501st Legion/Legends

''This article is about the Republic/Imperial organization within the Star Wars universe. You may be looking for the real-life organization known as 501st Legion (organization).''

The 501st Legion (known as Vader's Fist during the Galactic Civil War), was a legion of elite soldiers created by then Supreme Chancellor Palpatine during the Clone Wars.

Clone Wars
About a year after the Battle of Geonosis, a group of clones were taken from Kamino and were brought to Coruscant, along with a few Kaminoan technicians. Raised and trained on Coruscant, these clones became the elite shock troopers, and the 501st Legion. Soon after the Battle of Jabiim, the 501st were based at the capital planet of Coruscant. In the final days of the war, the 501st were always on the move, heading from battlefield to battlefield, often split up into special mission groups to supplement other clone missions. Operating outside of the usual command structure, detachments of the 501st served at Mygeeto, Felucia, Utapau, and Kashyyyk, along with fighting in the defense of Coruscant. Even some individual troopers would be reassigned to other battalions, which they supposedly joined. In reality, all members of the 501st were kept track of, to one day return to Coruscant. At the end of the Clone Wars, the 501st Legion, led by Darth Sidious's apprentice Darth Vader (formerly Anakin Skywalker) marched to the Jedi Temple to execute Order 66&mdash;the beginning of the Great Jedi Purge. Clone Commander Appo was the commanding officer of the 501st, until his death at the hands of Roan Shryne on Kashyyyk.

Galactic Civil War
After the rise of the Empire, the members of the legion were no longer known as clone troopers, but stormtroopers. Due to their early work with Vader, the legion became known as "Vader's Fist". On one mission early in the Civil War, the 501st were sent to flush out the fugitive Geonosian leader Gizor Dellso from his hiding place on Mustafar and destroy his droid armies. Another mission took them to Naboo to eliminate Queen Apailana who had been harboring Jedi fugitives. This mission was the 501st's first time to bring "Imperial" justice to a planet's government, and certainly not the last. Later, a special detachment was sent to Kamino to eliminate a group of clones that were to be used against the Empire by a rogue Kaminoan group. Their leader for this mission was none other than Boba Fett due to his knowledge of the inner workings of Tipoca City and the Cloning Centers. Soon, the mere mention of the "Fighting 501st" put fear into the hearts of all who defied the Empire, especially those targeted by the Emperor.

The 501st were among the stormtroopers squads stationed onboard the Death Star, though many troops were transferred off to assist in the search for the missing Death Star plans. The 501st lost nearly two thirds of their original number in the station's destruction. In response, the remnants of the 501st joined the blockade of Yavin IV and stormed the Rebel base on the moon's surface. The unit would later be transferred to Vader's Death Squadron Blizzard Force, where they would take part in the Battle of Hoth&mdash; what they considered their finest hour. Other members of the unit participated in the Battle of Endor.

Even after the fall of the Empire, the 501st continued operation, resurrected by the Empire of the Hand, a group of those ex-Imperials still loyal to the deceased Grand Admiral Thrawn. The 501st Unit Aurek-Seven was commanded by Baron Soontir Fel's son, Chak Fel. They accompanied Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade Skywalker on a mission to the remains of Outbound Flight.

Galactic Republic

 * Battle of Mygeeto
 * Second Battle of Coruscant
 * Battle of Felucia
 * Battle of Kashyyyk
 * Battle of Utapau

Galactic Empire

 * Raid of the Jedi Temple
 * Battle of Naboo
 * Battle of Mustafar
 * Battle of Kamino
 * Escape from Death Star I
 * Battle of Polis Massa Base
 * First Battle of Yavin Base
 * Battle of Hoth
 * Battle of Endor

Appearances

 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars Battlefront II
 * Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
 * Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
 * Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
 * Fool's Bargain
 * Survivor's Quest