122nd Infantry Division was an

infantry Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and marine i ...

division Division or divider may refer to: Mathematics *Division (mathematics), the inverse of multiplication *Division algorithm, a method for computing the result of mathematical division Military *Division (military), a formation typically consisting ...

of the

French Army The French Army, officially known as the Land Army (french: Armée de Terre, ), is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces. It is responsible to the Government of France, along with the other components of the Armed For ...

during the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. It was deployed overseas, seeing action on the

Salonika front The Macedonian front, also known as the Salonica front (after Thessaloniki), was a military theatre of World War I formed as a result of an attempt by the Allied Powers to aid Serbia, in the autumn of 1915, against the combined attack of German ...

, fighting alongside British troops. It was sent to the Crimea in December 1918 as part of the

Army of the Danube The Army of the Danube (french: Armée du Danube, links=no) was a field army of the French Directory in the 1799 southwestern campaign in the Upper Danube valley. It was formed on 2 March 1799 by the simple expedient of renaming the Army ...

Creation and nomenclature

* 9 December 1914 - 27 April 1915 : Division provisoire Tassin * 27 April - 15 June 1915 : Division provisoire Guérin * starting from 15 June 1915 : 122nd Infantry Division

Commanders

* 9 December 1914 - 27 April 1915 : Général Tassin * 27 April - 15 June 1915 : Général Guérin * 15 June - 20 December 1915 : Général de Lardemelle * 20 December 1915 - 23 May 1917 : Général Régnault * 23 May - 2 November 1917 : Général Gérôme * 2 November 1917 - 1 March 1918 : Général Castaing * 1 March 1918 : Général Topart

Chronology

1914

* 9 December 1914 - 21 June 1915 : occupation of a sector towards la Neuvillette and north of

Loivre Loivre () is a Communes of France, commune in the Marne (department), Marne Departments of France, department in north-eastern France. Loivre station has rail connections to Reims and Laon. Administration Communal governance The commune is g ...

. :: 16 February 1915 : attack on Luxembourg wood.

1915

Constitution of the 112th Division between the 6 and 15 June 1915, using elements from the Division Provisoire Guérin. * 21 June - 13 July : taken out of the front line; rest, training and miscellaneous work south-west of

Reims Reims ( , , ; also spelled Rheims in English) is the most populous city in the French department of Marne, and the 12th most populous city in France. The city lies northeast of Paris on the Vesle river, a tributary of the Aisne. Founded by ...

. * 13 July 13 - October 4 : occupation of a sector towards

Berry-au-Bac Berry-au-Bac () is a commune in the department of Aisne in Hauts-de-France in northern France. Population See also * Communes of the Aisne department The following is a list of the 799 communes in the French department of Aisne. Th ...

and Loivre :: 18 August : reduction of the front, on the right, as far as La Neuville, and extension, on the left, as far as La Miette. :: 22 August : new reduction, on the right, until towards Sapigneul. * 4–11 October : withdrawal from the front and rest towards

Épernay Épernay () is a commune in the Marne department of northern France, 130 km north-east of Paris on the mainline railway to Strasbourg. The town sits on the left bank of the Marne at the extremity of the Cubry valley which crosses it. Éperna ...

. * 11–14 October : transport by rail to

Toulouse Toulouse ( , ; oc, Tolosa ) is the prefecture of the French department of Haute-Garonne and of the larger region of Occitania. The city is on the banks of the River Garonne, from the Mediterranean Sea, from the Atlantic Ocean and from Par ...

. * 14–25 October : regrouping and preparation, in respect of their imminent departure for the Orient. * 25 October - 3 December : transport by rail from Toulouse, to

Sète Sète (; oc, Seta, ), also historically spelt ''Cette'' (official until 1928) and ''Sette'', is a commune in the Hérault department, in the region of Occitania, southern France. Its inhabitants are called ''Sétois'' (male) and ''Sétoises' ...

and

Toulon Toulon (, , ; oc, label= Provençal, Tolon , , ) is a city on the French Riviera and a large port on the Mediterranean coast, with a major naval base. Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, and the Provence province, Toulon is th ...

, then, by sea, to

Salonika Thessaloniki (; el, Θεσσαλονίκη, , also known as Thessalonica (), Saloniki, or Salonica (), is the second-largest city in Greece, with over one million inhabitants in its metropolitan area, and the capital of the geographic region of ...

. * As they disembark (from 1 to 12 November), movement of the elements of the 122th Division towards the front of the lower Tchérna. 11 November : fighting in the Tchitchévo region . From the 12 November, defensive battles, then, on the 21st, retreat to the right bank of the Tchérna. (From the 30 November, a brigade is brought to

Pogradec Pogradec () is the eleventh most populous city in Albania and the capital of the eponymous municipality. It is located on a narrow plain between two mountain chains along the southwestern banks of the Lake of Ohrid. Its climate is profoundly inf ...

with a view to establishing a defensive position). * 3–17 December : engaged in the Retreat to Salonika: the 3 and 4 December, fall back to the defensive position at Gradéts. :: 6–8 December : Bulgarian attacks on Pétrovo, the 7 December on Davidovo, and the 8 December on Kovanéts . :: 9 December : fall back to Boyimia; on the 10th, fighting towards Gourintchét; on the 11th, combat and withdrawal between Davidovo and

Gevgelija Gevgelija ( mk, Гевгелија; ) is a town with a population of 15,685 located in the very southeast of the North Macedonia along the banks of the Vardar River, situated at the country's main border with Greece (Bogorodica-Evzoni), the point ...

; on the 12th, crossing the Greek border, on both banks of the

Vardar The Vardar (; mk, , , ) or Axios () is the longest river in North Macedonia and the second longest river in Greece, in which it reaches the Aegean Sea at Thessaloniki. It is long, out of which are in Greece, and drains an area of around . Th ...

, then, from Karasouli (

Polykastro Polykastro ( el, Πολύκαστρο, before 1928 , ''Karasoúli''; ''Pandektis: Name Changes of Settlements in Greece'', compiled by the/ref>) is a town and a former municipality in Kilkis regional unit of Central Macedonia, Greece. Since the 2 ...

), retreat along the left bank, to Dogandji (

Prochoma Prochoma ( el, Πρόχωμα, ) is a village and a community of the Chalkidona municipality. Before the 2011 local government reform it was part of the municipality of Koufalia, of which it was a municipal district. The 2011 census recorded 1,214 ...

), where the Division arrives on 17 December. * 17 December 1915 - 31 March 1916 : establishment of the entrenched camp of Salonika, in the Dogandji sector, Dourmouchlou: from January, extension of positions on the front on the right bank of the Vardar, as far as the Kara Azmak (

Loudias (river) The Loudias ( el, Λουδίας) or Lydias (Λυδίας), popularly called Mavroneri (Μαυρονέρι, "Blackwater", from its Ottoman Turkish name ''Kara Asmak'' قره آصماق) is a river in Central Macedonia that flows through the r ...

), by the south-east of Kayali (

Ptolemaida Ptolemaida ( el, Πτολεμαΐδα, Ptolemaïda, Katharevousa: Πτολεμαΐς, ''Ptolemaïs'') is a town and a former municipality in Kozani regional unit, Western Macedonia, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of th ...

) (elements maintained towards Karasouli, in contact with the enemy, south of Matchoukovo (

Evzonoi Evzonoi ( el, Εύζωνοι, , before 1927: Ματσίκοβο - ''Matsikovo'', , mk, Мачуково, bg, Мачуково, ''Machukovo'') is a town in Kilkis regional unit in Central Macedonia, Greece. The main border crossing between Greec ...

)).

1916

* 31 March - 28 August : occupation and entrenchment of a sector, straddling the Vardar, towards Lake Ardzan and Lioumnitsa (

Skra, Kilkis Skra ( gr, Σκρα), before 1926 Loumitsa ( ruq, Liumnița) is a village and community in the municipality of Paionia, Kilkis regional unit of Greece. In 2011 the population was 187 for the village, and 234 for the community, including the ...

); attack preparations :: 20–21 August, Fighting in the hills north of Lioumnitsa (with the help of elements of the 156th Division ). * 28 August 1916 - 1 January 1917 : Positions on the left bank of the Vardar are relieved by

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

elements, and extension of the sector towards the west, in the region of

Notia Nótia ( el, Νότια, formerly Νώτια; ruq, Nânti or ) is a village in the Exaplatanos municipal unit of the Pella regional unit, Central Macedonia, Greece. Lying at an altitude of 595 metres in the Upper Karadjova Plain, it was for cent ...

: frequent local actions, particularly, on the 12th, 13 and 14 September, north of the Lioumnitsa trail, Notia, the 9th and 17 October and the 11th November, towards Hadji Bari Mahala ( Theodosia, Kilkis), finally, the 11th December, north-west of Mayadag.

1917

* 1 January - 10 May : preparations for an offensive in the Skra di Legen region . * 10 May 1917 - 10 July 1918 : Franco-Hellenic operations in the Skra di Legen: :: 10–14 May 1917 : French attacks, then fortification of the captured positions. :: 29–30 August : particularly violent engagements. During the first half of November, progressive regrouping of the Division, in the right part of its sector, towards Mayadag (Fanos, Florina).

1918

* 10 July - 27 August : withdrawal from the front line and departed towards

Veria Veria ( el, Βέροια or Βέρροια), officially transliterated Veroia, historically also spelled Berea or Berœa, is a city in Central Macedonia, in the geographic region of Macedonia, northern Greece, capital of the regional unit of I ...

; rest. * 27 August - 15 September : deployed close to the front, then occupation of the sector towards Mount Sokol and Dobro Pole; offensive preparations. * 15 September - 11 November : engaged in the

Battle of Dobro Pole The Battle of Dobro Pole ( sr, Битка код Доброг Поља, Bitka kod Dobrog Polja; gr, Μάχη του Ντόμπρο Πόλε, Máchi tou Dóbro Póle), also known as the Breakthrough at Dobro Pole ( bg, Пробив при До� ...

: seizure of Dobro Pole and Sokol. Then relieved from the front line and rest towards Vértékop (

Skydra Skydra ( el, Σκύδρα, in modern Greek, before 1926: Βερτεκόπ - ''Vertekop'', Slavic: Вртикоп, ''Vrtikop'') is a municipality in the Pella regional unit of Macedonia in Greece. Municipality The municipality Skydra was forme ...

) then towards Guvezné (

Assiros Assiros ( gr, Άσσηρος, before 1926: Γιουβέσνα - ''Giouvesna'', bg, Гвоздово, Gvozdovo) is a village and a former municipality in the Thessaloniki regional unit, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of ...

). :: In October: movement, via Dráma, through eastern Macedonia : advance towards Turkey (in conjunction with British elements); movement by

Xanthi Xanthi ( el, Ξάνθη, ''Xánthi'', ) is a city in the region of Western Thrace, northeastern Greece. It is the capital of the Xanthi (regional unit), Xanthi regional unit of the modern regions of Greece, region of East Macedonia and Thrace. A ...

and Gumuldjina (

Komotini Komotini ( el, Κομοτηνή, tr, Gümülcine, bg, Комотини) is a city in the region of East Macedonia and Thrace, northeastern Greece. It is the capital of the Rhodope. It was the administrative centre of the Rhodope-Evros super-pr ...

), towards the

Maritsa Maritsa or Maritza ( bg, Марица ), also known as Meriç ( tr, Meriç ) and Evros ( ell, Έβρος ), is a river that runs through the Balkans in Southeast Europe. With a length of ,Uzunköprü Uzunköprü is a town in Edirne Province in Turkey. It is named after a historical stone bridge, claimed to be the world's longest, on the Ergene River. It is a strategically important border town, located on the routes connecting Turkey to the B ...

Order of battle

* Infantry : :* 8th Brigade :: 45th Infantry Regiment from June 1915 to November 1918 :: 148th Infantry Regiment from June 1915 to November 1918 :* 243rd Brigade :: 84th Infantry Regiment from June 1915 to November 1918 :: 248th Infantry Regiment from June 1915 to September 1917 (dissolution) :: 58th Battalion of

Chasseurs à pied ''Chasseur'' ( , ), a French term for "hunter", is the designation given to certain regiments of French and Belgian light infantry () or light cavalry () to denote troops trained for rapid action. History This branch of the French Army origi ...

from October 1915 to October 1917 * Cavalry : :: 1 Squadron of the 6th Dragoon Regiment from June 1915 to January 1917 :: 1 Squadron of the 29th Dragoon Regiment from January 1917 to November 1918 * Artillery : :: 2 groupes (2x 3x 75mm batteries) from the 41st Field Artillery Regiment from June 1915 to July 1917 :: 1 groupe (3x 75mm) from the 6th Field Artillery Regiment from January 1916 à July 1917 :: All nine of the 75mm batteries above were grouped together to form the 241st Field Artillery Regiment from July 1917 to November 1918 :: 1 groupe (3x 65mm batteries) from the 1st Mountain Artillery Regiment from January 1916 to November 1918 :: 107th half battery of 58mm mortars from the 41st Field Artillery Regiment from June 1915 to July 1916 :: 111st Battery (of 58mm mortars) from the 1st Mountain Artillery Regiment from July 1916 to July 1917 :: The above redesignated as the 101st Battery (of 58mm mortars) of the 241st Field Artillery Regiment from July 1917 to November 1918 * Engineers : :: Field Companies (2/14, 2/64, 2/24) from the 3rd Engineer Regiment

References

Citations Bibliography * * * * * * {{Cite book , editor1-last=Pompé , editor1-first=Daniel , display-editors=etal , title=Les armées françaises dans la Grande guerre. Tome X. 2e Volume. Ordres de bataille des grandes unités - Divisions d'Infanterie, Divisions de Cavalerie 0,2, work=Ministère De la Guerre, Etat-Major de l'Armée - Service Historique , publisher =Imprimerie Nationale , location =Paris , edition=1st , date=1924 , language=fr , url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k63495098?rk=493564;4 , access-date=6 September 2020 French Infantry divisions during World War I Infantry divisions of France Military units and formations established in 1915 Macedonian front