What question did this study set out to answer?

The article investigates how German soldiers in the French Foreign Legion adopted travel literature practices to reshape their identities reflecting national and gender ideals.

May 24, 2026

Auf der Suche. Deutsche Fremdenlegionäre als Forschungsreisende im Spiegel zeitgenössischer Kolonialimagination

Key Points

The article investigates how German soldiers in the French Foreign Legion adopted travel literature practices to reshape their identities reflecting national and gender ideals.
Analysis of autobiographical works Afrikanische Spiele (1936) and In der Fremdenlegion (1909)
Exploration of literary and scientific influences in travel narratives
Evaluation of the cautionary campaign's impact on the perception of the Legion
The cautionary campaign produced counterproductive outcomes, often enhancing the Legion's appeal.
Former legionnaires' narratives showcased reflections on national and gender identity.
Young German men in the early 20th century were attracted to the Legion due to its representations in popular culture.

Abstract

abstract: This article examines how Germans serving in the French Foreign Legion in Algeria emulated literary and scientific practices from travel literature in an attempt to refashion themselves according to common ideas about nation, gender and the self. Afrikanische Spiele (1936) and In der Fremdenlegion (1909) are two popular examples of autobiographical fiction by former legionnaires as part of a cautionary awareness campaign. Their analysis illustrates why this campaign often had an opposite effect and what about the idea of the Legion was so attractive to young German men in the early twentieth century.

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