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.
* 1st Light Cavalry Division. Active as the 1st Cavalry Division at the start of the war and mobilized on 22 August 1939 in various towns in France with the first command post at Marle. Division became the 1st Light Division on 10 February 1940 and then the 1st Light Cavalry Division on 3 March. Campaigns: Battle of the Meuse and Battle of the North. Division had large elements captured by 19 May. Survivors were reorganized as the 4th DLM from 10 June. Final command post at Rues-des-Vignes (Vinchy). Subordination: 9th Army.
* 2nd Light Cavalry Division. Active as the 2nd Cavalry Division at the start of the war and mobilized on 22 August 1939 in
Lunéville
Lunéville ( ; German, obsolete: ''Lünstadt'' ) is a commune in the northeastern French department of Meurthe-et-Moselle.
It is a subprefecture of the department and lies on the river Meurthe at its confluence with the Vezouze.
History
Lun ...
. Division became the 2nd Light Division on 10 February 1940 and then the 2nd Light Cavalry Division from 5 March. Campaigns: Battle of the Meuse, Meuse Front, Somme Front and Battle of the Somme. Division captured on 12 June. Final command post at
Saint-Valery-en-Caux
Saint-Valery-en-Caux (, literally ''Saint-Valery in Caux'') is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Normandy region in northern France.
The addition of an acute accent on the "e" (Valéry) is incorrect.
Geography
The town is locat ...
. Subordination: XXI Corps, 10th Army, IX Corps of the 10th Army.
* 3rd Light Cavalry Division. Active as the 3rd Cavalry Division at the start of the war and mobilized on 20 August 1939 in Paris and Sedan. Division became the 3rd Light Division on 10 February 1940 and then the 3rd Light Cavalry Division from 5 March. Campaigns: Battle of the Meuse, Somme Front, Battle of the Somme and Retreat of the Left Wing. Division disbanded on 11 July 1940. Final command post at
Le Fleix
Le Fleix is a commune in the Dordogne department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France.
Le Fleix lies on the banks of the Dordogne at a place where the river bends. This is likely the origin of the name "flexus".
History
Le Fleix is famo ...
. Subordination: 3rd Army, 6th Army, 7th Army, 10th Army, IX Corps III Corps.
* 4th Light Cavalry Division. Formed as the 4th Light Division on 16 February 1940 at Saint Rémy de Bouzement. Division became the 4th Light Cavalry Division on 3 March. Campaigns: Battle of the Meuse and Retreat of the Center. Division became the 7th DLM on 5 June. Final command post at Clairefontaine. Subordination: 9th Army and II and XI Corps of the 9th Army.
* 5th Light Cavalry Division. Formed as the 5th Light Division on 15 February 1940 at
La Neuville-au-Pont
La Neuville-au-Pont () is a commune in the Marne department in the Grand Est region in north-eastern France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overs ...
. Division became the 5th Light Cavalry Division from 3 March. Campaigns: Battle of the Meuse, Aisne and Somme Front, Somme Front and Battle of the Somme. Bulk of division captured by 12 June. Final command post at
Fontaine-le-Dun
Fontaine-le-Dun () is a Communes of France, commune in the Seine-Maritime Departments of France, department in the Normandy (administrative region), Normandy Regions of France, region in northern France.
Geography
Fontaine-le-Dun is a small farmi ...
. Subordination: Various corps of the 2nd and 10th Armies.
* 6th Light Cavalry Division. Formed 1 March 1940 in Tunisia. Some elements later part of the FSEA in the
Tunisian Campaign
The Tunisian campaign (also known as the Battle of Tunisia) was a series of battles that took place in Tunisia during the North African campaign of the Second World War, between Axis and Allied forces from 17 November 1942 to 13 May 1943. Th ...
''Division légère mécaniques'' were part of the cavalry arm in 1940. Entirely armoured and motorized. Supplied with Renault AMR 35s and Somua S35s.
* 1st Light Mechanized Division (former 4th Cavalry Division). Active division at the start of the war; alerted on 22 August 1939 in
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 ...
. Campaigns: Combat at the mouths of the Escaut, Battle of the North and Retreat of the Left Wing. Division disbanded 11 July 1940. Final command post vicinity
Saint-Aquilin
Saint-Aquilin (; Limousin: ''Sent Agulin'') is a commune in the Dordogne department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France.
Population
See also
*Communes of the Dordogne department
The following is a list of the 503 communes of the Do ...
(Château de Moncey). Subordination: 7th Army, 9th Army, Cavalry Corps of the 1st Army.
* 2nd Light Mechanized Division (former 5th Cavalry Division). Active division at the start of the war; alerted 23 August 1939 in
Melun
Melun () is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region, north-central France. It is located on the southeastern outskirts of Paris, about from the centre of the capital. Melun is the prefecture of the Seine-et-Ma ...
. Campaigns: Battle of the Dyle, Battle of the North and Retreat of the Left Wing. Division disbanded on 16 July 1940. Final command post at
Jumilhac-le-Grand
Jumilhac-le-Grand is a commune in the Dordogne '' dėpartement'' in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in south western France.
The village lies on the road followed by Richard the Lionheart and on one of the many branches of the Camino de Santiago pilgrim route ...
. Subordination: Cavalry Corps II British Corps and X Corps of the Army of Paris.
* 3rd Light Mechanized Division. New division created on 1 February 1940 in Paris. Campaigns: Battle of the Dyle, Battle of the North and Retreat of the Left Wing. Division disbanded on 11 July 1940. Final command post at
Ribérac
Ribérac (; oc, Rabairac) is a commune in the Dordogne department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France. The commune is situated by the Dronne River.
History
In response to the 848 Norman plunder of nearby Brantôme, a fort was built n ...
. Subordination: Cavalry Corps and III Corps.
* 4th Light Mechanized Division. Formed 10 June 1940 from remnants of the 1st DLC at Le Perray-en-Yvelines; division was of battle-group strength. Campaigns: Retreat of the Center. Division disbanded post-armistice. Final command post at
La Souterraine
La Souterraine (; Limousin: ''La Sotarrana'') is a commune in the Creuse department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in central France.
Geography
La Souterraine is an area of farming and light industry, comprising the town and a few small hamle ...
. Subordination: 7th and 6th Armies.
*
7th Light Mechanized Division
7 (seven) is the natural number following 6 and preceding 8. It is the only prime number preceding a cube.
As an early prime number in the series of positive integers, the number seven has greatly symbolic associations in religion, mythology, s ...
. Formed 5 June 1940 in reduced strength from remnants of the 4th DLC vicinity
Limours
Limours, often referred to as ''Limours-en-Hurepoix'' () is a commune the Essonne department in Île-de-France in northern France.
Geography
Limours is located from Paris.
Population
Inhabitants of Limours are known as ''Limouriens'' in Frenc ...
. Campaigns: Battle of the Aisne and Retreat of the Center. Division became the 7th Cavalry Brigade in the
army of Vichy France
The Armistice Army or Vichy French Army (french: Armée de l'Armistice) was the common name for the armed forces of Vichy France permitted under the Armistice of 22 June 1940 after the French capitulation to Nazi Germany and Italy. It was off ...
. Final command post at Moriat. Subordination: Primarily 4th Army, although under 2nd Army and VIII Corps 17–18 June.
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.
* 1st Armoured Division. Formed 16 January 1940 at Châlons-sur-Marne. Missing half of its motorcycles and artillery caissons on 10 May 1940. Division took serious losses by 17 May and had to be reformed from 18 May until 1 June. Campaigns: Battle of the Meuse, Battle of the North, Battle of the Somme and Retreat of the Center. Division disbanded in July and August 1940. Final command post at Le Dognon, northeast of
Limoges
Limoges (, , ; oc, Lemòtges, locally ) is a city and Communes of France, commune, and the prefecture of the Haute-Vienne Departments of France, department in west-central France. It was the administrative capital of the former Limousin region ...
. Subordination: XI Corps of the 9th Army until 17 May, 6th Army from 1–25 June.
* 2nd Armoured Division. Formed 16 January 1940 at Haute Moivre. Campaigns: Battle of the Meuse, Fronts of the Aisne and the Somme, Somme Front, Battle of the Somme and Retreat of the Center. Final command post at Saint-Pierre Cherignat, northeast of Limoges. Division subsequently disbanded. Subordination: I Corps of 7th Army until 29 May and then various, including 10th Army, VII Corps, IX Corps, X Corps, 51st British Infantry Division and the ''Groupement Cuirassée''.
* 3rd Armoured Division. Formed 20 March 1940 at
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 ...
. Campaigns: Battle of the Meuse, Meuse Front, Battle of the Aisne and Retreat of the Center. Final command post at
Montbard
Montbard () is a commune and subprefecture of the Côte-d'Or department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in eastern France.
Montbard is a small industrial town on the river Brenne. The ''Forges de Buffon'', ironworks established by Buff ...
northwest of Dijon. Division captured 17–18 June. Subordination: XXI Corps of 2nd Army until 23 May, then various including 4th Army and XVIII Corps of 2nd Army.
* 4th Armoured Division. Formed 15 May 1940 at
Le Vésinet
Le Vésinet () is a suburban commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. It is a part of the affluent outer suburbs of western Paris, from the centre of Paris. In 2019, it had a population of 15,943. ...
; tanks included B1 ''bis'', D2 and R35s. Campaigns: Aisne Front, Somme Front, Battle of the Somme, Retreat of the Left Wing. Initial commander was
Charles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle (; ; (commonly abbreviated as CDG) 22 November 18909 November 1970) was a French army officer and statesman who led Free France against Nazi Germany in World War II and chaired the Provisional Government ...
. Final command post at Cussac, southwest of Limoges. Division disbanded 19 July 1940.
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).
* 1st Moroccan Division. An active division at the start of the war, mobilized 2 September 1939 in
Meknes
Meknes ( ar, مكناس, maknās, ; ber, ⴰⵎⴽⵏⴰⵙ, amknas; french: Meknès) is one of the four Imperial cities of Morocco, located in northern central Morocco and the sixth largest city by population in the kingdom. Founded in the 11th c ...
, Algeria. Transported via rail and sea to Marseille and reequipped as a Type Northeast division by 8 November. Campaigns: Battle of the Dyle and Battle of the North. Evacuated from Dunkirk on 1 June and returned to France by 6 June, where the remnants of the division reorganized and became part of the 1st DLINA on 12 June. Final command post at
Almenêches
Almenêches () is a commune in the Orne department in north-western France.
Population
The inhabitants are known as ''Almenéchois''.
-Saint-Pierre. Subordination: Numerous, including the Colonial Corps IV Corps, V Corps, Cavalry Corps and XVI Corps.
* 2nd Moroccan Division. Inactivated 10 September 1939 in Morocco.
* . In Morocco during 1940 campaign. Elements later assigned to the Fez and Casablanca divisions in the Army of Transition. Another 3rd Moroccan Division existed between 1 March and 1 June 1943, which became the 4th DMM in the Army of Liberation.
* . An active division at the start of the war, mobilized 23 August 1939 in
Lyon
Lyon,, ; Occitan: ''Lion'', hist. ''Lionés'' also spelled in English as Lyons, is the third-largest city and second-largest metropolitan area of France. It is located at the confluence of the rivers Rhône and Saône, to the northwest of t ...
as a Type Northeast division. Campaigns: Battle of the Meuse and Battle of the North. Division had numerous elements captured during the Battle of the North and remnants were evacuated via Dunkirk from 28 May to 2 June, with some sent back to France and eventually merged into the 1st DLINA. Subordination: XI Corps of the 9th Army, Cavalry Corps of the 1st Army, as well as 1st Army.
* 1st North African Light Infantry Division. Formed 9 June 1940 in Bernay de l'Eure from remnants of the 1st DM and the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th DINA, all evacuated from Dunkirk and shipped back to France. Division was weak with four infantry and two artillery battalions. Campaigns: Retreat of the Left Wing. Most of division captured by 18 June. Final command post in the Forêt des Andaines (near Quiberon). Subordination: XVI Corps of the 10th Army.
*
2nd North African Infantry Division
The 2nd North African Infantry Division (french: 2e Division d'infanterie nord-africaine, 2e DINA) was a French Army formation during World War II.
The Division was created in March 1936 and was dissolved in May 1940 following the invasion of Fran ...
. An active division at the start of the war, mobilized on 22 August 1939 in
Mangiennes
Mangiennes () is a commune in the Meuse department in Grand Est in north-eastern France.
See also
*Communes of the Meuse department
The following is a list of the 499 communes of the Meuse department of France.
The communes cooperate in the ...
as a Type Northeast division. Campaigns: Battle of the Dyle and Battle of the North. Division captured in large part at
Haubourdin
Haubourdin () is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is part of the Métropole Européenne de Lille.
Population
Heraldry
See also
*Communes of the Nord department
The following is a list of the 648 communes of the Nord ...
on 28 May. Some elements shipped out from
Dunkirk
Dunkirk (french: Dunkerque ; vls, label=French Flemish, Duunkerke; nl, Duinkerke(n) ; , ;) is a commune in the department of Nord in northern France.Dunkirk
Dunkirk (french: Dunkerque ; vls, label=French Flemish, Duunkerke; nl, Duinkerke(n) ; , ;) is a commune in the department of Nord in northern France.3rd North African Infantry Division
The 3rd North African Infantry Division was a French Army formation during World War II.
History
During the Battle of France in May 1940 the division was made up of the following units:
*12th Zouaves Regiment
*14th Algerian Tirailleurs Regime ...
. An active division at the start of the war, the division was mobilized on 23 August 1939 in
Beaumont-en-Argonne
Beaumont-en-Argonne (, literally ''Beaumont in Argonne'') is a commune in the Ardennes department in northern France.
Population
See also
*Communes of the Ardennes department
The following is a list of the 449 communes of the Ardennes dep ...
as a Type Northeast division. Campaigns: Battle of the Meuse, Meuse Front and Retreat of the Right Wing. Division captured on 23 June 1940. Final command post at
Praye
Praye () is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.
See also
* Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department
The following is a list of the 591 communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department of France.
The ...
. Subordination: X Corps, XVIII Corps and the Colonial Army Corps, all of the 2nd Army.
*
4th North African Infantry Division
The 4th North African Infantry Division was a French Army formation established in 1937.
During the Battle of France in May 1940 the division was made up of the following units:
The Division was created in August 1938 and was dissolved in May 19 ...
. An active division at the start of the war, the division was mobilized on 23 August 1939 in
Grostenquin
Grostenquin (; german: Großtänchen; Lorraine Franconian: ) is a commune in the Moselle department in Grand Est in north-eastern France, situated between Metz and Strasbourg.
Localities of the commune: Béning, Bertring, Hingsange, Linstrof ...
as a Type Northeast division. On 10 May 1940, the division was still missing 20% of its personnel and a similar percentage of its transport. Campaigns: Battle of the Meuse and Battle of the North. Division captured on 20 May 1940. North African survivors were merged into the 1st DLINA. Final command post at La Capelle. Subordination: XI Corps of the 9th Army.
* 5th North African Infantry Division. Formation-A-class reserve division mobilized 2 September 1939 as a Type Northeast division in Valence; missing 30% of its 25-mm antitank guns. Campaigns: Battle of the Dyle and Battle of the North. Division captured in large part at Haubourdin on 31 May and 1 June 1940. Those evading capture were evacuated from Dunkirk to England and then shipped back to Brest where they were merged into the 1st DLINA. Final command post at Malo Terminus, near
Dunkirk
Dunkirk (french: Dunkerque ; vls, label=French Flemish, Duunkerke; nl, Duinkerke(n) ; , ;) is a commune in the department of Nord in northern France.Chaumont-Porcien as a Type Northeast division. Campaigns: Lorraine Front, Meuse Front and Retreat of the Right Wing. Division captured by 23 June 1940. Final command post at
Ochey
Ochey () is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.
See also
*Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department
*Nancy – Ochey Air Base
Nancy-Ochey Air Base (french: Base aérienne 133 Nancy-Ochey) is a front-li ...
. Subordination: XVIII and XXI Corps of the 2nd Army.
*
7th North African Infantry Division
The 7th Infantry Division North African ( 7 e DINA) was an infantry division of the French Army that participated in the Second World War.
Combat history
The Division formed at Camp Valdahon from March 16 to April 20, 1940, as part of the General ...
. New division formed on 16 March 1940 at
Brignais
Brignais () is a commune of the Rhône department in eastern France.
History
During the Hundred Years War, was the scene of the Battle of Brignais in April 1362 between the royal army of John II and an amalgamation of mercenary companies Tard ...
as a Type Northeast division. Campaigns: Somme Front, Battle of the Somme and Retreat of the Left Wing. Division disbanded on 10 July. Final command post at
Saint-Jory-de-Chalais
Saint-Jory-de-Chalais (, literally ''Saint-Jory of Chalais''; oc, Sent Jòri de Chalés) is a commune in the Dordogne department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France.
Geography
The Côle flows south through the middle of the commune; ...
. Subordination: I Corps of the 7th Army.
* . 1940 in Tunisia, elements later part of the Algiers Territorial Division in the Army of Transition.
* . Category 2 active division at the start of the war. Mobilized on 2 September 1939 in
Oran
Oran ( ar, وَهران, Wahrān) is a major coastal city located in the north-west of Algeria. It is considered the second most important city of Algeria after the capital Algiers, due to its population and commercial, industrial, and cultural ...
, Algeria as a Type Overseas division; converted to a Type Northeast division in October 1939. Upon mobilization, the division lacked many of its antitank weapons and its motor vehicles were in a poor state of repair. Division shipped to
Marseille
Marseille ( , , ; also spelled in English as Marseilles; oc, Marselha ) is the prefecture of the French department of Bouches-du-Rhône and capital of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Situated in the camargue region of southern Franc ...
in the latter part of September 1939. Campaigns: Lorraine Front, Battle of the Aisne and Retreat of the Center. Division dispersed by 15 June 1940. Remnants disbanded in south-central France on 25 July. Final command post at Courcemain. Subordination: XX and XXIII Corps.
* . 1940 in Tunisia, elements later part of the Constantine Territorial Division in the Army of Transition.
* . An active mountain division at the start of the war quartered in
Gabès
Gabès (, ; ar, قابس, ), also spelled Cabès, Cabes, Kabes, Gabbs and Gaps, is the capital city of the Gabès Governorate in Tunisia. It is located on the coast of the Gulf of Gabès. With a population of 152,921, Gabès is the 6th largest ...
, Tunisia, the 84th DIA occupied positions in the
Mareth Line
The Mareth Line was a system of fortifications built by France in southern Tunisia in the late 1930s. The line was intended to protect Tunisia against an Italian invasion from its colony in Libya. The line occupied a point where the routes into T ...
in Tunisia until mid-May 1940. The division, with a 60% shortage of motor vehicles, shipped to
Marseille
Marseille ( , , ; also spelled in English as Marseilles; oc, Marselha ) is the prefecture of the French department of Bouches-du-Rhône and capital of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Situated in the camargue region of southern Franc ...
by the end of May. Campaigns: Retreat of the Left Wing. Final command post at Monsac. Divisional elements were shipped back to north Africa and disbanded. Subordination: XXV and X Corps.
* . Formation-A-Class reserve mountain division mobilized 2 September 1939 in
Algiers
Algiers ( ; ar, الجزائر, al-Jazāʾir; ber, Dzayer, script=Latn; french: Alger, ) is the capital and largest city of Algeria. The city's population at the 2008 Census was 2,988,145Census 14 April 2008: Office National des Statistiques ...
, Algeria. The 85th DIA occupied covering positions along the Libyan border until the end of May 1940 and was shipped to
Marseille
Marseille ( , , ; also spelled in English as Marseilles; oc, Marselha ) is the prefecture of the French department of Bouches-du-Rhône and capital of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Situated in the camargue region of southern Franc ...
by 3 June 1940. Campaigns: Somme Front and Retreat of the Left Wing. Final command post at Cadouin. Division disbanded 11 July. Subordination: XXV Corps.
* . Shipped from Algeria to Lebanon in 1939-1940. Elements later part of the Lebanon South Sector and battled the 7th Australian Division during the Allied invasion of the Levant in 1941.
* . Formation-A-Class reserve division mobilized 2 September 1939 in
Constantine, Algeria
Constantine ( ar, قسنطينة '), also spelled Qacentina or Kasantina, is the capital of Constantine Province in northeastern Algeria. During Roman Empire, Roman times it was called Cirta and was renamed "Constantina" in honor of emperor Const ...
. Division occupied positions in Tunisia and was then shipped to
Marseille
Marseille ( , , ; also spelled in English as Marseilles; oc, Marselha ) is the prefecture of the French department of Bouches-du-Rhône and capital of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Situated in the camargue region of southern Franc ...
, arriving 8–9 November 1939. Campaigns: Lorraine Front, Aisne and Ailette Front, Battle of the Aisne and Retreat of the Center. Final command post at Saint-Gervais (
Haute-Vienne
Haute-Vienne (; oc, Nauta Vinhana, ; English: Upper Vienne) is a department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in southwest-central France. Named after the Vienne River, it is one of the twelve departments that together constitute Nouvelle-Aquitai ...
), ca. 35 kilometers WSW of
Limoges
Limoges (, , ; oc, Lemòtges, locally ) is a city and Communes of France, commune, and the prefecture of the Haute-Vienne Departments of France, department in west-central France. It was the administrative capital of the former Limousin region ...
. Division disbanded 16 July 1940. Subordination: XVII Corps of the 6th Army, then XXIV and I Corps, both of the 7th Army.
* 88th African Infantry Division. 1940 in Tunisia, one regiment of which was later part of the 10th DIC.
* 180th African Infantry Division. Formed in December 1939 as part of the South Tunisian Front; 1940 in Tunisia.
* 181st African Infantry Division. 1940 in Algeria, elements later part of the Algiers Territorial Division in the Army of Transition.
* 182nd African Infantry Division. 1940 in Algeria, elements later part of the Oran Territorial Division in the Army of Transition.
* 183rd African Infantry Division. 1940 in Algeria, some elements later part of the Constantine Territorial Division in the Army of Transition.
Bordeaux
Bordeaux ( , ; Gascon oc, Bordèu ; eu, Bordele; it, Bordò; es, Burdeos) is a port city on the river Garonne in the Gironde department, Southwestern France. It is the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, as well as the prefectur ...
as a Type Northeast division. Campaigns: Battle of the Meuse, Meuse Front and Retreat of the Right Wing. Division captured by 23 June. Final command post at
Vaudémont
Vaudémont () is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.
Sights and monuments
* Château de Vaudémont - ruined 11th-century castle protected as a '' monument historique'' by the French Ministry of Culture
See a ...
. Subordination: XVIII, XXI and Colonial Army Corps, all of the 2nd Army.
* 2nd Colonial Infantry Division. An active mountain infantry division at the start of the war and mobilized on 22 August 1939 in
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 ...
. Stationed in southeastern France and inactivated on 8 June 1940, with elements used to form the 2nd DLIC and other elements going to the 8th DIC and the XV Corps. Final command post at
Mouans-Sartoux
Mouans-Sartoux (; known in Occitan as ''Moans e Sartòu'' or ''Moans e Sartol'') is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France. The inhabitants are called Mouansois.
The commune of Sartoux was combined with the commune ...
. Subordination: 6th Army, Army of the Alps and XV Corps.
* 2nd Colonial Light Infantry Division. New division formed 8 June 1940 from elements of the 2nd DIC; first command post at
Noisy-Rudignon
Noisy-Rudignon () is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises ...
. Initially in the Alps, this division was moved north starting 12 June. Campaigns: Alpine Front and Retreat of the Center. Final command post at Flavignac. Division inactivated on 11 July 1940. Subordination: XV and XXIV Corps.
* 3rd Colonial Infantry Division. A-class reserve division mobilized on 2 September 1939 in Paris as a Type Northeast division. Campaigns: Battle of the Meuse, Meuse Front and Retreat of the Right Wing. Remnants of division captured on 22 June 1940. Final command post at Marthemont. This division was later formed again in August 1945. Subordination: XVIII Corps, XXI Corps and the Fortified Region of Verdun, all of the 2nd Army.
* . ?-class reserve division mobilized on 27 August 1939 in
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 ...
as a Type Northeast division. Campaigns: Somme Front, Battle of the Somme, Retreat of the Right Wing and Retreat of the Left Wing. Division was gradually destroyed and dispersed by 19 June 1940. Remnants continued retreat and were disbanded on 1 July. Final command post near
Fumel
Fumel (; oc, Fumèl) is a commune in the Lot-et-Garonne department in south-western France. Situated at the right bank of the river Lot, it is the centre of a small agglomeration (population 13,028 in 2017) which consists of 7 communes, includ ...
, southeast of Bordeaux. Subordination: I Corps of 7th Army, X Corps of 10th Army and XXV Corps of the Army of Paris.
* . A-class reserve division mobilized on 2 September 1939 in
Montpellier
Montpellier (, , ; oc, Montpelhièr ) is a city in southern France near the Mediterranean Sea. One of the largest urban centres in the region of Occitania (administrative region), Occitania, Montpellier is the prefecture of the Departments of ...
as a Type Northeast division. Campaigns: Somme Front, Battle of the Somme and Retreat of the Left Wing. Division inactivated in July 1940. Final command post at Limogne-en-Quercy. Subordination: X Corps, 10th Army III Corps, XII Military Region.
* . Formation-A-class reserve division mobilized on 2 September 1939 in Saint-Maur sur Indre as a Type Northeast division. Division formed with shortages of 25-mm antitank guns. Campaigns: Meuse Front, Battle of the Aisne, Retreat of the Right Wing and Retreat of the Center. Division remnants taken prisoner on 23 June 1940. Final command post at
Ochey
Ochey () is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.
See also
*Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department
*Nancy – Ochey Air Base
Nancy-Ochey Air Base (french: Base aérienne 133 Nancy-Ochey) is a front-li ...
. Subordination: XXI Corps, Colonial Army Corps and ''Groupement Dubuisson''.
* . A-class reserve division mobilized on 1 September 1939 in
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 ...
as a Type Northeast division. Campaigns: Somme Front, Battle of the Aisne and Retreat of the Center. Final command post at
La Coquille
La Coquille (; oc, La Coquilha) is a commune in the Dordogne department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France.
La Coquille was on one of the five routes leading to Santiago de Compostela in Spain and it was in this parish that pilgrims ...
. Division disbanded on 10 July 1940. Subordination: X Corps, XXIV Corps and I Corps.
* . New division formed 30 April 1940 in
Mérignac Mérignac may refer to :
;Places
* Mérignac, Charente, a commune in the Charente department in southwestern France
* Mérignac, Charente-Maritime, a commune in the Charente-Maritime department in southwestern France
* Mérignac, Gironde, a commun ...
as a Type Northeast division. Campaigns: Alpine Front. Division converted to 8th Colonial Light Infantry Division on 6 June. Final command post at
Grignan
Grignan (; oc, Grinhan) is a commune in the Drôme department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France.
It has a Renaissance castle and is mentioned in the letters that Madame de Sévigné wrote to her daughter, Madame de Gr ...
. Subordination: Army of the Alps.
* 8th Colonial Light Infantry Division. New division formed 6 June 1940 in
Grignan
Grignan (; oc, Grinhan) is a commune in the Drôme department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France.
It has a Renaissance castle and is mentioned in the letters that Madame de Sévigné wrote to her daughter, Madame de Gr ...
from the 8th DIC. Campaigns: Retreat of the Left Wing. Final command post at
Monbazillac
Monbazillac (; oc, Montbasalhac) is a commune in the Dordogne department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France.
Population
See also
* Monbazillac AOC
*Communes of the Dordogne department
The following is a list of the 503 commu ...
. Division disbanded 11 July. Subordination: Army of Paris and X Corps.
Overseas units
* 1940 in the Levant, elements later part of the Syria South Sector and battled the 1st DFL and the
5th Indian Infantry Brigade
The 5th Indian Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was converted from the 9th Indian Infantry Brigade in September 1939, and assigned to the 4th Indian Infantry Division. The brigade fi ...
during the Allied invasion of the Levant in 1941.
* 192nd Infantry Division. 1940 in the Levant, elements later part of the Syria South Sector and battled the 1st DFL and the 5th Indian Infantry Brigade during the Allied invasion of the Levant in 1941.
*
Tonkin
Tonkin, also spelled ''Tongkin'', ''Tonquin'' or ''Tongking'', is an exonym referring to the northern region of Vietnam. During the 17th and 18th centuries, this term referred to the domain '' Đàng Ngoài'' under Trịnh lords' control, includ ...
Division. 1940 in
Indochina
Mainland Southeast Asia, also known as the Indochinese Peninsula or Indochina, is the continental portion of Southeast Asia. It lies east of the Indian subcontinent and south of Mainland China and is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the west an ...
Cochinchina
Cochinchina or Cochin-China (, ; vi, Đàng Trong (17th century - 18th century, Việt Nam (1802-1831), Đại Nam (1831-1862), Nam Kỳ (1862-1945); km, កូសាំងស៊ីន, Kosăngsin; french: Cochinchine; ) is a historical exony ...
and Cambodia Division. 1940 in Indochina, elements suffered losses and were largely captured by the Japanese in their coup d'état in French Indochina
Polish expatriate divisions in 1940 (DIP)
french: Division d'infanterie polonaise
* 1st Polish Infantry Division. Reconstituted Polish Army division formed October 1939 from Polish expatriates in France in Camp de
Coëtquidan
Camp Coëtquidan (''Camp de Coëtquidan'') is a French military educational facility located in the Morbihan department of Brittany in France. It forms a part of the commune of Guer and covers an area of approximately 64 km².
It comprises:
...
, in
Guer
Guer (; ) is a commune in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France.
It is located at the edge of the famous Brocéliande Forest, which is the setting of the Round Table novels in Brittany. It is southwest from Rennes, the r ...
. Campaigns: Lorraine Front and Retreat of the Right Wing. Division 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). Division disbanded and dispersed in
Lorraine
Lorraine , also , , ; Lorrain: ''Louréne''; Lorraine Franconian: ''Lottringe''; german: Lothringen ; lb, Loutrengen; nl, Lotharingen is a cultural and historical region in Northeastern France, now located in the administrative region of Gr ...
by orders of division commander on 21 June. Final command post at Hurbache. Subordination: 2nd Army and XX Corps of the 3rd Army.
* 2nd Polish Infantry Division. Reconstituted Polish Army division formed March 1940 from Polish expatriates in France at Saint-Loup sur Thouet. Division was missing its 47-mm antitank company. The division was moved to the front lines from 20–22 May. Campaigns: Retreat of the Right Wing. Following orders of the Polish government-in-exile, the bulk of the division (12,000 troops) crossed the
Swiss
Swiss may refer to:
* the adjectival form of Switzerland
* Swiss people
Places
* Swiss, Missouri
* Swiss, North Carolina
*Swiss, West Virginia
* Swiss, Wisconsin
Other uses
*Swiss-system tournament, in various games and sports
*Swiss Internation ...
frontier on 20 June and was
interned
Internment is the imprisonment of people, commonly in large groups, without charges or intent to file charges. The term is especially used for the confinement "of enemy citizens in wartime or of terrorism suspects". Thus, while it can simpl ...
. Three battalions of the division were taken POW by the Germans. Final command post at Indevillers. Subordination: 2nd Army Group, 3rd Army and XLV Fortress Corps of the 8th Army.
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).
* 1st Motorized Infantry Division. Active division at the start of the war; alerted on 23 August 1939 in
Lille
Lille ( , ; nl, Rijsel ; pcd, Lile; vls, Rysel) is a city in the northern part of France, in French Flanders. On the river Deûle, near France's border with Belgium, it is the capital of the Hauts-de-France Regions of France, region, the Pref ...
. Campaigns: Battle of the Dyle and Battle of the North. Part of division (''Groupement Jenoudet'') was captured, the rest evacuated to England during 2–3 June 1940 and then reembarked for Cherbourg and Brest where they were reorganized as the 1st DLI. Final command post at Malo-les-Bains by
Dunkirk
Dunkirk (french: Dunkerque ; vls, label=French Flemish, Duunkerke; nl, Duinkerke(n) ; , ;) is a commune in the department of Nord in northern France.2nd Infantry Division. Formation-A-class reserve division mobilized 2 September 1939 as a Type Northeast division in Saint-André; missing part of its 25-mm antitank guns. Campaigns: Lorraine Front, Aisne Front, Battle of the Aisne and Retreat of the Center. Bulk of division captured by 15 June 1940. Final command post at Chapelle-Vallon. Subordination: VI Corps, 6th Army, XXIII Corps, 4th Army and 2nd Army.
* . Active division at the start of the war; alerted on 25 August 1939 in
Amiens
Amiens (English: or ; ; pcd, Anmien, or ) is a city and commune in northern France, located north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme department in the region of Hauts-de-France. In 2021, the population of ...
. Campaigns: Battle of the Meuse, Meuse Front, Aisne Front and Retreat of the Center. Bulk of the division captured by 18 June 1940. Final command post at Saint-Seine. Subordination: XXI Corps of 2nd Army and VIII Corps of 4th Army.
* . Formation-A-class reserve division mobilized 2 September 1939 as a Type Northeast division in
Hirson
Hirson ( pcd, Urchon) is a commune in the Aisne department in Hauts-de-France in northern France.
Geography Location
Hirson is adjacent to Belgium. It is located in the northeastern department of Aisne, near the departments of Nord and ...
; antitank gun shortage was resolved by April 1940. Automotive material was diverse and not in good condition. Campaigns: Combats at the mouths of the Escaut and the Battle of the North. Division mostly captured at Lille or Dunkirk but some evacuated from Dunkirk 31 May – 3 June. Evacuated elements returned to Brest 4–5 June and were assigned to various units. Final command post at beaches of Dunkirk. Subordination: 7th Army, 1st Army and IV Corps of 1st Army.
* 5th Motorized Infantry Division. Active division at the start of the war; alerted on 23 August 1939 in
Caen
Caen (, ; nrf, Kaem) is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the department of Calvados. The city proper has 105,512 inhabitants (), while its functional urban area has 470,000,Dunkirk
Dunkirk (french: Dunkerque ; vls, label=French Flemish, Duunkerke; nl, Duinkerke(n) ; , ;) is a commune in the department of Nord in northern France.Roncherolles-sur-le-Vivier
Roncherolles-sur-le-Vivier is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Normandy region in northern France.
Geography
A village of forestry and farming situated in the Pays de Bray, just northeast of Rouen at the junction of the D15 and ...
. Division had a serious shortage of horses and no divisional antitank company on 10 May 1940. Campaigns: Lorraine Front, Battle of the Meuse, Meuse Front and Retreat of the Right Wing. Remnants (2,500 men) of division captured on 22 June 1940. Final command post at Thuilley-aux-Groseilles. Subordination: 2nd Army, XVIII and XXI Corps of the 2nd Army and ''Groupement Dubuisson''.
* . Formation-A-class reserve division mobilized 2 September 1939 as a Type Northeast division in
Le Mans
Le Mans (, ) is a city in northwestern France on the Sarthe River where it meets the Huisne. Traditionally the capital of the province of Maine, it is now the capital of the Sarthe department and the seat of the Roman Catholic diocese of Le Man ...
. Campaigns: Lorraine Front, Aisne and Ailette Front, Battle of the Aisne and Retreat of the Center. Division disbanded July 1940. Some elements retained in Vichy Army. Final command post at La Meyze. Subordination: Colonial Army Corps of the 3rd Army, 3rd Army, 6th Army and XVII and XVIII Corps of the 6th Army.
* 8th Infantry Division. New division formed 1 April 1940 as a Type Northeast division in
Coutras
Coutras () is a commune in the Gironde department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France. Coutras station has rail connections to Bordeaux, Angoulême, Périgueux, Brive-la-Gaillarde and Limoges.
History
The Battle of Coutras, one of the ...
. Campaigns: Aisne and Ailette Front, Battle of the Aisne and Retreat of the Center. Division disbanded on 16 July 1940. Final command post at Saint-Pardoux. Subordination: XVII Corps of the 6th Army.
* 9th Motorized Infantry Division. Active division at the start of the war; alerted on 26 August 1939 in
Orléans
Orléans (;"Orleans" (US) and Nevers
Nevers ( , ; la, Noviodunum, later ''Nevirnum'' and ''Nebirnum'') is the prefecture of the Nièvre Departments of France, department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Regions of France, region in central France. It was the principal city of the ...
Limoges
Limoges (, , ; oc, Lemòtges, locally ) is a city and Communes of France, commune, and the prefecture of the Haute-Vienne Departments of France, department in west-central France. It was the administrative capital of the former Limousin region ...
. Campaigns: Combats at the mouths of the Escaut and the Battle of the North. Division in large part captured by 20 May 1940 along the
Sambre–Oise Canal
The Canal de la Sambre à l'Oise () is a canal in northern France. It forms a connection between the canalised river Sambre (Meuse basin) at Landrecies and the Oise (Seine basin) at La Fère. The canal is long, and has 38 locks. The junction m ...
. Remnants attached to the 43rd DI and 9th DIC. Final command post at
Bohain-en-Vermandois
Bohain-en-Vermandois ( pcd, Bohain-in-Vérmindos) is a commune in the department of Aisne in Hauts-de-France in northern France.
It is the place where the painter Henri Matisse grew up.
Etymology
Formerly called Bohain, the town acquired it ...
. Subordination: XVI Corps of the 7th Army and 9th Army.
* 10th Infantry Division. Active division at the start of the war; alerted on 23 August 1939 vicinity Paris. Campaigns: Aisne Front, Battle of the Aisne and Retreat of the Center. Bulk of division captured over the course of the campaign; 649 men remained in the division by the time of the armistice. Final command post at
Saint-Flour, Cantal
Saint-Flour (; Auvergnat: ''Sant Flor'') is a commune in the Cantal department in the Auvergne region in south-central France, around 100 km south of Clermont-Ferrand. Its inhabitants are called ''Sanflorains''.
Geography
The upper ci ...
. Subordination: XXIII Corps and 2nd Army. The 10th Infantry Division was recreated in October 1944 and served in Alsace and on the Atlantic coast.
* . Active division at the start of the war; alerted on 22 August 1939 in Nancy. Campaigns: Lorraine Front, Aisne Front, Battle of the Aisne and Retreat of the Center. Division disbanded on 11 July 1940. Final command post at Saint-Pardoux. Subordination: I and XXIV Corps of the 7th Army.
* 12th Motorized Infantry Division. Active division at the start of the war; alerted on 23 August 1939 in Chalons-sur-Marne. Campaigns: Lorraine Front, Northern Frontier, Battle of the Dyle and Battle of the North. Division captured on 4 June 1940. Final command post at Dunkirk. Subordination: V and III Corps of the 1st Army.
* 13th Infantry Division. Active division at the start of the war; alerted on 22 August 1939 in the region of Bourogne. Campaigns: Alsace Front, Somme Front, Battle of the Somme and Retreat of the Left Wing. Bulk of division lost during final retreat but unit still intact on 25 June 1940. Final command post at
Lalinde
Lalinde (; oc, La Linda) is a Communes of France, commune in the Dordogne Departments of France, department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France. It lies on the river Dordogne (river), Dordogne and was enclosed within fortified walls of ...
. Subordination: Multiple corps of the 8th, 7th and 10th Armies, as well as the XXV Corps of the Army of Paris. Final subordination to Task Force de Bazelaire.
* 14th Infantry Division. Active division at the start of the war; alerted on 25 August 1939 in the region of Mulhouse. Campaigns: Alsace Front, Lorraine Front, Battle of the Meuse, Aisne Front, Battle of the Aisne and Retreat of the Center. Unit still intact on 25 June 1940. Final command post at Champeix. Subordination: XXIII Corps of the 6th and 4th Armies, VIII Corps of 4th Army. The 14th Infantry Division was recreated on 16 February 1945 and served with the French First Army.
* 15th Motorized Infantry Division. Active division at the start of the war; alerted on 23 August 1939 in Dijon. Campaigns: Lorraine Front, Battle of the Dyle and Battle of the North. Bulk of division captured south of Lille on 29 May 1940; some elements embarked at Dunkirk and shipped to Brest and Cherbourg. Final command post in Faubourg des Postes (Lille). Subordination: IV Corps of the 1st Army.
* 16th Infantry Division. Formation-A-class reserve division mobilized 2 September 1939 in Dijon. Campaigns: Alsace Front, Somme Front, Battle of the Somme and Retreat of the Center. Division reduced to strength of four battalions at time of the armistice. Final command post in Cuzorn. Subordination: XII, X and XXV Corps; subordinated to various armies during course of campaign.
* 17th Infantry Division. Initially scheduled to be formed on 31 March 1940, this formation was canceled and the component units assigned to other divisions. After the breakthrough at Sedan during 10–15 May 1940, remnants of the 55th DI and 71st DI were organized into a new division, which rapidly went through three names: 55th DI, 71st DI and 17th DI (on 21 May). The division remained in general reserve until being released for the defense of Verdun. On 30 May, the division was retitled the 59th DLI.
* 18th Infantry Division. Formation-A-class reserve division mobilized 2 September 1939 as a Type Northeast division in Tours. Campaigns: Lorraine Front, Northern Frontier, Battle of the Meuse and Battle of the North. Division encircled and almost entirely destroyed vicinity
Beaumont
Beaumont may refer to:
Places Canada
* Beaumont, Alberta
* Beaumont, Quebec
England
* Beaumont, Cumbria
* Beaumont, Essex
** Beaumont Cut, a canal closed in the 1930s
* Beaumont Street, Oxford
France (communes)
* Beaumont, Ardèche
* ...
on 16 May 1940. Final command post at Damousies. Subordination: XI Corps of the 9th Army.
* 19th Infantry Division. Active division at the start of the war; alerted on 25 August 1939 in Rennes. Campaigns: Lorraine Front, Alsace Front, Somme Front, Battle of the Somme and Retreat of the Left Wing. Division intact at time of armistice. Final command post at
Pierre-Buffière
Pierre-Buffière (; oc, Peira Bufiera) is a commune in the Haute-Vienne department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in west-central France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Eur ...
. Subordination: XIII Corps and I Corps of the 7th Army. The 19th Infantry Division was recreated in September 1944 and served on the Atlantic coast.
* 20th Infantry Division. Formation-A-class reserve division mobilized 2 September 1939 in Rennes. Campaigns: Northern Frontier, Lorraine Front, Meuse Front, Battle of the Aisne and Retreat of the Center. Division encircled and captured on the left bank of the Seine on 15 June 1940. Final command post at Sainte-Maure (5 kilometers north of
Troyes
Troyes () is a commune and the capital of the department of Aube in the Grand Est region of north-central France. It is located on the Seine river about south-east of Paris. Troyes is situated within the Champagne wine region and is near to ...
). Subordination: XLII Corps of the 3rd Army and VII Corps of the 6th Army.
* 21st Infantry Division. Active division at the start of the war; alerted 25 August 1939 in Nantes. Campaigns: Lorraine Front, Northern Frontier, Battle of the Scheldt Estuary and Battle of the North. Division surrendered after the
Battle of Boulogne
The Battle of Boulogne in 1940 was the defence of the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer by French, British and Belgian troops in the Battle of France during the Second World War. The battle was fought at the same time as the Siege of Calais, just befo ...
on 25 May 1940. Final command post at Boulogne. Subordination: Reserve of the High Command and Admiral commanding the Northern Front.
* 22nd Infantry Division. Formation-A-class reserve division mobilized 23 August 1939 in the 11th Military Region. Campaigns: Lorraine Front, Battle of the Meuse and Battle of the North. Bulk of division captured vicinity Wimy on 18 May 1940 after defending the forest of Saint-Michel. Final command post at Wimy. Subordination: Colonial Army Corps of the 3rd Army and XI Corps of the 9th Army.
* 23rd Infantry Division. Active division at the start of the war; alerted 25 August 1939 in
Limoges
Limoges (, , ; oc, Lemòtges, locally ) is a city and Communes of France, commune, and the prefecture of the Haute-Vienne Departments of France, department in west-central France. It was the administrative capital of the former Limousin region ...
. Campaigns: Lorraine Front, Alsace Front, Somme and Aisne Front, Battle of the Aisne and Retreat of the Center. Division intact at time of armistice; unit disbanded on 11 July 1940. Final command post at
Jumilhac-le-Grand
Jumilhac-le-Grand is a commune in the Dordogne '' dėpartement'' in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in south western France.
The village lies on the road followed by Richard the Lionheart and on one of the many branches of the Camino de Santiago pilgrim route ...
. Subordination: XXIV Corps of the 7th Army. The 23rd Infantry Division was recreated in January 1945 and served on the Atlantic coast.
* 24th Infantry Division. Formation-A-class reserve division mobilized 3 September 1939 in Limoges. Campaigns: Lorraine Front, Somme Front, Battle of the Somme and Retreat of the Left Wing. Division strength down to 100 to 200 men per regiment by 11 June 1940. Division still in existence at time of armistice; unit disbanded 11 July 1940. Final command post at Cubas. Subordination: X Corps of the 10th Army and Task Force de Bazelaire, among others.
* 25th Motorized Infantry Division. Active division at the start of the war; alerted 27 August 1939 in
Clermont-Ferrand
Clermont-Ferrand (, ; ; oc, label=Auvergnat (dialect), Auvergnat, Clarmont-Ferrand or Clharmou ; la, Augustonemetum) is a city and Communes of France, commune of France, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regions of France, region, with a population ...
. Campaigns: Lorraine Front, Northern Frontier, Battle of the Scheldt Estuary and Battle of the North. Bulk of division captured vicinity
Canteleu
Canteleu () is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Normandy region in north-western France.
Geography
A small town of forestry and light industry situated by the banks of the river Seine, just northwest and over the river from the ...
and
Lambersart
Lambersart () is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.
This commune is located in the Métropole Européenne de Lille, and is a suburb of the city of Lille, bordering it on its northwest side.
Inhabitants of the town are called ...
on the evening of 31 May 1940. Final command post at
Bray-Dunes
Bray-Dunes (; vls, Bray-Duunn) is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is situated on the Belgian border, with Adinkerke being the closest Belgian town. It is the northernmost commune and the northernmost point in all of Fra ...
. Subordination: Various corps, almost all subordinated to 1st Army. The 25th Infantry Division was recreated in April 1945 and served on the Atlantic coast.
* 26th Infantry Division. Formation-A-class reserve division mobilized 2 September 1939 in Clermont-Ferrand. Campaigns: Lorraine Front and Retreat of the Right Wing. Bulk of division captured in the Charmes Forest on the night of 20–21 June 1940. Final command post at Charmes. Subordination: VI Corps of the 3rd Army.
* 27th Mountain Infantry Division. Formation-A-class reserve division mobilized 22 August 1939 in Gap. Division converted to a type Northeast infantry division on 27 October 1939. Campaigns: Alpine Frontier, Lorraine Front, Battle of the Aisne and Retreat of the Center. Division intact at time of armistice. Final command post at Saint-Dizier-Leyrenne. Subordination: VIII, XVII and VII Corps of various armies. The 27th Mountain Infantry Division was recreated in November 1944 and served on the Alpine frontier.
* 28th Mountain Infantry Division. Formation-A-class reserve division mobilized 22 August 1939 in
Chambéry
Chambéry (, , ; Arpitan: ''Chambèri'') is the prefecture of the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of eastern France. The population of the commune of Chambéry was 58,917 as of 2019, while the population of the Chambér ...
. Campaigns: Alpine Frontier, Lorraine Front, Aisne Front, Battle of the Aisne and Retreat of the Center. Division intact at time of armistice; elements disbanded by 31 July 1940. Final command post at Marsac. Subordination: XVII and VII Corps of the 6th Army.
* 29th Mountain Infantry Division. Formation-A-class reserve division mobilized 22 August 1939 in Nice. Campaigns: Alpine Frontier, Lorraine Front, Somme Front, Battle of the Somme and Retreat of the Left Wing. Bulk of division captured or destroyed between the Somme and Le Beuvron during the period 5–19 June 1940; remnants disbanded by 11 July 1940. Final command post at
Hautefort
Hautefort (; oc, Autafòrt) is a commune in the Dordogne department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France.
It was part of the former province of Périgord.
History
The ancient fortress dates back to the early Middle Ages, as proved by t ...
. Subordination: XXIV and I Corps of the 7th Army.
* 30th Mountain Infantry Division. Formation-A-class reserve division mobilized 22 August 1939 in Marseille. Division converted to a type Northeast infantry division on 27 October 1939. Campaigns: Alpine Frontier, Lorraine Front and Retreat of the Right Wing. Division captured vicinity Saint-Dié on 23 June 1940. Final command post in the woods by Belmont. Subordination: XLIII Fortress Corps of the 5th Army and XII Corps of the 3rd Army.
* 31st Mountain Infantry Division. Formation-A-class reserve division mobilized 27 August 1939 in
Montpellier
Montpellier (, , ; oc, Montpelhièr ) is a city in southern France near the Mediterranean Sea. One of the largest urban centres in the region of Occitania (administrative region), Occitania, Montpellier is the prefecture of the Departments of ...
. Campaigns: Lorraine Front, Somme Front, Battle of the Somme and Retreat of the Left Wing. Division captured in
Saint-Valery-en-Caux
Saint-Valery-en-Caux (, literally ''Saint-Valery in Caux'') is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Normandy region in northern France.
The addition of an acute accent on the "e" (Valéry) is incorrect.
Geography
The town is locat ...
on 12 June 1940. Final command post at Gueutteville. Subordination: IX Corps of the 10th Army.
* 32nd Infantry Division. Formation-A-class reserve division mobilized 22 August 1939 in
Montpellier
Montpellier (, , ; oc, Montpelhièr ) is a city in southern France near the Mediterranean Sea. One of the largest urban centres in the region of Occitania (administrative region), Occitania, Montpellier is the prefecture of the Departments of ...
. Also known as the 32nd Light Infantry Division after 12 June 1940. Campaigns: Lorraine Front, Battle of the Dyle, Battle of the North and Retreat of the Left Wing. Division captured in parts between 4 and 18 June 1940 in the region between Dunkirk and
Falaise
Falaise may refer to:
Places
* Falaise, Ardennes, France
* Falaise, Calvados, France
** The Falaise pocket was the site of a battle in the Second World War
* La Falaise, in the Yvelines ''département'', France
* The Falaise escarpment in Quebe ...
. Final command post at Saint-Vigor-des-Mézerets. Subordination: III Corps of the 1st Army and XVI Corps of the 10th Army.
* . Formation-A-class reserve division mobilized 2 September 1939 in
Bordeaux
Bordeaux ( , ; Gascon oc, Bordèu ; eu, Bordele; it, Bordò; es, Burdeos) is a port city on the river Garonne in the Gironde department, Southwestern France. It is the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, as well as the prefectur ...
. Campaigns: Lorraine Front, Alsace Front, Aisne Front, Battle of the Aisne and Retreat of the Right Wing. Division captured vicinity
Ochey
Ochey () is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.
See also
*Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department
*Nancy – Ochey Air Base
Nancy-Ochey Air Base (french: Base aérienne 133 Nancy-Ochey) is a front-li ...
on 22 June 1940; at time of surrender, the unit had been reduced to a strength of a little over 6,000 men. Final command post at Germiny. Subordination: Colonial Army Corps and XXI Corps of the 2nd Army.
* 36th Infantry Division. Active division at the start of the war; alerted 28 August 1939 in Bordeaux. Campaigns: Lorraine Front, Northern Frontier, Aisne Front, Battle of the Aisne and Retreat of the Right Wing. Division captured 21 June 1940 vicinity Vézelise. Final command post at Gugney. Subordination: X Corps and Colonial Army Corps of the 2nd Army. The 36th Infantry Division was recreated in February 1945 but did not see combat before the war in Europe ended.
* 40th Infantry Division. Formed 31 May 1940 at Morain-Villiers from the 2nd Light Chasseurs Division. Campaigns: Battle of the Somme and Retreat of the Left Wing. Division intact at time of armistice; disbanded on 31 July 1940. Final command post at
Cahors
Cahors (; oc, Caors ) is a commune in the western part of Southern France. It is the smallest prefecture among the 13 departments that constitute the Occitanie Region. The main city of the Lot department and the historical center of the Quer ...
. Subordination: IX Corps of the 10th Army.
* 41st Infantry Division. Formation-A-class reserve division mobilized 2 September 1939 in Versailles. Campaigns: Lorraine Front, Northern Frontier, Battle of the Meuse, Meuse Front, Battle of the Aisne and Retreat of the Center. All but 1,300 men of the division captured on 17–18 June 1940 vicinity Gondreville. Final command post at Gondreville. Subordination: XVIII Corps of the 2nd Army and XVII Corps of the 6th Army.
* 42nd Infantry Division. Active division at the start of the war; alerted 20 August 1939 in
Metz
Metz ( , , lat, Divodurum Mediomatricorum, then ) is a city in northeast France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers. Metz is the prefecture of the Moselle department and the seat of the parliament of the Grand E ...
. Campaigns: Lorraine Front, Aisne Front, Battle of the Aisne and Retreat of the Center. Division mostly captured on 17 June 1940 vicinity
Les Riceys
Les Riceys () is a commune in the Aube department in north-central France. It is situated in an important viticultural area, and in particular is known for Rosé des Riceys wine.
With its 866 ha of vines, it is the commune that has the large ...
. Final command post at Les Riceys. Subordination: XXIII Corps of the 6th and 4th Armies.
* 43rd Infantry Division. Active division at the start of the war; alerted 23 August 1939 in
Weyersheim
Weyersheim is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Grand Est in north-eastern France.
Population
Twin towns
Weyersheim is twinned with:
* Rot am See, Germany, since 2000
See also
* Communes of the Bas-Rhin department
The following i ...
. Campaigns: Alsace Front, Battle of the Dyle, Battle of the North and Retreat of the Left Wing. Division embarked at Dunkirk and returned to France via Brest. Division captured 18–26 June 1940 between
Passais
Passais (; also: ''Passais-la-Conception'') is a former commune in the Orne department in north-western France. On 1 January 2016, it was merged into the new commune of Passais Villages.Belligné. Final command post at Passais. Subordination: 1st Army, Commander of Zone B and XVI Corps.
* 44th Infantry Division. Division formed 1 March 1940 at
Dourdan
Dourdan () is a commune in the Essonne department in Île-de-France. It is the capital of the historical region of Hurepoix.
It is located in the metropolitan area of Paris.
Geography
Dourdan is located on the river Orge in the western Es ...
. Campaigns: Aisne Front, Battle of the Aisne and Retreat of the Center. Division reduced to strength below 2,500 by time of armistice. Final command post at Mauriac. Subordination: XXIII, XVII and VII Corps of the 6th Army.
* 45th Infantry Division. Formation-A-class reserve division mobilized 2 September 1939 in
Orléans
Orléans (;"Orleans" (US) and Arcis-sur-Aube
Arcis-sur-Aube (, literally ''Arcis on Aube'') is a commune in the Aube department in the Grand Est region of north-central France.
The inhabitants of the commune are known as ''Arcisiens'' or ''Arcisiennes''.
The commune has been awarded "th ...
. Subordination: VII Corps of the 6th Army.
* 47th Infantry Division. Formation-A-class reserve division mobilized 2 September 1939 in
Besançon
Besançon (, , , ; archaic german: Bisanz; la, Vesontio) is the prefecture of the department of Doubs in the region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. The city is located in Eastern France, close to the Jura Mountains and the border with Switzerl ...
. Campaigns: Alsace Front, Lorraine Front, Battle of the Aisne and Retreat of the Center. Division intact at time of armistice. Final command post at Mareuil. Subordination: IX Corps of the 4th Army and I Corps of the 7th Army.
* 51st Infantry Division. Formation-B-class reserve division mobilized 2 September 1939 in Lille. Campaigns: Northern Frontier, Battle of the Meuse, Lorraine Front and Retreat of the Right Wing. Division captured 23 June 1940 vicinity
Villey-le-Sec
Villey-le-Sec () is a Communes of France, commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle Departments of France, department in north-eastern France.
See also
*Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department
References
Communes of Meurthe-et-Moselle, ...
. Final command post at
Sexey-aux-Forges
Sexey-aux-Forges () is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.
See also
*Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department
The following is a list of the 591 communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department of Franc ...
. Subordination: XXIV and XLII Corps of the 3rd Army.
* 52nd Infantry Division. Formation-B-class reserve division mobilized 24 August 1939 in Mézières. Campaigns: Northern Frontier, Lorraine Front and Retreat of the Right Wing. Division captured 23 June 1940 vicinity La Bourgonce. Final command post at La Salle. Subordination: XX Corps of the 4th Army and ''Groupement de la Saare'' of 2nd Army Group.
* 53rd Infantry Division. Formation-B-class reserve division mobilized 2 September 1939 in
Bourbourg
Bourbourg (; ) is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is situated in the maritime plain of northern France, in the middle of a triangle formed by Dunkirk, Calais, and Saint-Omer.
Population
In 1945 Bourbourg absorbed the fo ...
. Campaigns: Northern Frontier, Battle of the Meuse, Aisne Front and Retreat of the Center. Division reduced to some 800 men at the time of the armistice; designated as the 53rd Light Infantry Division after 31 May 1940. Final command post at
Allègre
Allègre (; oc, Alègre) is a commune in the Haute-Loire department in south-central France.
Population
Sights
* Château d'Allègre: ruined castle, protected since 1935 as a '' monument historique''
Personalities
*Germaine Tillion (30 Ma ...
. Subordination: XLI Fortress Corps of the 9th Army and VIII Corps of the 4th Army.
* 54th Infantry Division. Formation-B-class reserve division mobilized 2 September 1939 in Le Mans. Campaigns: Alsace Front and Retreat of the Right Wing. Division captured 22 June 1940 vicinity
Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines
Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines (; ; Alsatian: ''Màrkìrisch'') is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department and Grand Est region of north-eastern France.
Geography
Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines is located in the massif of the Vosges Mountains, where it occupie ...
. Final command post at Corcieux. Subordination: XIII Corps of the 8th Army.
* 55th Infantry Division. Formation-B-class reserve division mobilized 3 October 1939 in Orléans. Campaigns: Northern Frontier and Battle of the Meuse. Division panicked at the Battle of Bulson on 13 May 1940 and was disbanded on 18 May 1940 with elements going to the second formation of the 17th Infantry Division. Final command post at Manre. Subordination: X Corps of the 2nd Army.
* 56th Infantry Division. Formation-B-class reserve division mobilized 2 September 1939 in Châlons-sur-Marne. Campaigns: Lorraine Front and Retreat of the Center. Division captured 16 June 1940 vicinity
Aignay-le-Duc
Aignay-le-Duc () is a commune in the Côte-d'Or department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region of eastern France.
The inhabitants of the commune are known as ''Aignacois'' or ''Aignacoises''.
Geography
The commune of Aignay-le-Duc is locate ...
. Final command post at Prairay, two kilometers WSW of Francheville. Subordination: Colonial Army Corps and VI Corps of 3rd Army and XVIII Corps of 2nd Army.
* 57th Infantry Division. Formation-B-class reserve division mobilized 2 September 1939 in the region of
Besançon
Besançon (, , , ; archaic german: Bisanz; la, Vesontio) is the prefecture of the department of Doubs in the region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. The city is located in Eastern France, close to the Jura Mountains and the border with Switzerl ...
. Campaigns: Alsace Front, Battle of the Aisne and Retreat of the Center. Division intact at the time of armistice; disbanded on 11 July 1940. Final command post at Hiesse. Subordination: XLV Fortress Corps of 3rd Army Group and XXIV Corps of the 7th Army.
* 58th Infantry Division. Formation-B-class reserve division mobilized 2 September 1939 in
Dijon
Dijon (, , ) (dated)
* it, Digione
* la, Diviō or
* lmo, Digion is the prefecture of the Côte-d'Or department and of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in northeastern France. the commune had a population of 156,920.
The earlies ...
. Campaigns: Lorraine Front and Retreat of the Right Wing. Division reduced to strength of three battalions over course of campaign and captured 22 June 1940 east of
Ochey
Ochey () is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.
See also
*Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department
*Nancy – Ochey Air Base
Nancy-Ochey Air Base (french: Base aérienne 133 Nancy-Ochey) is a front-li ...
. Final command post at Ochey. Subordination: XLII Fortress Corps and ''Groupement Dubuisson''.
* 60th Infantry Division. Formation-B-class reserve division mobilized 2 September 1939 in
Rennes
Rennes (; br, Roazhon ; Gallo: ''Resnn''; ) is a city in the east of Brittany in northwestern France at the confluence of the Ille and the Vilaine. Rennes is the prefecture of the region of Brittany, as well as the Ille-et-Vilaine department ...
. Campaigns: Northern Frontier, Battle for the Scheldt Estuary and the Battle of the North. Division cut off in the north, some 1,000 men evacuated to Great Britain without equipment. Remainder of division captured 4 June 1940 vicinity Malo Terminus near Dunkirk. Final command post: Malo Terminus. Subordination: 7th Army and XVI Corps.
* 61st Infantry Division. Formation-B-class reserve division mobilized 2 September 1939 in
Nantes
Nantes (, , ; Gallo: or ; ) is a city in Loire-Atlantique on the Loire, from the Atlantic coast. The city is the sixth largest in France, with a population of 314,138 in Nantes proper and a metropolitan area of nearly 1 million inhabita ...
. Campaigns: Northern Frontier and Battle of the Meuse. Division isolated and cut up by German armored thrusts 15–16 May 1940 and subsequently disbanded on 27 May 1940 with elements going to the 236th and 241st Light Infantry Divisions. Final command post at
Louviers
Louviers () is a Communes of France, commune in the Eure Departments of France, department in Normandy (administrative region), Normandy in north-western France.
Louviers is from Paris and from Rouen.
Population
History
Prehistory
In the ...
. Subordination: XLI Fortress Corps of the 9th Army.
* 62nd Infantry Division. Formation-B-class reserve division mobilized 2 September 1939 in Limoges. At mobilization, division lacked sufficient troops, cadre, vehicles and antitank guns for complete establishment. Campaigns: Lorraine Front, Alsace Front and Retreat of the Right Wing. Division captured vicinity
Donon
Mont Donon is the highest peak in the northern Vosges. It is a Category 2 climb in the Tour de France.
On Donon, there is an 80 metre tall lattice tower for TV transmission. Its TV transmission antennas are covered by a polymeric cylinder, which ...
between 21–23 June 1940. Final command post at Donon. Subordination: XVII Corps and 103rd Fortress Division of the 5th Army.
* 63rd Infantry Division. Formation-B-class reserve division mobilized 3 September 1939 in
Clermont-Ferrand
Clermont-Ferrand (, ; ; oc, label=Auvergnat (dialect), Auvergnat, Clarmont-Ferrand or Clharmou ; la, Augustonemetum) is a city and Communes of France, commune of France, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regions of France, region, with a population ...
. Campaigns: Alsace Front and Retreat of the Right Wing. Division captured on 22 June 1940 vicinity
Bussang
Bussang (; or ''Büssing'') is a commune in the Vosges department in Grand Est in Northeastern France. Known as the source of the Moselle River
The Moselle ( , ; german: Mosel ; lb, Musel ) is a river that rises in the Vosges moun ...
. Final command post at Bussang. Subordination: XLV and XLIV Fortress Corps of the 8th Army.
* 64th (Mountain) Infantry Division. Formation-B-class reserve division mobilized 2 September 1939 in Valence. Campaigns: Alpine Frontier and Alpine Front. Division intact at time of armistice; disbanded 10 July 1940. Final command post at Embrun. Subordination: XIV Corps of the Army of the Alps.
* 65th (Mountain) Infantry Division. Formation-B-class reserve division mobilized 2 September 1939 in Marseille. Campaigns: Alpine Frontier and Alpine Front. Division intact at time of armistice; disbanded 11 July 1940. Final command post at Levens. Subordination: XV Corps of the Army of the Alps.
* 66th (Mountain) Infantry Division. Formation-B-class reserve division mobilized 2 September 1939 in Montpellier. Campaigns: Alpine Frontier and Alpine Front. Division intact at time of armistice; disbanded 8 July 1940. Final command post at La Combe-de-Lancey. Subordination: XIV Corps of the Army of the Alps.
* 67th Infantry Division. Formation-B-class reserve division mobilized 12 September 1939 in Toulouse. Campaigns: Alsace Front and Retreat of the Right Wing. Division captured 18 June 1940 vicinity Maîche. Some elements crossed the Swiss border and entered internment. Final command post at
Brémoncourt
Brémoncourt () is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in northeastern France.
Population
See also
*Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department
The following is a list of the 591 communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department ...
. Subordination: XLIV and XLV Fortress Corps of the 8th Army.
* 68th Infantry Division. Formed 16 January 1940 in Dunkirk. Campaigns: Battle of the Scheldt Estuary and Battle of the North. Division captured at Dunkirk on 4 June 1940. Final command post at Dunkirk. Subordination: XVI Corps of the Admiral-North.
* 70th Infantry Division. Formation-B-class reserve division mobilized 2 September 1939 in Nancy. Campaigns: Alsace Front and Retreat of the Right Wing. Division captured 21–22 June 1940 vicinity
Padoux
Padoux () is a commune in the Vosges department in Grand Est in northeastern France.
Population
Inhabitants are called ''Padoselliens''.
Geography
Padoux is positioned between Épinal et Rambervillers: nevertheless, it is administratively wit ...
. Final command post in a forest outside of Padoux. Subordination: XII Corps of the 5th Army.
* 71st Infantry Division. Formation-B-class reserve division mobilized 2 September 1939 in Versailles. Campaigns: Northern Frontier and Battle of the Meuse. Division panicked at the Battle of Bulson on 13–14 May 1940 and was disbanded on 21 May 1940 with elements going to the second formation of the 17th Infantry Division. Final command post at
Verdun
Verdun (, , , ; official name before 1970 ''Verdun-sur-Meuse'') is a large city in the Meuse department in Grand Est, northeastern France. It is an arrondissement of the department.
Verdun is the biggest city in Meuse, although the capital ...
. Subordination: X Corps of the 2nd Army.
* 101st Fortress Division. Formed 16 March 1940 near
Haumont-près-Samogneux
Haumont-près-Samogneux (, literally ''Haumont near Samogneux'') is a commune in the Meuse department in Grand Est in north-eastern France.
The capture of the town by the German Fifth Army began the Battle of Verdun during World War I in 1916. ...
from the Fortified Sector of Maubeuge. Campaigns: Northern Frontier, Battle of the Dyle and Battle of the North. Part of division captured at Dunkirk after 3 June 1940; one regiment embarked at Dunkirk for Normandy and were captured on 17 June 1940 vicinity Falaise. Final command post at Dunkirk. Subordination: 1st Army.
* 102nd Fortress Division. Formed 1 January 1940 in Rimogne from elements of the Ardennes Defensive Sector. Campaigns: Northern Frontier and Battle of the Meuse. Bulk of division captured near Thin-le-Moutier. Final command post at the Valcontent Farm, approximately 3.5 kilometers from Thin-le-Moutier. Subordination: XLI Fortress Corps of the 9th Army.
* 103rd Fortress Division. Formed 5 March 1940 from the
Fortified Sector of the Lower Rhine
The Fortified Sector of the Lower Rhine (''Secteur Fortifié du Bas-Rhin'') was the French military organization that in 1940 controlled the section of the French frontier with Germany in the vicinity of Strasbourg. The sector's principal defence w ...
. Campaigns: Alsace Front and Retreat of the Right Wing. Division captured 23 June 1940 as part of surrender of the 5th Army. Final command post at Salm near
Waldersbach
Waldersbach is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Grand Est in north-eastern France.
Population
People
* Jean-Frédéric Oberlin lived here until his death in 1820.
* Anne Knight, an early British feminist and abolitionist, died here ...
. Subordination: XVII Corps and XLIII Fortress Corps of the 5th Army.
* 104th Fortress Division. Formed 3 March 1940 from the
Fortified Sector of Colmar
The Fortified Sector of Colmar (''Secteur Fortifié de Colmar'') was the French military organization that in 1940 controlled the section of the French frontier with Germany in the vicinity of Colmar. The fortifications were built as part of Franc ...
. Campaigns: Alsace Front and Retreat of the Right Wing. Division captured 21 June 1940 vicinity
Xonrupt
Xonrupt-Longemer () is a commune in the Vosges department in Grand Est in northeastern France.
Its inhabitants are called .
Geography
The commune is located in the upper valley of the Vologne river, that goes up to the Schlucht mountain p ...
. Final command post at Xonrupt. Subordination: XII and XIII Corps of the 8th Army.
* 105th Fortress Division. Formed 16 March 1940 from the Fortified Sector of Mulhouse. Campaigns: Alsace Front and Retreat of the Right Wing. Division captured 22 June 1940 near Mollau. Final command post at Rouge-Gazon, approximate 4 kilometers SW of Mollau. Subordination: XIII Corps and XLIV Fortress Corps of the 8th Army.
Light Chasseurs Divisions (DLCh)
The Chasseurs divisions were organized in April 1940 and were intended for use in Norway.
* 1st Light
Chasseurs
''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 or ...
Division. Formed 15 April 1940 at Brest from the Alpine (High Mountains) Brigade. Campaigns: Norway 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 and then embarked for Great Britain where some 1,200 men volunteered for service with the
Free French
Free France (french: France Libre) was a political entity that claimed to be the legitimate government of France following the dissolution of the Third Republic. Led by French general , Free France was established as a government-in-exile ...
. Remainder were shipped to Morocco in July, where some elements remained in French North Africa while others were repatriated to France by 4 August 1940. Final command post at
Casablanca
Casablanca, also known in Arabic as Dar al-Bayda ( ar, الدَّار الْبَيْضَاء, al-Dār al-Bayḍāʾ, ; ber, ⴹⴹⴰⵕⵍⴱⵉⴹⴰ, ḍḍaṛlbiḍa, : "White House") is the largest city in Morocco and the country's econom ...
. Subordination: French Scandinavian Expeditionary Corps and Commander of the Brittany Defense Line.
* 2nd Light Chasseurs Division. Formed 18 April 1940 at Brest. Campaigns: None. Division was intended for use in Norway and shipped to Scotland before being returned to Brest by 19 May 1940. Division retitled as the 40th Infantry Division on 31 May 1940. Final command post at Morain-Villiers. Subordination: French Scandinavian Expeditionary Corps and Reserve of the High Command.
Light Infantry Divisions (DLI)
Most formed in May or June 1940. The light divisions had only two infantry regiments and were missing much equipment.
* 1st Light Infantry Division. Formed 10 June 1940 near
Évreux
Évreux () is a commune in and the capital of the department of Eure, in the French region of Normandy.
Geography
The city is on the Iton river.
Climate
History
In late Antiquity, the town, attested in the fourth century CE, was named ...
from 3,400 men of the 1st DIM who were evacuated from Dunkirk and returned to France, as well as other elements. Four battalions of infantry, 2 battalions of artillery; all other branches nonexistent or in embryonic form. Campaigns: Retreat of the Left Wing. The division was forced west of
Caen
Caen (, ; nrf, Kaem) is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the department of Calvados. The city proper has 105,512 inhabitants (), while its functional urban area has 470,000,Juvigny-le-Tertre
Juvigny-le-Tertre () is a former commune in the Manche department in north-western France. On 1 January 2017, it was merged into the new commune Juvigny les Vallées.Brest
Brest may refer to:
Places
*Brest, Belarus
**Brest Region
**Brest Airport
**Brest Fortress
* Brest, Kyustendil Province, Bulgaria
* Břest, Czech Republic
*Brest, France
** Arrondissement of Brest
**Brest Bretagne Airport
** Château de Brest
*Br ...
and intended for service in Norway. Division had two infantry regiments, an antitank company, a tank company, a reconnaissance battalion and an artillery battalion. Instead of Norway, the division was transported via rail to Paris and then to the Somme River vicinity
Noyon
Noyon (; pcd, Noéyon; la, Noviomagus Veromanduorum, Noviomagus of the Veromandui, then ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Oise Departments of France, department, northern France.
Geography
Noyon lies on the river Oise (river), Oise, a ...
. Campaigns: Defense of the Somme and the Aisne, Battle of the Aisne and the Retreat of the Center. Final division assembly was at
Nexon
Nexon Co., Ltd. is a global video game publisher, listed in Japan, that specializes in online Virtual World games for PCs, consoles and mobile. Nexon is one of the world’s ten largest interactive game companies based on market capitalization a ...
, SW of Limoges. Subordination: XXIV Corps from 18 May - 25 June 1940.
* 17th Light Infantry Division. Formed 31 May 1940 in the Department of Creuse (
La Courtine
La Courtine (; Auvergnat dialect, Auvergnat: ''La Cortina'') is a Communes of France, commune in the Creuse Departments of France, department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regions of France, region in central France.
Geography
An area of lakes, fore ...
) from unit remnants of the Battle of the Meuse, primarily the 18th DI. Division had two regiments of infantry and one of artillery (two 75-mm battalions) but only eight antitank guns and with serious shortages in mortars and signals equipment. Campaigns: Battle of the Somme and the Retreat of the Left Wing. Had four battalions captured between 20–27 June. Final command post was at
Saint-Hilaire-du-Maine
Saint-Hilaire-du-Maine (, literally ''Saint-Hilaire of the Maine'') is a commune in the Mayenne department in northwestern France. The writer and photographer Jean-Loup Trassard was born in Saint-Hilaire-du-Maine in 1933.
See also
*Communes of ...
. Subordination: IV Corps of the 10th Army from 7–11 June and then Group Duffour of the 10th Army until capitulation.
* 59th Light Infantry Division. Formed 30 May 1940 west of
Saint-Mihiel
Saint-Mihiel () is a commune in the Meuse department in Grand Est in north-eastern France.
Geography
Saint-Mihiel lies on the banks of the river Meuse.
History
A Benedictine abbey was established here in 708 or 709 by Count Wulfoalde and his wif ...
from the 17th DI, itself formed from remnants of the 55th DI and 71st DI. Division had two regiments of infantry and one of artillery along with some antitank and anti-aircraft assets. Campaigns: Retreat of the Center. Division assumed defensive position along the western edges of the Argonne and Belval Forests and was then overwhelmed by German tank and artillery attacks before being forced to surrender on 13 June 1940 south of Montmirail. Final command post at Bannes. Subordination: 2nd Army (to 12 June) and VII Corps of the 6th Army.
* 235th Light Infantry Division. Formed 1 June 1940 at
Bar-sur-Aube
Bar-sur-Aube (, literally ''Bar on Aube'') is a commune and a sub-prefecture in the Aube department in the Grand Est region of France.
Surrounded by hills and Champagne vineyards, the city is traversed by the river Aube, from which it derive ...
with a heavy proportion of service troops. Division had two regiments of infantry and one of artillery but was short on 25-mm and 47-mm antitank cannon. Campaigns: Battle of the Aisne and the Retreat of the Center. Attacks by Germans effectively dispersed the division by 12 June; elements managed to withdraw south before coming apart by 16 June. Final command post at a farm six kilometers E of Méry-sur-Seine. Subordination: XXIII Corps of the 4th Army until 12 June, then under direction of the 2nd DI.
* 236th Light Infantry Division. Formed 8 June 1940 at Courances from elements of the 102nd DIF, 22nd DI and 9th DIM. Campaigns: Retreat of the Left Wing. Merged with the 237th DLI on 25 June 1940. Final command post at Cunèges, east of Bordeaux. Subordination: 10th Army.
* 237th Light Infantry Division. Formed 27 May 1940 at Bazoches-sur-Guyonne from elements of the 5th DIM and the 55th DI. Campaigns: Retreat of the Left Wing. Division disbanded 7 July 1940. Final command post at Pellegrue, east of Bordeaux. Subordination: III Corps of the 10th Army.
* 238th Light Infantry Division. Formed 1 June 1940 at Arc-en-Barrois with two infantry regiments and an artillery regiment but lacking 25-mm antitank guns. Campaigns: Battle of the Aisne and Retreat of the Center. Division disbanded 11 July 1940. Final command post at Bersac, northeast of Limoges. Subordination: XVII Corps of the 6th Army.
* 239th Light Infantry Division. Formed 1 June 1940 at Rolampont from various battalions. Extremely poor state of equipment. Campaigns: Battle of the Aisne and Retreat of the Center. Division disbanded 11 July 1940. Final command post at
Saint-Mathieu Saint-Mathieu (French for Saint Matthew) may refer to:
Places
France
* Saint-Mathieu, Haute-Vienne
* Saint-Mathieu-de-Tréviers, Hérault
* Pointe Saint-Mathieu, a headland in Brittany
Canada
* Saint-Mathieu, Quebec
* Saint-Mathieu-de-Beloeil, ...
, southwest of Limoges. Subordination: 7th Army and XXIV Corps until 21 June, at which point the division was transferred to the I Corps.
* 240th Light Infantry Division. Formed 14 June 1940 at
Bar-sur-Seine
Bar-sur-Seine (, literally ''Bar on Seine'') is a commune in the Aube department in the Grand Est region of north-central France.
The inhabitants of the commune are known as ''Barrois'' or ''Barroises'' and ''Barséquanais'' or ''Barséquanais ...
from training units; division had a 40% shortage of personnel. Campaigns: Retreat of the Center. Division captured on 17 June. Final command post at Laignes, between Troyes and Dijon. Subordination: XVIII Corps.
* 241st Light Infantry Division. Formed 27 May 1940 at
Louviers
Louviers () is a Communes of France, commune in the Eure Departments of France, department in Normandy (administrative region), Normandy in north-western France.
Louviers is from Paris and from Rouen.
Population
History
Prehistory
In the ...
from elements of the 61st DI and reinforcements from the interior. Campaigns: Battle of the Somme, Battle of the Center and Retreat of the Center. Division disbanded on 11 July 1940. Final command post at Cadouin, east of Bergerac. Subordination: XXV Corps.
* Light Division Burtaire (DLB). Formed 8 June 1940 at Louppy-sur-Loison from ''Groupement Burtaire'', itself formed from the Montmedy Fortified Sector on 25 May. Campaigns: Meuse Front and Retreat of the Center. Captured on 23 June. Final command post in the Goviller forest. Subordination: XVIII Corps, 2nd Army and ''Groupement Dubuisson''.
Provisional divisions formed from fortified sectors
* Besse March Division (DMB). Formed 13 June 1940 in Borny (2 kilometers E of
Metz
Metz ( , , lat, Divodurum Mediomatricorum, then ) is a city in northeast France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers. Metz is the prefecture of the Moselle department and the seat of the parliament of the Grand E ...
) from the
Fortified Sector of Boulay The Fortified Sector of Boulay (''Secteur Fortifiée de Boulay'') was the French military organization that in 1940 controlled the section of the Maginot Line to the north and east of Metz in northeastern France. The left (western) wing of the Boul ...
. Campaigns: Retreat of the Right Wing. Most elements captured on 20 June. Final command post at Germonville, south of Nancy. Subordination: VI Corps of the 3rd Army.
* Chastanet March Division. Formed 13 June 1940 in
Meisenthal
Meisenthal (; Lorraine Franconian: ''Meisedal'') is a commune in the Moselle department of the Grand Est administrative region in north-eastern France.
The village belongs to the Pays de Bitche and to the Northern Vosges Regional Nature Park. ...
from the
Fortified Sector of Rohrbach
The Fortified Sector of Rohrbach (''Secteur Fortifié de Rohrbach'') was the French military organization that in 1940 controlled the section of the Maginot Line in the vicinity of Bitche. The sector was bordered to the west by the Fortified Sector ...
. Campaigns: Retreat of the Right Wing. Elements surrendered on 24 June. Final command post at Col de la Charnaye, vicinity Val-et-Châtillon. Subordination: XLIII Fortress Corps.
* Poisot March Division (DMP). Formed 12 June 1940 vicinity
Maizières-lès-Metz
Maizières-lès-Metz (, literally ''Maizières near Metz''; Lorrain: ''Mach'ire'') is a commune in the Moselle department in Grand Est in north-eastern France.
Anciently part of the Duchy of Lorraine, Maizières was within the Holy Roman Empi ...
from the
Fortified Sector of Thionville
The Fortified Sector of Thionville (''Secteur fortifié de Thionville'') was the French military organisation that in 1940 controlled the section of the Maginot Line immediately to the north of Thionville. The sector describes an arc of about , ...
. Campaigns: Retreat of the Right Wing. Became part of the Besse March Division on 19 June. Final command post at Frolois. Subordination: VI Corps of the 3rd Army.
* Regard March Division. Formed 13 June 1940 at Walbourg from the Fortified Sector of Haguenau, had no 25-mm antitank guns. Campaigns: Retreat of the Right Wing. Elements captured or surrendered by 25 June. Final command post in Walbourg, north of Hagenau. Subordination: V Corps.
* Senselme March Division. Formed 13 June 1940 at
Baerenthal
Baerenthal (; ; Lorraine Franconian: ''Bäredal'') is a commune in the Moselle department of the Grand Est administrative region in north-eastern France.
The village belongs to the Pays de Bitche and to the Northern Vosges Regional Nature Park. ...
from the
Fortified Sector of the Vosges The Fortified Sector of the Vosges (''Secteur Fortifiée des Vosges'') was the French military organization that in 1940 controlled the section of the Maginot Line at the northern end of the Vosges Mountains in northeastern France. The sector was b ...
. Campaigns: Retreat of the Right Wing. Surrendered on 24 June. Final command post at Le Donon, in
Vosges Mountains
The Vosges ( , ; german: Vogesen ; Franconian and gsw, Vogese) are a range of low mountains in Eastern France, near its border with Germany. Together with the Palatine Forest to the north on the German side of the border, they form a single ...
west of Strasbourg. Subordination: XLIII Fortress Corps.
Vichy French divisions
Vichy French divisions in France, 1940–42 (DM)
Also known as "the New Army;" or the Armistice Army. The terms of the
Armistice of 22 June 1940
The Armistice of 22 June 1940 was signed at 18:36 near Compiègne, France, by officials of Nazi Germany and the Third French Republic. It did not come into effect until after midnight on 25 June.
Signatories for Germany included Wilhelm Keitel ...
ensured the forces of
Vichy France
Vichy France (french: Régime de Vichy; 10 July 1940 – 9 August 1944), officially the French State ('), was the fascist French state headed by Marshal Philippe Pétain during World War II. Officially independent, but with half of its ter ...
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.
* 7th Military Division. Headquartered in Bourg.
* 9th Military Division. Headquartered in Châteauroux.
* 12th Military Division. Headquartered in Limoges.
* 13th Military Division. Headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand.
* 14th Military Division. Headquartered in Lyon.
* 15th Military Division. Headquartered in Marseille.
* 16th Military Division. Headquartered in Montpellier.
* 17th Military Division. Headquartered in Toulouse.
Vichy French divisions in north Africa, 1941
AKA "The Army of Transition"
French headquarters after 8 November 1942:
* CCFTAN (''Commandement en chef des forces terrestres en Afrique du Nord'')
* DCE (''Détachement de Couverture français de l'Est algérien'')
* DAE (''Détachement d'Armée de couverture à l'Est'' - former DCE)
* DAF (''Détachement d'Armée Française'')
* 19th Army Corps (France)
Divisions:
* C.S.T.T. (''Commandement Supérieur des Troupes de Tunisie'' - Tunisian Forces Command) Some battalions interned by the Germans when they arrived in Bizerte. Other elements formed a screen for the assembly of Allied forces in Tunisia and then was part of the Allied command until 31 January 1943. Remaining elements of command were then distributed to other French commands in north Africa. Campaigns: Start of field operations, Enlargement of the front in the direction of the Grand Dorsal, Initial operations in the Grand Dorsal, Enemy counter-offensive in the Grand Dorsal. Subordination: Varied but initially under the DCE/DAE, then under 1st British Army from 24 to 30 November 1942 and finally under the DAF until dissolution.
* (DTC). On 8 November 1942, certain units of this division were mobilized to become the ''Division de marche de Constantine'' (DMC) and the DTC ceased to exist.
* (DTA). Ceased to exist as units were mobilized from 15 to 20 November 1942 to form the ''Division de marche d'Alger'' (DMA).
* (DTO). Battled U.S. 1st Infantry Division during
Operation Torch
Operation Torch (8 November 1942 – Run for Tunis, 16 November 1942) was an Allies of World War II, Allied invasion of French North Africa during the Second World War. Torch was a compromise operation that met the British objective of secu ...
from 8 to 11 November 1942, then provided units for combat in Tunisia from December 1942 which served under various commands until brought together and organized as the ''Division de marche d'Oran'' (DMO) on 1 May 1943.
* . Contributed majority of units used to form the 2nd DIM on 1 May 1943.
* . Elements battled U.S. 9th Infantry Division during Operation Torch from 8 to 11 November 1942, then were formed as Division "A" on 18 November 1942, which became the ''Division de marche du Maroc'' (DMM) on 29 November and renamed again on 5 December as the 1st DMM. Contributed some units to formation of the 2nd DIM on 1 May 1943.
* . Elements battled U.S. 9th Infantry Division during Operation Torch from 8 to 11 November 1942. Contributed units to the formation of the 4th DMM on 1 June 1943.
* . Elements battled U.S. 3rd and 9th Infantry Divisions during Operation Torch from 8 to 11 November 1942. Contributed units to multiple formations but primarily the 4th DMM (1 June 1943) and the 9th DIC (16 July 1943).
Divisions of Free France, the Tunisian Campaign and the Army of Liberation
Free French divisions
These two divisions were
Gaullist
Gaullism (french: link=no, Gaullisme) is a French political stance based on the thought and action of World War II French Resistance leader Charles de Gaulle, who would become the founding President of the Fifth French Republic. De Gaulle with ...
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.
* 1st Free French Division (1st DFL, later became the 1st Motorized Infantry Division and finally the 1 March Infantry Division). Formed in Gambut, Libya, on 1 February 1943 from Free French units that had been fighting alongside British forces since 1940. Campaigns: Eastern Tunisia, Rome-Arno (including the Battle of Monte Cassino), Operations in Provence, Pursuit across the Rhône, Vosges Mountains, Alsace (including the Colmar Pocket) and the Alpine Front. Final command post vicinity
Col de Tende
Col de Tende ( it, Colle di Tenda; elevation 1870 m) is a high mountain pass in the Alps, close to the border between France and Italy, although the highest section of the pass is wholly within France.
It separates the Maritime Alps from the Lig ...
in the Alps; forward elements approaching suburbs of
Torino
Turin ( , Piedmontese: ; it, Torino ) is a city and an important business and cultural centre in Northern Italy. It is the capital city of Piedmont and of the Metropolitan City of Turin, and was the first Italian capital from 1861 to 1865. T ...
at war's end. Division moved to Paris 1 June 1945 and disbanded 15 August 1945. Subordination: Multiple, including British 8th Army, French 1st Army and Detachment of the Army of the Alps.
* 2nd Armoured Division (2nd DB, former 2nd Light Division). Formed in August 1943 from Leclerc's Column after the Allied victory in Tunisia, the 2nd DB was sent to Great Britain and entered France after
D-Day
The Normandy landings were the landing operations and associated airborne operations on Tuesday, 6 June 1944 of the Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord during World War II. Codenamed Operation Neptune and often referred to as D ...
. The division liberated Paris and later forced the Saverne Gap, breaking through German defenses in Lorraine and liberating
Strasbourg
Strasbourg (, , ; german: Straßburg ; gsw, label=Bas Rhin Alsatian, Strossburi , gsw, label=Haut Rhin Alsatian, Strossburig ) is the prefecture and largest city of the Grand Est region of eastern France and the official seat of the Eu ...
. The 2nd DB was stationed in Paris by De Gaulle for a short period after the city's liberation to ensure the nearby presence of loyal troops (De Gaulle was concerned the French communists would challenge his assumption of power) while his government established itself. Campaigns: Normandy, Northern France, Alsace (including the Colmar Pocket), Royan and Bavaria. Final command post at
Bad Reichenhall
Bad Reichenhall ( Central Bavarian: ''Reichahoi'') is a spa town, and administrative center of the Berchtesgadener Land district in Upper Bavaria, Germany. It is located near Salzburg in a basin encircled by the Chiemgau Alps (including Mount Stau ...
; division moved to Paris in late May 1945 and was inactivated on 31 March 1946. Subordination: U.S. 1st, 3rd and 7th Armies, French 1st Army and Detachment of the Army of the Atlantic.
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
The Tunisian campaign (also known as the Battle of Tunisia) was a series of battles that took place in Tunisia during the North African campaign of the Second World War, between Axis and Allied forces from 17 November 1942 to 13 May 1943. Th ...
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.
* Constantine March Division (DMC). Formed 8 November 1942 from Army of Transition units at
Constantine, Algeria
Constantine ( ar, قسنطينة '), also spelled Qacentina or Kasantina, is the capital of Constantine Province in northeastern Algeria. During Roman Empire, Roman times it was called Cirta and was renamed "Constantina" in honor of emperor Const ...
. Campaigns: Battles of Faid, Enemy offensive at Faid, Allied counter-offensive at Faid, Kesra Sector, Battle of the Ousselat Massif. CG Marie Joseph Edmond Welvert killed when his vehicle struck a mine on 10 April 1943. Final command post at
Kesra
Kesra is a town and commune in the Siliana Governorate, Tunisia. As of 2004 it had a population of 2,490. In 2014 this was 2600.
Kesra is in Siliana Governorate near Maktar at 35.8 N and 9.36 e.Kesra, Splender and miserable un village The town ...
, Tunisia. Subordination: DAE until 24 November 1942, XIX Corps from 25 November until 17 January 1943, II U.S. Corps from 18 January until 27 February 1943, after which the division remained under the XIX Corps. Became 3rd DIA on 1 May 1943.
* Algerian March Division (DMA). Formed 14 November 1942 in Algiers. Campaigns: Occupation of the Dorsal, Battle of Fondouk-el-okbi, Battles of Karachoum and l'Ouechtatia, Battle of Ousselatia, Evacuation of the eastern Dorsal, Defense of the western Dorsal, Reoccupation of the eastern Dorsal, Pursuit to the northeast, Final victory. Final command post at Gaâfour, Tunisia. Became 1st DIA on 9 June 1943. Subordination: XIX Corps.
* 1st Moroccan March Division (1st DMM). Formed 5 December 1942 at
Meknes
Meknes ( ar, مكناس, maknās, ; ber, ⴰⵎⴽⵏⴰⵙ, amknas; french: Meknès) is one of the four Imperial cities of Morocco, located in northern central Morocco and the sixth largest city by population in the kingdom. Founded in the 11th c ...
, Morocco from the DMM, with a strength of 8,000 men. Campaigns: Push to the Dorsal, Enemy offensive, Allied counter-offensive, Final victory. Final command post at Zaghouan, Tunisia. Subordination: 18 November - 21 December 1942 under the ''Commandément Supérieur des Troupes du Maroc'' (CSTM), the CSTT from 22 December until 27 January 1943 and the XIX Corps from 28 January until 2 February, then the ''Corps d'Armée Française'' until 20 May 1943. Elements of the division returned to regional command in north Africa by 20 June 1943.
* Oran March Division (DMO). Formed 1 May 1943 in Henchir-ed-deba, Tunisia, from elements of the DTO that had been committed to combat in Tunisia from December 1942 forward. Campaigns: Drive to Sainte Marie du Zit. Final command post at Sainte-Marie du Zit (13 kilometers N of
Zriba
Zriba is a town and commune in the Zaghouan Governorate, Tunisia. As of 2004, it had a population of 9,022.
See also
*List of cities in Tunisia
This is the list of 350 cities and towns in Tunisia. In the list by governorate, capitals are ...
). Division returned to garrison by end of June 1943 and elements were used to form 8th DIA. Subordination: XIX Corps.
* Southeast Algerian Front (''Front Sud-Est Algérien'' or FSEA). Formed 18 February 1943 from the brigade-sized ''Front Est Saharien'', Task Force ''de l'Aurès'' and the remnants of the 3rd REI (''Régiment d'étranger d'infanterie'' - Foreign Legion infantry regiment) at
Batna, Algeria
Batna ( ar, باتنة, Latn, ar, Bātnah) is the main city and commune of Batna Province, Algeria. With a population of 290,645 (2008 census) it is the fifth largest city in Algeria. It is also one of the principal cities of the Chaoui area and ...
. Operated in eastern Algeria and western Tunisia with Allied forces. Final command post at M'Dilla, Tunisia. Subordination: CCFTAN until 1 March 1943, then placed under control of British 18th Army Group. Disbanded on 12 April 1943.
French North African divisions formed after the Tunisian Campaign
* 1st Algerian Division (1st DA). Formed as the 1st DIA on 9 June 1943 and became the 7th DIA on 16 July 1943.
* 1st Colonial Division (1st DC). Envisioned by the Anfa Plan of January 1943 but formed as the 9th DIC on 16 July 1943.
* 1st Moroccan Division (1st DM). Envisioned by the Anfa Plan of January 1943 but formed as the 6th DIM on 16 July 1943.
* 2nd Algerian Division (2nd DA). Envisioned by the Anfa Plan of January 1943 but formed as the 8th DIA on 16 July 1943.
* 2nd Colonial Division (2nd DC). Envisioned by the Anfa Plan of January 1943 but formed as the 2nd DIC on 16 July 1943.
* 2nd Colonial Infantry Division (2nd DIC). Formed 16 July 1943 in Senegal, later sent to Morocco and became the 10th DIC on 24 August.
* 2nd Moroccan Division (2nd DM). Envisioned by the Anfa Plan of January 1943 but formed as the 2nd DIM on 1 May 1943.
* 2nd Moroccan Infantry Division (2nd DIM). Formed 1 May 1943 in
Meknes
Meknes ( ar, مكناس, maknās, ; ber, ⴰⵎⴽⵏⴰⵙ, amknas; french: Meknès) is one of the four Imperial cities of Morocco, located in northern central Morocco and the sixth largest city by population in the kingdom. Founded in the 11th c ...
, Morocco (former Meknes Division). Campaigns: Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno (including the Battle of Monte Cassino), Operations in Provence, Pursuit across the Rhône, Vosges Mountains, Alsace (including the Colmar Pocket), Karlsruhe-Ulm Offensive and Bavaria. Division completed the war in Austria at
Arlberg
Arlberg () is a massif between Vorarlberg and Tyrol in Austria. The highest peak is the Valluga at . The name ''Arlberg'' derives from the tradition of the "Arlenburg", who are said to have once established themselves on the Tyrolean side of the A ...
. Final command post at
Immenstadt
Immenstadt im Allgäu () is a town in Oberallgäu, the southernmost district of Bavaria, Germany, in the German Alps. First mentioned in a 1275 administrative tract, it was granted town privileges in 1360, which makes it one of the oldest towns in ...
; division returned to France in late October 1945 and was stationed in Alsace and Lorraine. Subordination: French Expeditionary Corps; I and II Corps of the 1st Army.
* 3rd Algerian Division (3rd DA). Envisioned by the Anfa Plan of January 1943 but formed as the 3rd DIA on 1 May 1943.
* 3rd Algerian Infantry Division (3rd DIA). Formed 1 May 1943 in
Constantine
Constantine most often refers to:
* Constantine the Great, Roman emperor from 306 to 337, also known as Constantine I
*Constantine, Algeria, a city in Algeria
Constantine may also refer to:
People
* Constantine (name), a masculine given name ...
, constituent units came mainly from those that had served in the DMC prior to its dissolution. Campaigns: Rome-Arno (including the Battle of Monte Cassino), Operations in Provence (including the liberation of Marseille), Pursuit across the Rhône, Vosges Mountains, Alsace (including the Gambsheim Bridgehead and the assault on the Westwall) and the Karlsruhe-Ulm Offensive. Division completed war in Germany; later disbanded to create two infantry task forces in March 1946. Final command post at
Stuttgart
Stuttgart (; Swabian: ; ) is the capital and largest city of the German state of Baden-Württemberg. It is located on the Neckar river in a fertile valley known as the ''Stuttgarter Kessel'' (Stuttgart Cauldron) and lies an hour from the ...
. Subordination: French Expeditionary Corps; I and II Corps of the 1st Army.
* 3rd Moroccan Division (3rd DM). Former Marrakech Division, formed 1 March 1943 and became the 4th DMM on 1 June 1943.
* 4th Moroccan Mountain Division (4th DMM). Formed 1 June 1943 in Casablanca from the former 3rd DM. Campaigns: Corsica, Rome-Arno (including the Battle of Monte Cassino), Operations in Provence, Alpine Front, Alsace (including the Colmar Pocket), Rhine Front and the Black Forest. Division completed war in Austria; division disbanded in France in January 1946. Final command post at
Feldkirch Feldkirch may refer to:
Places
* Feldkirch, Vorarlberg, a medieval city and capital of an administrative district in Austria
** Feldkirch (district), an administrative division of Vorarlberg, Austria
* Feldkirch (Hartheim), a village in the munici ...
. Subordination: French Expeditionary Corps and I Corps.
* 6th Moroccan Infantry Division (6th DIM). Former Casablanca Division, formed 16 July 1943 and disbanded 15 September 1943 due to lack of trained specialists.
* 7th Algerian Infantry Division (7th DIA). Former DMA / 1st DIA, formed 16 July 1943, disbanded 15 August 1944 due to lack of trained specialists. Material transferred to the 1st DFL.
* 8th Algerian Infantry Division (8th DIA). Former DMO, formed 16 July 1943, disbanded 11 January 1944 due to lack of trained specialists.
*
9th Colonial Infantry Division
The 9th Colonial Infantry Division (french: 9e Division d'Infanterie Coloniale, 9e DIC) was a French Army formation which fought in World War II and the War in Vietnam (1945–1946).
History
A 9th Colonial Infantry Division was being formed i ...
(9th DIC). Formed 16 July 1943 in
Mostaganem
Mostaganem ( ber, Mustɣanem; ar, مستغانم) is a port city in and capital of Mostaganem province, in the northwest of Algeria. The city, founded in the 11th century lies on the Gulf of Arzew, Mediterranean Sea and is 72 km ENE of O ...
, Algeria. Campaigns: Elba, Operations in Provence, Pursuit across the Rhône, Belfort Gap, Alsace (including the Colmar Pocket), Rhine Front and the Black Forest. Division completed the war in Germany, returned to France in September 1945 and embarked starting 12 October 1945 from Marseille for French Indochina. Final command post at
Tuttlingen
Tuttlingen (Alemannic: ''Duttlinga'') is a town in Baden-Württemberg, capital of the district Tuttlingen. Nendingen, ''Möhringen'' and ''Eßlingen'' are three former municipalities that belong to Tuttlingen. Tuttlingen is located in Swabia eas ...
. Subordination: XIX, I and II Corps, as well as Army B.
* 10th Colonial Infantry Division (10th DIC). Former 2nd DIC, formed 24 August 1943 and disbanded 15 January 1944 due to lack of trained specialists.
* 1st Armoured Division (1st DB). Created 1 May 1943 in Mascara, Algeria from the ''Brigade légère mécanique''. Campaigns: Operations in Provence, Pursuit across the Rhône, Vosges Mountains, Alsace and Southwestern Germany. Final command post at
Biberach an der Riss Biberach may refer to:
*Biberach an der Riß, a town in Upper Swabia, Germany
*Biberach (district), which has Biberach an der Riß as its capital
*Biberach, Baden, a municipality in the ''Ortenaukreis'', Germany
*Biberach is a part of Roggenburg, B ...
. Division inactivated 31 March 1946. Subordination: II Corps from 15 August to 27 October 1944, shortly thereafter transferred to I Corps.
* . Created 1 September 1943 in Tunisia and subsequently moved to Morocco. Disbanded 31 August 1944, did not see combat. Later recreated in May 1945.
* 5th Armoured Division (5th DB). Created as the 2nd DB on 1 May 1943 in
Rabat
Rabat (, also , ; ar, الرِّبَاط, er-Ribât; ber, ⵕⵕⴱⴰⵟ, ṛṛbaṭ) is the capital city of Morocco and the country's seventh largest city with an urban population of approximately 580,000 (2014) and a metropolitan populati ...
, Morocco; became the 5th DB on 16 July as the more senior unit designation was awarded to LeClerc's division. Division landed in
Marseille
Marseille ( , , ; also spelled in English as Marseilles; oc, Marselha ) is the prefecture of the French department of Bouches-du-Rhône and capital of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Situated in the camargue region of southern Franc ...
from 19 September until 1 October 1944. Campaigns: Vosges Mountains, Alsace and Southwestern Germany. Division normally fought as three separate
combat command
A combat command was a combined-arms military organization of comparable size to a brigade or regiment employed by armored forces of the United States Army from 1942 until 1963. The structure of combat commands was task-organized and so the force ...
s supporting infantry units of the French First Army. Final command post at
Bludenz
Bludenz (; Alemannic: ''Bludaz'') is a town in the westernmost Austrian state of Vorarlberg. It is the administrative seat of the Bludenz District, which encompasses about half of the Vorarlberg's territory.
Geography
The town is located on the ...
, Austria. Division remained in Germany as an occupation unit. Subordination: Mostly under II Corps but also I Corps and U.S. VI and XXI Corps.
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.
* 1st Alpine Infantry Division. Formed by FFI elements in the Alps on 25 August 1944. Campaigns: Alpine Front. Division disbanded in November 1944 and elements used to recreate the 27th Alpine Infantry Division. Subordination: Sector of the Alps.
* 1st Infantry Division. Recreated 1 February 1945 in western and northern France. Subordinated to 1st Army on 24 April 1945 and served in lines-of-communication security role. Campaigns: Karlsruhe-Ulm Offensive. Final command post vicinity
Riedlingen
Riedlingen () is a town in the district (''Kreis'') of Biberach, Baden-Württemberg, in the south-west of Germany. It is one of the destinations of the Upper Swabian Baroque Route. Riedlingen has approximately 10,000 inhabitants.
Geography ...
. Disbanded 30 April 1946. Subordination: II Corps of the 1st Army.
* 3rd Armored Division. Recreated 1 May 1945 in southern France. Campaigns: None. Disbanded 18 April 1946. Subordination: French High Command.
* 3rd Colonial Infantry Division (3rd DIC). Former 1st DCEO, formed August 1945. Fought postwar in
Indochina
Mainland Southeast Asia, also known as the Indochinese Peninsula or Indochina, is the continental portion of Southeast Asia. It lies east of the Indian subcontinent and south of Mainland China and is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the west an ...
with the
CEFEO
The French Far East Expeditionary Corps (french: Corps Expéditionnaire Français en Extrême-Orient, CEFEO) was a colonial expeditionary force of the French Union Army that was initially formed in French Indochina in 1945 during the Pacific W ...
.
* 10th Infantry Division. Recreated 1 October 1944 vicinity Paris. Subordinated to 1st Army 6 January - 9 February 1945 and operated vicinity Vecoux. Thereafter transferred the Atlantic coast. Campaigns: Colmar Pocket and siege of German-held pockets on the Atlantic coast. Division completed the war in western France; disbanded 30 April 1946. Subordination: 1st Army and the Detachment of the Army of the Atlantic.
* 14th Infantry Division. Recreated on 16 February 1945 in Alsace and commenced operations on 20 March 1945 near Buhl. Campaigns: Rhine Front and Black Forest. Division completed war in Germany. Final command post at Donaueschingen; disbanded 30 April 1946. Subordination: I and II Corps of 1st Army.
* . Recreated 6 September 1944 from FFI elements. Campaigns: Besieged German-held ports of Lorient and Quiberon. Division completed war in western France; disbanded 31 January 1946. Subordination: Detachment of the Army of the Atlantic.
* 23rd Infantry Division. Recreated 22 January 1945 from FFI elements. Campaigns: Royan Pocket, Siege of La Rochelle and assault of Ile d'Oleron. Division completed war vicinity La Rochelle; disbanded 30 November 1945. Subordination: Detachment of the Army of the Atlantic.
* . Recreated 1 April 1945 from FFI elements. Campaigns: Saint-Nazaire Pocket. Division completed war vicinity Saint-Nazaire. Subordination: Detachment of the Army of the Atlantic. Division reformed as 25th Airborne Division on 1 February 1946; later restructured as three task forces and disbanded on 8 June 1948.Vernet, p. 86.
*
27th Alpine Infantry Division
The 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade (french: 27 Brigade d'Infanterie de Montagne, 27 BIM) is a mountain infantry formation of the French Army. The brigade is subordinated to the 1st Armored Division and specializes in mountain warfare.
History ...
. Recreated 16 November 1944 from elements of the 1st Alpine Infantry Division. Campaigns: Alpine Front. Final command post vicinity of
Mont Cenis
Mont Cenis ( it, Moncenisio) is a massif (el. 3,612 m / 11,850 ft at Pointe de Ronce) and a pass (el. 2,085 m / 6,840 ft) in Savoie (France), which forms the limit between the Cottian and Graian Alps.
Route
The term "Mont Cenis" cou ...
; disbanded 15 April 1946. Subordination: Sector of the Alps and the Detachment of the Army of the Alps.
* . Recreated 15 February 1945 from liberated manpower in Bordeaux and Toulouse. Campaigns: None, division saw no combat before the war ended. Final command post vicinity French Alps near the coast; disbanded 31 January 1946. Subordination: French High Command.
* 1st Far East Colonial Division (DCEO). Formed 16 November 1944 in southern France and organized along the lines of a U.S. Marine Division. Campaigns: Elements saw combat in the Alps at war's end. Division disbanded and elements contributed to the formation of the 3rd Colonial Infantry Division on 14 August 1945. Division completed war in southern France. Subordination: French High Command.
* 2nd Far East Colonial Division. Formed 1 December 1944 in southern France. Campaigns: None, division was disbanded on 15 June 1945 and elements used to form the 3rd Colonial Infantry Division in August 1945. Division completed war in southern France. Subordination: French High Command.
See also
*
Free French Forces
__NOTOC__
The French Liberation Army (french: Armée française de la Libération or AFL) was the reunified French Army that arose from the merging of the Armée d'Afrique with the prior Free French Forces (french: Forces françaises libres, l ...
*
Order of battle for the Battle of France The order of battle for the Battle of France details the hierarchy of the major combatant forces in the Battle of France in May 1940.
Comparative ranks
Allies
The bulk of the forces of the Allies were French, although the United Kingdom ( B ...
Footnotes
References
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* George Nafziger. ''French Order of Battle World War II''. Pisgah, Ohio: Privately published, 1995.
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* U. S. Army (1946). "History of the Fifteenth United States Army". Engineer Base Plant 248.
* Jacques Vernet. ''Le Réarmament et Réorganisation de l'Armée de Terre Française (1943–1946)''. Château de Vincennes: Service Historique de l'Armée de Terre, 1980.
stonebooks.com unit database *