On the 24th of november 1948 a young german, Ulrich LEITZMANN joined the French Foreign Legion in Marseille.
Most likely he had indicated earlier to be willing to join the Legion because the formal starting date of his five year contract was registered as 10-10-1948.
Ulrich LEITZMANN was born on the 9th of july 1926 in Breslau Germany, son of Harry LEITZMANN and Gertrud KALYTA.
He was registered in the military records of Marseille under number 6438.
This number was also placed on his plaque d’identité militaire, together with his blood group AB
On the revers his name is show with the year of the Classe to which he was assigned: 1948
Attached to his Livret Individuel is a document I have rarely seen,
A Fiche d’Identite de Solde from the Depot de la Legion Etrangere de Marseille.
Extended in writing is (D.C.R.E. / C.C.B. 1 Saida).
It is dated 12 december 1948.
Attached to this document is a photograph of Ulrich LEITZMANN holding a small blackboard on which his name and registration number in the Legion is written 61615.
Decorations : Medaille Coloniale ” Agrafe E.O.” No 245261 du 15-2-50.
On the basis of the entries in his Livret Individuel we know that Ulrich LEITZMANN left France of Algeria on the 12-12-1948
He arrived in Algeria on the 16-12-1948 and stayed there until 4-4-1949.
He was assigned to the 6 REI from 5-4-1949 onwards and stationed in Tunisia.
Within the mixed lot of military items tha belonged to Ulrich LEITZMANN we find a very detailed almost technical drawing of the insigne of the 6 REI.
Why he had this of made this is unclear.
Text in German indicating the colour scheme.
He did not stay long in Tunisia, two month later on 5-6-1949 he was sent to E.O. Tonkin.
He arrived there on 3-7-1949 and served there for two years.
To which unit he was assigned is not registered.
On 15-2-1950 he got the Medaille Coloniale.
Decorations : Medaille Coloniale ” Agrafe E.O.” No 245261 du 15-2-50.
Ulrich LEITZMANN returned from Indo China on 7-9-1951.
His Campagnes entry then reads C.F.C. for Congé de fin de campagne which lasted from 8-9-1951 until 18-11-1951.
The remainder of his five years Ulrich LEITZMANN stayed in Algeria until his release on 19-10-1953.
He indicated he wanted to go and live in Offenburg Germany.
The Livret Individuel and other artefacts from his time in the French Foreign Legion were offered for sale in 2017.