One of the more well-known early requirements was that all foreign soldiers enlisting must do so under an alternative name. Due to this requirement, criminals from all over the world would enlist into the French Foreign Legion because they were able to change their names and start a new life in France. Furthermore, the lack of technology at the time made it nearly impossible to track down these criminals.After a few years of service or an injury during battle, these men would be eligible to apply for French citizenship.
Although people enlisted from all over the globe, the main homeland for these foreign soldiers was South America, and not all applicants were criminals on the lam. Some of these men were also trying to escape their failed love lives, knowing they could never be found. Policies for the French Foreign Legion have since then been updated. Interpol now does extensive background checks for any new applicants, and French citizenship can only be applied for after three years of honorable service, a clean criminal record, and use of original birth name.
