building and fighting, during the Bastille Day military parade Monday, July 14, 2003, on the Champs Elysees in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

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French Leclerc battle tanks roll down the Champs Elysees during the Bastille Day military parade Monday, July 14, 2003, in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

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Soldiers of the European army Eurocorps, front, participate in the Bastille Day military parade on the Champs Elysees in Paris Monday, July 14, 2003. The Arc de Triomphe is seen in the background. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

http://a1112.g.akamai.net/7/1112/492/03312000/news.lycos.com/news/ot_getImage.asp?op=img&id=372884


German Gen. Holger Kammerhoff, head of the five-nation Eurocorps (standing in the command car at front), leads the traditional Bastille Day parade on the Champs Elysees in Paris Monday, July 14, 2003. (P Photo/Michel Euler)

http://a1112.g.akamai.net/7/1112/492/03312000/news.lycos.com/news/ot_getImage.asp?op=img&id=372882


German soldiers of the European army Eurocorps participate in the Bastille Day military parade on the Champs Elysees , Monday July 14, 2003 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)


p-)
He219

[Smintjes]

http://a1112.g.akamai.net/7/1112/492/03312000/news.lycos.com/news/ot_getImage.asp?op=img&id=372850

Soldiers of the European army Eurocorps, front, participate in the Bastille Day military parade on the Champs Elysees in Paris Monday, July 14, 2003. The Arc de Triomphe is seen in the background. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)



Interesting. These soldiers carry FAMAS-rifles, which makes them French, but they are clearly wearing the Belgian jigsaw camouflage fatigues.

[He219]

More info...

http://www.eurocorps.org/site/ec_anim.html

http://www.eurocorps.org/graphics/gallery/preparis03/paris06.jpg

[lax07]

the reason they have the french famas is beauce it is the standard rifle with the eurocorps which contain the countries: france, germany, belgium, spain, and luxemburg

[Chris1]

oh look, germans matching though the Arc de Triomphe :)

[Royal]

http://a1112.g.akamai.net/7/1112/492/03312000/news.lycos.com/news/ot_getImage.asp?op=img&id=372882


German soldiers of the European army Eurocorps participate in the Bastille Day military parade on the Champs Elysees , Monday July 14, 2003 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)



Not the first time German soldiers have marched down the Champs Elysees...

Q. Why are French roads lined with shady trees?

A. To keep the sun off the Germans!

[molly747]

You are SO French if you have ANOTHER country marching in your independence parade...

[dez000]

Hmm, we have foreign military units marching during the Belgian military parade too... We do to keep a good relationship with our allies, or to make new allies and such... And i believe that there will be units of the Eurocorps marching in Brussels during the parade this saturday!

[He219]

Chris1 wrote:

oh look, germans matching though the Arc de Triomphe

Royal Wrote:

Not the first time German soldiers have marched down the Champs Elysees...

rofl Some of them look 'old enough' to have marched down the Elysees before, perhaps in 1871 or 1940.
'How bout those Legioneers with Axes? That's something from the days of Vergingetorix....


;)
He219

[He219]

Some more Eurocorps pictures....

http://www.eurocorps.org/graphics/gallery/paris03/01.jpg

http://www.eurocorps.org/graphics/gallery/paris03/02.jpg

http://www.eurocorps.org/graphics/gallery/paris03/03.jpg

http://www.eurocorps.org/graphics/gallery/paris03/04.jpg

http://www.eurocorps.org/graphics/gallery/paris03/05.jpg


I like Kammerhoff's command vehicle in the lead. What is it?


;)

[molly747]

don't worry, it was a joke. i'm an american, but i have french ancestry.

[kutter]

I like Kammerhoff's command vehicle in the lead. What is it?
;)

Its the Panhard VBL (Vehicle Blinde Leger) Scout car followed by Peugeot P4s (license built Mercedes-Benz light vehicles).

[He219]

Thanks, kutter! p-)

Arc de Triomphe Facts:

Commissioned in 1806 by Napoleon after his victory at the battle of Austerlitz in 1805. He promised his men "you shall go home beneath triumphal arches". It was finally completed in 1836 after some 'delays'. It measures 50 meters in height.

The following armies marched triumphantly through the Arc de Triumphe:

the Germans in 1871

the Allies in 1919

the Germans in 1940

the Allies in 1944

Since 1920, the body of an unknown Soldier from WWI taken from Verdun in Lorraine has lain beneath the arch.

To remember his fate and the one of countless others, a memorial flame is lighted every evening at 18.30


Happy Bastille Day, Frenchies!

;)
He219

[cut]

Which are the five countries in the eurocorps?
French, German, Belgian, Dutch and...

[He219]

...Luxemburg(ers).

;)
He219

[ivandebono]

The five members states of Eurocorps are:
France
Germany
Belgium
Spain
Luxembourg.

[cut]

might as well be 4 countries then.

[usa320]

France's army could be good if the politicians in charge werent paying more attention to political correctness and money.

[duck]

France is increasing it's defence budget, a move strongly pushed by President, and cavalry 1st lieutenant, Chirac. Chirac fought and was wounded in the algerian war so he has first hand knowledge about the military and it's needs.

[Uncle Chô]

a move strongly pushed by President, and cavalry 1st lieutenant, Chirac. Chirac fought and was wounded in the algerian war so he has first hand knowledge about the military and it's needs.

rofl rofl rofl rofl

You are right. First hand knowledge of the current military stuff (did'nt the Algerian conflict stopped in 1964 ?). I have been told President Chirac just ordered some more Panhard EBR and Aloutte III with SS-11 to replace the Leclerc MBT and the Tiger attack helicopter... rofl

Seriously, the French Army will not be fully modernized until 2010 (at the earliest). Today, they lack long range transport airplanes, attack and transport helicopters, APCs, heavy artillery, frigates, a second CVN, just to name a few... :(