List of French divisions in World War II explained

This is a listing of French divisions that served between 1939 and 1945.

Cavalry, mechanized and armoured divisions

Light cavalry divisions (DLC, Division Légère de Cavalerie)

Part horse and part motorized; were part of the cavalry arm in 1940. The cavalry divisions (DC) were renamed light divisions (DL) in February 1940 and then light cavalry divisions (DLC) in March 1940. They were supplied with Renault AMR 33s more so than 35s and Hotchkiss H35s.

Light mechanized divisions (DLM, Divisions Légères Mécaniques)

Division légère mécaniques were part of the cavalry arm in 1940. Entirely armoured and motorized. Supplied with Renault AMR 35s and Somua S35s.

Armoured divisions (DCr, Divisions Cuirassées)

Part of the infantry arm in 1940. Entirely armoured and motorized, equipped with 2 battalions of Char B1 bis and 2 battalions of Hotchkiss H39 tanks designed to support infantry operations.

Formation name! scope="col" width="15%"
Date createdLocation createdDate formation ceased to existDivisional insigniaSubordinated toNotable campaignsFinal command post atNotesSource(s)
1st Armoured DivisionChâlons-sur-MarneXI Army Corps, Ninth Army (Jan. 16 to May 17), Sixth Army (June 1–25)Battle of the Meuse, Battle of the North, Battle of the Somme and Retreat of the CenterLe Dognon, northeast of Limoges.Missing half of its motorcycles and artillery caissons on 10 May 1940. Division took serious losses by May 17. Reformed from 18 May until 1 June.
2nd Armoured DivisionHaute MoivreI Corps, Seventh Army until 29 May. Then, various, including Tenth Army, VII, IX and X Corps, British 51st (Highland) Division and Groupement Cuirassée.Battle of the Meuse, Fronts of the Aisne and the Somme, Somme Front, Battle of the Somme and Retreat of the CenterSaint-Pierre Cherignat, northeast of Limoges. Division subsequently disbanded.
3rd Armoured DivisionReimsXXI Corps, Second Army until 23 May. Then, various, including Fourth Army and XVIII Corps of 2nd Army.Battle of the Meuse, Meuse Front, Battle of the Aisne and Retreat of the CenterMontbard, northwest of Dijon.Division captured 17–18 June.
4th Armoured DivisionLe VésinetAisne Front, Somme Front, Battle of the Somme, Retreat of the Left WingCussac, southwest of Limoges.Initial commander was Charles de Gaulle. Tanks included B1 bis, D2 and R35s.

Infantry and mountain divisions

Infantry divisions in the French Army fell into three "series"— active, A and B. Series A included higher-quality reserve units. Most of active units had 2/3 of their authorized strength in peace time. At mobilization, all active units were to be brought up to full strength with designated reserve units. Series A units would be created from both active and reserve personals while series B units would only have a limited active component, around 20%.

The divisions were also designated by "type", of which there were Northeast, Overseas and Mountain. The type designation determined numbers and kinds of equipment and weapons allocation.

North African Forces 1940

Division types included Moroccan divisions (DM), north African divisions (DINA and DLINA) and African divisions (DIA).

Formation name! scope="col" width="15%"
Date createdDate formation ceased to existSubordinated toNotable campaignsFinal command post atNotesSource(s)
1st Moroccan DivisionNumerous, including the Colonial Corps, IV Corps, V Corps, Cavalry Corps and XVI Corps.Battle of the Dyle and Battle of the NorthAlmenêches-Saint-PierreActive division at the start of the war, mobilized 2 September 1939 in Meknes, Morocco. Transported via rail and sea to Marseille and re-equipped as Type Northeast division by 8 November. Evacuated from Dunkirk on 1 June and returned to France by 6 June, where the division's remnants reorganized and became part of the 1st DLINA on 12 June.
2nd Moroccan DivisionInactivated in Morocco.
In Morocco during 1940 campaign. Elements later assigned to the Fez and Casablanca divisions in the Army of Transition.

Colonial units

Overseas units

Polish expatriate divisions in 1940 (DIP)

French: Division d'infanterie polonaise. Reconstituted Polish Army divisions formed from Polish expatriates in France.

Formation name! scope="col" width="15%"
Date createdLocation createdDate formation ceased to existDivisional insigniaSubordinated toNotable campaignsFinal command post atNotesSource(s)
1st Polish Infantry Division (from the Alpine (High Mountains) Brigade)Camp de Coëtquidan, in Guer. Division disbanded and dispersed in Lorraine by divisional commander's orders that day.Second Army and XX Corps, Third ArmyLorraine Front and Retreat of the Right WingHurbacheDivision given contradictory orders by the French XX Corps commanding general (remain in position) and the Polish government-in-exile on 19 June 1940 (place division under British authority or Swiss internment).
2nd Polish Infantry DivisionSaint-Loup sur Thouet. Following Polish government-in-exile's orders, most of the division (12,000 troops)[4] crossed the Swiss frontier on 20 June and was interned. Second Army Group, Third Army and XLV Fortress Corps, 8th ArmyRetreat of the Right WingIndevillersDivision was missing its 47-mm antitank company. The division was moved to the front lines from 20–22 May. Three battalions of the division were taken POW by the Germans.

Motorized and infantry divisions

Division types included infantry and mountain divisions (DI - no special abbreviation for mountain divisions), motorized divisions (DIM) and fortress divisions (DIF).

Light Chasseurs Divisions (DLCh)

The Chasseurs divisions were organized in April 1940 and were intended for use in Norway.[5]

Formation name! scope="col" width="15%"
Date createdLocation createdDate formation ceased to existSubordinated toNotable campaignsFinal command post atNotesSource(s)
1st Light Chasseurs Division (from the Alpine (High Mountains) Brigade)BrestFrench Scandinavian Expeditionary Corps and Commander of the Brittany Defense LineNorway and western France. Division landed in Norway on 19 April 1940 and evacuated Norway from 3–7 June 1940. Elements landed briefly in Brittany and fought in SW Normandy, then embarked for Great Britain.CasablancaSome 1,200 men volunteered for service with the Free French while in UK. Remainder were shipped to Morocco in July. Some remained in French North Africa while others repatriated to France by 4 August 1940.
2nd Light Chasseurs DivisionBrest (renamed as the 40th Infantry Division)French Scandinavian Expeditionary Corps and Reserve of the High CommandNoneMorain-VilliersIntended for use in Norway and shipped to Scotland before being returned to Brest by 19 May 1940.

Light Infantry Divisions (DLI)

Most formed in May or June 1940. The light divisions had only two infantry regiments and were missing much equipment.[6]

Provisional divisions formed from fortified sectors

Vichy French divisions

Vichy French divisions in France, 1940–42 (DM)

See also: Vichy French Military Division order of battle.

Also known as "the New Army;" or the Armistice Army. The terms of the Armistice of 22 June 1940 ensured the forces of Vichy France forces had only limited artillery and armored vehicles. Each division had three infantry regiments, a reconnaissance regiment of two battalions and an artillery regiment. When the Allies landed in north Africa, the Germans invaded Vichy France and the leadership of the Vichy French forces told the army to remain in its barracks rather than be massacred in the field. The Vichy Army was then disbanded by the Germans, although they authorized formation of one unit (1st Regiment of France) in early 1943. After the Allies landed in southern France, the 1st Regiment of France joined the Allied forces and formed the basis of several independent regiments which served in the 1944-45 campaign. Certain regiments of Vichy forces, carrying the numbers of 1940 units, were recreated in 1944-45 as part of the Army of Liberation.

Vichy French divisions in north Africa, 1941

AKA "The Army of Transition"
French headquarters after 8 November 1942:

Divisions:

Divisions of Free France, the Tunisian Campaign and the Army of Liberation

Free French divisions

These two divisions were Gaullist formations that, while excellent performers in combat, had friction operating with other units of the French Army that they considered to have been tainted by affiliation with the Vichy regime. They were also treated as a special reserve by De Gaulle, who, at times, assigned them to military and political tasks in various areas of France to the frustration of General de Lattre, the 1st Army commander from 1944–1945.

March divisions in the Tunisian Campaign

The March divisions ("March" means provisional organizations without a formal tradition) were formed from French forces stationed in North Africa in November 1942, took part in the Tunisian Campaign and were all disbanded in mid-1943. The troops from these divisions were then used to form the 2nd DIM, 3rd DIA, 4th DMM, 9th DIC, 1st DB and 5th DB, all of which fought on the European continent until V-E Day.

French North African divisions formed after the Tunisian Campaign

Divisions formed in France 1944–45

Organized with liberated manpower in 1944–45 and often assigned designations that had belonged to divisions in 1940. The two DCEO divisions were intended for use in Indochina to reassert French authority after the defeat of Japan.

See also

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. GUF, Vol. 4, p. 385.
  2. GUF, Vol. 2, pp 441-448.
  3. http://books.stonebooks.com/armies/unit/FF223/ 2nd DIC page at stonebooks.com
  4. https://web.archive.org/web/20110706221416/http://www.bar.admin.ch/archivgut/00591/00623/00625/index.html?lang=en "Background"
  5. Nafziger, pp. 56-57.
  6. Nafziger, p. 66 and pp. 70-74.
  7. GUF Vol. 3, pp. 193-196.
  8. GUF Vol. 3, pp. 197-208.
  9. GUF Vol. 3, pp. 209-216.
  10. GUF Vol. 3, pp. 217-224.
  11. GUF Vol. 3, pp. 225-230.
  12. GUF, Vol. 3, p. 747.
  13. GUF, Vol. 4, p. 137.
  14. GUF, Vol. 4, p. 205 and Sumner, Vol. 1, p. 38.
  15. GUF, Vol. 4, p. 333.
  16. GUF, Vol. 4, p. 291.
  17. http://www.francaislibres.net/pages/sujet.php?id=francelibre&su=95&np=297 www.francaislibres.net
  18. GUF, Vol. 4, pp. 349-360 and 955-984.
  19. Gaujac, Vol. 1, p. 174; GUF, Vol. 4, p. 267.
  20. Vernet, p. 117.
  21. Vernet, p. 19.
  22. http://stonebooks.com/history/freefrench.shtml stonebooks.com
  23. http://books.stonebooks.com/armies/unit/FF220/ Stone & Stone
  24. Vernet, p. 86.
  25. L'Armée française dans la guerre d'Indochine (1946–1954): adaption ou inadaption?, p. 138, Marcel Vaïsse and Alain Bizard, Bruxelles: Éd. Complexe, 2000.
  26. http://books.stonebooks.com/armies/unit/FF232/ Stone & Stone
  27. http://books.stonebooks.com/armies/unit/FF238/ Stone & Stone
  28. Fifteenth Army, pp. 25-33.
  29. http://books.stonebooks.com/armies/unit/FF240/ Stone & Stone
  30. Vernet, p. 86.