Colonial Forces 1940 List of French divisions in World War II

french troops in paris, 1940

division types included moroccan divisions (dm), north african divisions (dina , dlina), african divisions (dia) , colonial divisions (dic).

1st moroccan division. active division @ start of war, mobilized 2 september 1939 in meknes, algeria. transported via rail , sea marseille , reequipped type northeast division 8 november. campaigns: battle of dyle , battle of north. evacuated dunkirk on 1 june , returned france 6 june, remnants of division reorganized , became part of 1st dlina on 12 june. final command post @ almenêches-saint-pierre. subordination: numerous, including colonial corps, iv corps, v corps, cavalry corps , xvi corps.
2nd moroccan division. inactivated 10 september 1939 in morocco.
3rd moroccan division. in morocco during 1940 campaign. elements later assigned fez , casablanca divisions in army of transition. 3rd moroccan division existed between 1 march , 1 june 1943, became 4th dmm in army of liberation.
1st north african infantry division. active division @ start of war, mobilized 23 august 1939 in lyon type northeast division. campaigns: battle of meuse , battle of north. division had numerous elements captured during battle of north , remnants evacuated via dunkirk 28 may 2 june, sent france , merged 1st dlina. subordination: xi corps of 9th army, cavalry corps of 1st army, 1st army.
1st north african light infantry division. formed 9 june 1940 in bernay de l eure remnants of 1st dm , 1st, 2nd, 4th , 5th dina, evacuated dunkirk , shipped france. division weak 4 infantry , 2 artillery battalions. campaigns: retreat of left wing. of division captured 18 june. final command post in forêt des andaines (near quiberon). subordination: xvi corps of 10th army.
2nd north african infantry division. active division @ start of war, mobilized on 22 august 1939 in mangiennes type northeast division. campaigns: battle of dyle , battle of north. division captured in large part @ haubourdin on 28 may. elements shipped out dunkirk , merged 1st dlina. final command post @ malo terminus, near dunkirk. subordination: iii , v corps of 1st army.
3rd north african infantry division. active division @ start of war, division mobilized on 23 august 1939 in beaumont-en-argonne type northeast division. campaigns: battle of meuse, meuse front , retreat of right wing. division captured on 23 june 1940. final command post @ praye. subordination: x corps, xviii corps , colonial army corps, of 2nd army.
4th north african infantry division. active division @ start of war, division mobilized on 23 august 1939 in grostenquin type northeast division. on 10 may 1940, division still missing 20% of personnel , similar percentage of transport. campaigns: battle of meuse , battle of north. division captured on 20 may 1940. north african survivors merged 1st dlina. final command post @ la capelle. subordination: xi corps of 9th army.
5th north african infantry division. formation-a-class reserve division mobilized 2 september 1939 type northeast division in valence; missing 30% of 25-mm antitank guns. campaigns: battle of dyle , battle of north. division captured in large part @ haubourdin on 31 may , 1 june 1940. evading capture evacuated dunkirk england , shipped brest merged 1st dlina. final command post @ malo terminus, near dunkirk. subordination: v corps of 1st army.
6th north african infantry division. new division formed on 1 november 1939 @ chaumont-porcien type northeast division. campaigns: lorraine front, meuse front , retreat of right wing. division captured 23 june 1940. final command post @ ochey. subordination: xviii , xxi corps of 2nd army.
7th north african infantry division. new division formed on 16 march 1940 @ brignais type northeast division. campaigns: somme front, battle of somme , retreat of left wing. division disbanded on 10 july. final command post @ saint-jory-de-chalais. subordination: corps of 7th army.
1st colonial infantry division. active division @ start of war , mobilized on 23 august 1939 in bordeaux type northeast division. campaigns: battle of meuse, meuse front , retreat of right wing. division captured 23 june. final command post @ vaudémont. subordination: xviii, xxi , colonial army corps, of 2nd army.
2nd colonial infantry division. active mountain infantry division @ start of war , mobilized on 22 august 1939 in toulon. stationed in southeastern france , inactivated on 8 june 1940, elements used form 2nd dlic , other elements going 8th dic , xv corps. final command post @ mouans-sartoux. subordination: 6th army, army of alps , xv corps.
2nd colonial light infantry division. new division formed 8 june 1940 elements of 2nd dic; first command post @ noisy-rudignon. in alps, division moved north starting 12 june. campaigns: alpine front , retreat of center. final command post @ flavignac. division inactivated on 11 july 1940. subordination: xv , xxiv corps.
3rd colonial infantry division. a-class reserve division mobilized on 2 september 1939 in paris type northeast division. campaigns: battle of meuse, meuse front , retreat of right wing. remnants of division captured on 22 june 1940. final command post @ marthemont. division later formed again in august 1945. subordination: xviii corps, xxi corps , fortified region of verdun, of 2nd army.
4th colonial infantry division. ?-class reserve division mobilized on 27 august 1939 in toulouse type northeast division. campaigns: somme front, battle of somme, retreat of right wing , retreat of left wing. division gradually destroyed , dispersed 19 june 1940. remnants continued retreat , disbanded on 1 july. final command post near fumel, southeast of bordeaux. subordination: corps of 7th army, x corps of 10th army , xxv corps of army of paris.
5th colonial infantry division. a-class reserve division mobilized on 2 september 1939 in montpellier type northeast division. campaigns: somme front, battle of somme , retreat of left wing. division inactivated in july 1940. final command post @ limogne-en-quercy. subordination: x corps, 10th army, iii corps, xii military region.
6th colonial infantry division. formation-a-class reserve division mobilized on 2 september 1939 in saint-maur sur indre type northeast division. division formed shortages of 25-mm antitank guns. campaigns: meuse front, battle of aisne, retreat of right wing , retreat of center. division remnants taken prisoner on 23 june 1940. final command post @ ochey. subordination: xxi corps, colonial army corps , groupement dubuisson.
7th colonial infantry division. a-class reserve division mobilized on 1 september 1939 in toulouse type northeast division. campaigns: somme front, battle of aisne , retreat of center. final command post @ la coquille. division disbanded on 10 july 1940. subordination: x corps, xxiv corps , corps.
8th colonial infantry division. new division formed 30 april 1940 in mérignac type northeast division. campaigns: alpine front. division converted 8th colonial light infantry division on 6 june. final command post @ grignan. subordination: army of alps.
8th colonial light infantry division. new division formed 6 june 1940 in grignan 8th dic. campaigns: retreat of left wing. final command post @ monbazillac. division disbanded 11 july. subordination: army of paris , x corps.
81st african infantry division. 1940 in tunisia, elements later part of algiers territorial division in army of transition.
82nd african infantry division. category 2 active division @ start of war. mobilized on 2 september 1939 in oran, algeria type overseas division; converted type northeast division in october 1939. upon mobilization, division lacked many of antitank weapons , motor vehicles in poor state of repair. division shipped marseille in latter part of september 1939. campaigns: lorraine front, battle of aisne , retreat of center. division dispersed 15 june 1940. remnants disbanded in south-central france on 25 july. final command post @ courcemain. subordination: xx , xxiii corps.
83rd african infantry division. 1940 in tunisia, elements later part of constantine territorial division in army of transition.
84th african infantry division. active mountain division @ start of war quartered in gabès, tunisia, 84th dia occupied positions in mareth line in tunisia until mid-may 1940. division, 60% shortage of motor vehicles, shipped marseille end of may. campaigns: retreat of left wing. final command post @ monsac. divisional elements shipped north africa , disbanded. subordination: xxv , x corps.
85th african infantry division. formation-a-class reserve mountain division mobilized 2 september 1939 in algiers, algeria. 85th dia occupied covering positions along libyan border until end of may 1940 , shipped marseille 3 june 1940. campaigns: somme front , retreat of left wing. final command post @ cadouin. division disbanded 11 july. subordination: xxv corps.
86th african infantry division. shipped algeria lebanon in 1939-1940. elements later part of lebanon south sector , battled 7th australian division during allied invasion of levant in 1941.
87th african infantry division. formation-a-class reserve division mobilized 2 september 1939 in constantine, algeria. division occupied positions in tunisia , shipped marseille, arriving 8–9 november 1939. campaigns: lorraine front, aisne , ailette front, battle of aisne , retreat of center. final command post @ saint-gervais (haute-vienne), ca. 35 kilometers wsw of limoges. division disbanded 16 july 1940. subordination: xvii corps of 6th army, xxiv , corps, both of 7th army.
88th african infantry division. 1940 in tunisia, 1 regiment of later part of 10th dic.
180th african infantry division. formed in december 1939 part of south tunisian front; 1940 in tunisia.
181st african infantry division. 1940 in algeria, elements later part of algiers territorial division in army of transition.
182nd african infantry division. 1940 in algeria, elements later part of oran territorial division in army of transition.
183rd african infantry division. 1940 in algeria, elements later part of constantine territorial division in army of transition.
191st infantry division. 1940 in levant, elements later part of syria south sector , battled 1st dfl , 5th indian infantry brigade during allied invasion of levant in 1941.
192nd infantry division. 1940 in levant, elements later part of syria south sector , battled 1st dfl , 5th indian infantry brigade during allied invasion of levant in 1941.
tonkin division. 1940 in indochina, elements suffered losses , largely captured japanese in coup d état in french indochina.
cochinchina , cambodia division. 1940 in indochina, elements suffered losses , largely captured japanese in coup d état in french indochina




^ guf, vol. 2, pp. 965-975.
^ sumner, vol. 2, p. 9.
^ sumner, vol. 2, p. 9.
^ gaujac, vol. 1, pp. 66-67.
^ guf, vol. 2, pp. 853-864.
^ guf, vol. 2, pp. 865-870.
^ guf, vol. 2, pp. 871-881.
^ guf, vol. 2, pp. 883-900.
^ guf, vol. 2, pp. 901-912.
^ guf, vol. 2, pp. 913-926.
^ guf, vol. 2, pp. 927-938.
^ guf, vol. 2, pp. 939-964.
^ guf, vol. 3, pp. 7-22.
^ guf, vol. 3, pp. 23-34.
^ guf, vol. 3, pp. 35-42.
^ guf, vol. 3, pp. 43-56.
^ guf, vol. 3, pp. 57-70.
^ guf, vol. 3, pp. 71-84.
^ guf, vol. 3, pp. 85-100.
^ guf, vol. 3, pp. 101-122.
^ guf, vol. 3, pp. 123-128.
^ guf, vol. 3, pp. 129-140.
^ gaujac, vol. 1, pp. 62-63.
^ guf, vol. 3, pp. 141-148.
^ gaujac, vol. 1, pp. 62-63.
^ guf, vol. 3, pp. 149-160.
^ guf, vol. 3, pp. 161-174.
^ gaujac, vol. 1, pp. 19-21.
^ guf, vol. 3, pp. 175-192.
^ sumner, vol. 1, p. 9.
^ 2nd dic page @ stonebooks.com
^ sumner, vol. 1, p. 9.
^ gaujac, vol. 1, pp. 62-63.
^ gaujac, vol. 1, pp. 62-63.
^ gaujac, vol. 1, pp. 62-63.
^ gaujac, vol. 1, pp. 24-26.
^ gaujac, vol. 1, pp. 24-26.