The 3rd Algerian Infantry Division (french: 3
e Division d'Infanterie Algérienne, 3
e DIA) was an infantry division of the
Army of Africa (french: Armée d'Afrique) which participated in
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
.
Following the liberation of French North Africa, the division fought in Tunisia, Italy, metropolitan France and in Germany. As part of the French Expeditionary Corps (french:
corps expéditionnaire français) led by the Marshal
Alphonse Juin
Alphonse Pierre Juin (16 December 1888 – 27 January 1967) was a senior French Army general who became Marshal of France. A graduate of the École Spéciale Militaire class of 1912, he served in Morocco in 1914 in command of native troops. Upon ...
by
landing in Provence, liberating
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 ...
and
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 Fra ...
, fighting in the Vosges during the difficult battles for the liberation of Basse-sur-le-Rupt and Cornimont, and in Alsace as part of the
French 1st Army under General
Jean de Lattre de Tassigny.
Creation and composition
* November 1942 to April 1943: Marching Division of
Constantine (french: division de marche de Constantine).
* April 15, 1943: the 3rd Algerian Infantry Division was established by General of the French Army
Henri Giraud
Henri Honoré Giraud (18 January 1879 – 11 March 1949) was a French general and a leader of the Free French Forces during the Second World War until he was forced to retire in 1944.
Born to an Alsatian family in Paris, Giraud graduated from ...
under the orders of General Monsabert, with two infantry regiments with red fourragere, the 7
e RTA and 4
e RTT, one regiment with yellow fourragere, the 3
e RTA and 67
e RAA, similarly with yellow fourragere, 3 regimental colors decorated with the Légion d'honneur (3
e RTA, 4
e RTT and 7
e RTA).
* April 15, 1946: the division was disbanded.
It was considered by General
Joseph de Goislard de Monsabert and Marshal
Alphonse Juin
Alphonse Pierre Juin (16 December 1888 – 27 January 1967) was a senior French Army general who became Marshal of France. A graduate of the École Spéciale Militaire class of 1912, he served in Morocco in 1914 in command of native troops. Upon ...
to be a successor of the
Roman Legion
The Roman legion ( la, legiō, ) was the largest military unit of the Roman army, composed of 5,200 infantry and 300 equites (cavalry) in the period of the Roman Republic (509 BC–27 BC) and of 5,600 infantry and 200 auxilia in the period o ...
of North Africa
Legio III Augusta. The 3
e DIA was also referred to as the ''Division of the Three
Crescents
A crescent shape (, ) is a symbol or emblem used to represent the lunar phase in the first quarter (the "sickle moon"), or by extension a symbol representing the Moon itself.
In Hinduism, Lord Shiva is often shown wearing a crescent moon on his ...
'' (french: Division des Trois Croissants) representing the 3
Tirailleur
A tirailleur (), in the Napoleonic era, was a type of light infantry trained to skirmish ahead of the main columns. Later, the term "''tirailleur''" was used by the French Army as a designation for indigenous infantry recruited in the French ...
s Regiments:
*
3rd Algerian Tirailleurs Regiment
Third or 3rd may refer to:
Numbers
* 3rd, the ordinal form of the cardinal number 3
* , a fraction of one third
* 1⁄60 of a ''second'', or 1⁄3600 of a ''minute''
Places
* 3rd Street (disambiguation)
* Third Avenue (disambiguation)
* Hig ...
(french: 3
e Régiment de Tirailleurs Algériens, 3
e RTA)
*
4th Tunisian Tirailleurs Regiment
The 4th Tunisian Tirailleurs Regiment (french: 4e Régiment de Tirailleurs Tunisiens, 4e RTT ) was an infantry regiment of the Army of Africa (France), Army of Africa, part of the French Army.
Active between 1884 and 1956, the regiment was one ...
(french: 4
e Régiment de Tirailleurs Tunisiens, 4
e RTT)
*
7th Algerian Tirailleurs Regiment
The 7th Algerian Tirailleurs Regiment was an infantry unit of the French Army, part of the Army of Africa.
Active between 1913 and 1946, the unit is one of the most decorated of the French Army. The regiment distinguished itself in World War ...
(french: 7
e Régiment de Tirailleurs Algériens, 7
e RTA)
The 3
e DIA was awarded four citations at the orders of the armed forces between 1943 and 1945, along with the
1st Free French Division (1
re DFL), which also received four citations. The 3
e DIA was considered the most decorated division of the Second World War, with all forming regiments having been awarded a French Fourragere.
The
3rd Armored Division is the modern successor of the 3rd Algerian Infantry Division. The 3rd Division was recreated in 2016 with the cadre of the reorganization of the
French Army
The French Army, officially known as the Land Army (french: Armée de Terre, ), is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces. It is responsible to the Government of France, along with the other components of the Armed Force ...
.
Insignia & motto
The division insignia represents a winged statuette of the "Victory of
Cirta" (french: une statuette ailée, la "Victoire de
Cirta"), discovered in 1855 in
Constantine (old Cirta in the province of
Numidia), and is the representation of the
Roman Goddess protector of the
emperors and venerated by the
Roman army
The Roman army (Latin: ) was the armed forces deployed by the Romans throughout the duration of Ancient Rome, from the Roman Kingdom (c. 500 BC) to the Roman Republic (500–31 BC) and the Roman Empire (31 BC–395 AD), and its medieval contin ...
.
The motto is "''It crescendo,"'' "It has grown."
World War II
Tunisian campaign (1942-1943)
The 3rd Algerian Infantry Division has its origins in the Marching Division of Constantine of General Welvert.
Italian campaign
Created on May 1, 1943, in
Constantine, Algeria and placed under orders of General
Goislard de Monsabert, the 3
e DIA disembarked in Italy in December 1943.
As part of the
French Expeditionary Corps, commanded by the future Marshal
Juin, the 3
e DIA captured Monte du Belvédère on January 25. While attracting the German forces attention, the division contributed to the success of the landing at Anzio, and for the American advance on the heights of Cassino. As a result of this battle, the 4
e RTT suffered the loss of half of its strength.
In May 1944, the division made way to
Monte-Cassino where Allied forces had already been engaged for several months and participated in breaking through the Gustav line by advancing into the mountains from the Garigliano River.
French & German campaign (1944-1945)
On August 15, 1944, the 3
e DIA
disembarked in Provence, at Cogolin in the Var, liberated
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 ...
and
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 Fra ...
, then made its way to the valley of the Rhône.
In September–October 1944, the division arrived in the Vosges region. On October 3, 1944, under the orders of
Général Guillaume, the division mounted the assault between Moselle and Moselotte, advanced through Moselotte, the villages of Beaumont, Saulxures, and into the northern highlands. The division, then progressed towards Cornimont, turning back on October 15 at Tête des Cerfs, at the Piquante Pierre, at Rondfaing, at Chapechatte, all German counter-attacks. In 20 days, the 3
e DIA advanced more than 15 km while clearing the sectors of Belfort and Gérardmer.
Beginning of November 1944, the division was engaged in Le Haut du Tôt, Forge and Rochesson to cover the American U.S. Corps. Countering assaults, the division apprehended le Tholy, Château-Lambert, cols de Bussang, Col de Bramont and Col d'Oderen.
In December 1944, the division mounted the first assaults on Colmar, clearing the Col du Bonhomme, capturing Orbey and the highlands of Worhof which remained the capital of the Haut-Rhin, accordingly preparing the departure base, from which the French military liberated Alsace.
Beginning January 1945, the division was called to defend Strasbourg and pushed back one the final assaults on Kilstett.
On March 15, 1945, the division pierced through Oberhoffen-sur-Moder and captured Lauterborn. The division then crossed the Lauter and advanced into Germany. On March 31, 1945, at the head of the 1st Army, the division crossed the Rhine in the region of Spire. Reinforced by
Moroccan Goumiers, the division overcame German resistance at Heuchelberg and Stromberg.
On April 16, the division led at Enz in the north, infiltrating by Nagold in the south and encircled Pforzheim.
The campaigns of Alsace and Germany ended with the 3
e DIA in Stuttgart.
On May 1, the division paraded in front of Général
de Lattre de Tassigny.
When it was dissolved on April 15, 1946, the division was awarded four citations for outstanding performance.
Composition
Disembarked in Italy in December 1943, the division had a strength of 16,840 men out of which 60% were Maghrebis and 40% Europeans.
Infantry
*
3rd Algerian Tirailleurs Regiment
Third or 3rd may refer to:
Numbers
* 3rd, the ordinal form of the cardinal number 3
* , a fraction of one third
* 1⁄60 of a ''second'', or 1⁄3600 of a ''minute''
Places
* 3rd Street (disambiguation)
* Third Avenue (disambiguation)
* Hig ...
(french: 3
e Régiment de Tirailleurs Algériens, 3
e RTA) - Colonel
de Linares, then Agostini and de la Boisse
*
4th Tunisian Tirailleurs Regiment
The 4th Tunisian Tirailleurs Regiment (french: 4e Régiment de Tirailleurs Tunisiens, 4e RTT ) was an infantry regiment of the Army of Africa (France), Army of Africa, part of the French Army.
Active between 1884 and 1956, the regiment was one ...
(french: 4
e Régiment de Tirailleurs Tunisiens, 4
e RTT) - Colonel Roux then Guillebaud
*
7th Algerian Tirailleurs Regiment
The 7th Algerian Tirailleurs Regiment was an infantry unit of the French Army, part of the Army of Africa.
Active between 1913 and 1946, the unit is one of the most decorated of the French Army. The regiment distinguished itself in World War ...
(french: 7
e Régiment de Tirailleurs Algériens, 7
e RTA) - Colonel Chapuis, replaced in March 1945 by the
49th Infantry Regiment
A North African
Tirailleur
A tirailleur (), in the Napoleonic era, was a type of light infantry trained to skirmish ahead of the main columns. Later, the term "''tirailleur''" was used by the French Army as a designation for indigenous infantry recruited in the French ...
regiment was composed of over 3,000 men (including 500 officers and sous-officers) and 200 vehicles. The proportion of troops that were Maghrebis reached 69% for the regiment, 74% for the battalion, 79% for the company fusiliers-voltigeurs, 52% for the anti-tank company and 36% for the infantry cannon company.
Armoured
* 3rd Algerian Spahi Regiment (french:
3e Régiment de Spahis Algériens de Reconnaissance, 3
e RSAR) - colonel Bonjour
* 7th African Chasseur Regiment (french:
7e Régiment de Chasseurs d'Afrique, 7
e RCA): - colonel
Van Hecke.
The two regiments were composed of 900 to 1,000 men with 15% Maghrebis and 85% Europeans.
Artillery
* 67th African Artillery Regiment (french:
67e Régiment d'Artillerie d'Afrique, 67
e RAA)
* 37
e group de FTA (french: forces terrestres antiaériennes).
One
artillery
Artillery is a class of heavy military ranged weapons that launch munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during siege ...
regiment was composed of more than 2,000 men out of which 40% are Marghrebis.
Other units
* 83rd Engineer Battalion
* 3rd Medical Battalion
* 3rd Divisionary Repair Company (3
e CRD)
* Mixed Signals Company 83/84
Decorations
The division was cited 4 times on the orders of the armed forces during the Second World War with its regiments awarded the
fourragere with at least 2 citations.
[''Livre d'Or de la 3e Division d'Infanterie Algérienne'', Imprimerie Nationale, 1948]
* Fourragere with olive colors of the
médaille militaire
The ''Médaille militaire'' ( en, Military Medal) is a military decoration of the French Republic for other ranks for meritorious service and acts of bravery in action against an enemy force. It is the third highest award of the French Republic, ...
and
Croix de Guerre 1939-1945 (4-5 citations at the orders of the armed forces)
**
3rd Algerian Tirailleurs Regiment
Third or 3rd may refer to:
Numbers
* 3rd, the ordinal form of the cardinal number 3
* , a fraction of one third
* 1⁄60 of a ''second'', or 1⁄3600 of a ''minute''
Places
* 3rd Street (disambiguation)
* Third Avenue (disambiguation)
* Hig ...
(4 citations)
**
4th Tunisian Tirailleurs Regiment
The 4th Tunisian Tirailleurs Regiment (french: 4e Régiment de Tirailleurs Tunisiens, 4e RTT ) was an infantry regiment of the Army of Africa (France), Army of Africa, part of the French Army.
Active between 1884 and 1956, the regiment was one ...
(4 citations)
* Fourragere with olive colors of the Croix de Guerre 1939-1945 (2-4 citations)
**
7th Algerian Tirailleurs Regiment
The 7th Algerian Tirailleurs Regiment was an infantry unit of the French Army, part of the Army of Africa.
Active between 1913 and 1946, the unit is one of the most decorated of the French Army. The regiment distinguished itself in World War ...
(3 citations)
** 7th African Chasseur Regiment (3 citations)
** 3rd Algerian Spahi Reconnaissance Regiment (3 citations)
** 67th African Artillery Regiment (2 citations)
** 83 Engineer Battalion (2 citations)
Division Commanders
* November 1942 - April 1943: Général Marie-Joseph-Edmond Welvert, killed in action April 10, 1943.
* May 1943 - September 1944:
Général Joseph de Goislard de Monsabert
* September 1944 - October 1945:
Général Augustin Guillaume
Division Combat Casualties
During
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
, the total losses («
Morts pour la France ») suffered by the 3
e DIA between November 1942 and May 1945 were 3,078 men (2097 Marghrebis and 981 Europeans), almost 20% of the division. These do not include the 123 Frenchmen killed belonging to the
FFI of the Franc Corps Pommiès/49th Infantry Regiment attached temporarily to the division between the end of November 1944 and May 1945:
See also
*
Moroccan Division
*
Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion
The Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion (RMLE) (french: link=no, Régiment de marche de la Légion étrangère) was a French military unit that fought in World War I and World War II. Initially composed of marching regiments from the 1st Fo ...
*
French Expeditionary Corps (1943–1944)
*
Days of Glory—a fictional film about the 7th Algerian Regiment
Footnotes
Article Sources
* De Lattre de Tassigny, ''Histoire de la première armée française'', Plon, 1949
*''
Grandes Unités Françaises
Grandes Unités Françaises (full title: ''Guerre 1939-1945 Les Grandes Unités Françaises'') is a monumental six-volume (the fifth volume is actually composed of four separate works) World War II order of battle and military unit history referenc ...
'', Volumes IV and V-1, French Army Historical Service, Paris: Imprimerie Nationale, 1970 and 1972.
*''Le Réarmement et la Réorganisation de l'Armée de Terre Française (1943 - 1946)'', J. Vernet, French Army Historical Service, Château de Vincennes, 1980.
* Anthony Clayton, ''France, Soldiers, and Africa'', Brassey's Defence Publishers, 1988
* ''Livre d'or de la 3e Division d'Infanterie Algérienne'', Imprimerie Nationale, 1948
* Capitaine Heurgon, ''La victoire sous le signe des trois croissants la vie, les peines et les gloires de la troisième division d'infanterie algerienne'', P. Vrillon, 1946
* Paul Gaujac, ''Le Corps expéditionnaire français en Italie'', Histoire et collections, 2003
*
Alphonse Juin
Alphonse Pierre Juin (16 December 1888 – 27 January 1967) was a senior French Army general who became Marshal of France. A graduate of the École Spéciale Militaire class of 1912, he served in Morocco in 1914 in command of native troops. Upon ...
, Mémoires, Fayard, 1959
External links
Monte Cassino - the Battle of Belvedere
{{Liberation of France
Infantry divisions of France
Algerian Infantry Division, 3rd