Photo book “Paras”

“Paras” is a fine book printed on genuine quality photo paper. It is a collection of stories in the form of photo reports taken in France and abroad, documenting over two hundred pages all the key moments in the life of a soldier of the 11th Parachute Brigade (11e BP): recruitment, basic training, exercises, then deployment on overseas operations or on French national territory.

The book follows a section of young marsouins (marine infantrymen) of the 8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (8e RPIMa) in Castres during their training, then the manoeuvres that keep the “emergency brigade” ready to deploy at very short notice. It also traces the overseas operations of the legionnaire paratroopers of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2e REP) in Mali, the infantrymen of the 3e RPIMa in the Central African Republic, and the cavalrymen of the 1er RHP and the sappers of the 17e RGP in the Sahel, as well as domestic operations such as Operation Sentinelle or Operation Harpie in French Guiana.

The book closes on the prestige of the airborne units, through the Bastille Day parade and the Saint-Michel ceremony, photographed in Toulouse and Paris.

About the author

This book is by Fred Marie, a photojournalist specialising in extreme sports and defence subjects. For more than three years, he covered the main activities of the 11th Parachute Brigade.

Who is it for?

For military photography enthusiasts and for anyone who wants to discover the daily life of French paratroopers.