183rd Infantry Division of Africa explained

Unit Name:	183rd Infantry Division of Africa
Native Name:	183e division d'infanterie d'Afrique
Dates:	September 1939
Disbanded:	Juillet 1940
Country:	France
Branch:	French Army
Type:	Infantry Division of Africa
Garrison:	Constantine Department
Battles:	World War II

The 183rd Infantry Division of Africa (183^e division d'infanterie d'Afrique) was a unit of the French Army formed in Algeria during the French colonial period at the beginning of World War II.

History

The division was created in in the Constantine Department.^[1] It was a division designated for protection and was not well-suited for offensive operations.^[2] The division remained in the Constantine Department and was disbanded in without having seen combat.

Composition

Infantry

• 23rd Zouaves Regiment, mobilized in late in Constantine^[3]
• 15th Senegalese Tirailleurs Regiment|, which was part of the Constantine Division before the war^[4]
• Some sources indicate a Marching battalion of Senegalese Tirailleurs
• Motorized company of the 1st Foreign Infantry Regiment of the Foreign Legion Infantry.^{[5] [6]}
• Artillery: 387th of African Artillery, with a single group,^[7] also referred to as the 183rd autonomous artillery group

Cavalry

• • 183rd Reconnaissance Group of Infantry Division, formed on of the reduced overseas type, which was the former autonomous horse-drawn group of the 3rd Regiment of African Chasers^[8]
  • One cavalry squadron (unknown origin)

References

1. Web site: Éric de Fleurian . March 8, 2016 . Deuxième guerre mondiale, campagne de France 1939-1940 : participation des régiments de tirailleurs . December 13, 2023 . les-tirailleurs.fr . fr.
2. Michelet . Louis-Christian . 1994 . Pouvait-on Réellement, En Juin 1940, Continuer La Guerre En Afrique Du Nord? . Guerres Mondiales et Conflits Contemporains . 174 . 143–160 . 25732154 . 0984-2292 . 2023-12-13.
3. Web site: Éric de Fleurian . 22nd Zouaves Regiment . December 13, 2023 . les-tirailleurs.fr . fr.
4. 1970 . Les troupes d'Afrique dans la guerre 39-40 . Historama . HS 10 . Les Africains 1830-1960.
5. Book: André Truchet . L'armistice de 1940 et l'Afrique du Nord . . 1955 . 370 . fr .
6. Book: Ian Summer . The French Army, 1939-45 (1) . François Vauvillier . 1998 . Osprey Military . 1-85532-666-3 . Men-at-arms . en . 49674512.
7. Michelet . Louis-Christian . 1994 . Pouvait-on Réellement, En Juin 1940, Continuer La Guerre En Afrique Du Nord? . Guerres Mondiales et Conflits Contemporains . 174 . 143–160 . 25732154 . 0984-2292 . 2023-12-13.
8. Web site: Historique du 183rd GRDI . 2023-12-13 . grca.free.fr.