Cavalry, mechanized and armoured divisions List of French divisions in World War II

1 cavalry, mechanized , armoured divisions

1.1 light cavalry divisions (dlc, division légère de cavalerie)
1.2 light mechanized divisions (dlm, divisions légères mécaniques)
1.3 armoured divisions (dcr, divisions cuirassées de reserve)

cavalry, mechanized , armoured divisions
light cavalry divisions (dlc, division légère de cavalerie)

laffly truck used motorized forces



amr 35 light tanks

part horse , part motorized; part of cavalry arm in 1940. cavalry divisions (dc) renamed light divisions (dl) in february 1940 , light cavalry divisions (dlc) in march 1940.

they supplied renault amr 33s more 35s , hotchkiss h35s.

1st light cavalry division. active 1st cavalry division @ start of war , mobilized on 22 august 1939 in various towns in france first command post @ marle. division became 1st light division on 10 february 1940 , 1st light cavalry division on 3 march. campaigns: battle of meuse , battle of north. division had large elements captured 19 may. survivors reorganized 4th dlm 10 june. final command post @ rues-des-vignes (vinchy). subordination: 9th army.
2nd light cavalry division. active 2nd cavalry division @ start of war , mobilized on 22 august 1939 in lunéville. division became 2nd light division on 10 february 1940 , 2nd light cavalry division 5 march. campaigns: battle of meuse, meuse front, somme front , battle of somme. division captured on 12 june. final command post @ saint-valery-en-caux. subordination: xxi corps, 10th army, ix corps of 10th army.
3rd light cavalry division. active 3rd cavalry division @ start of war , mobilized on 20 august 1939 in paris , sedan. division became 3rd light division on 10 february 1940 , 3rd light cavalry division 5 march. campaigns: battle of meuse, somme front, battle of somme , retreat of left wing. division disbanded on 11 july 1940. final command post @ le fleix. subordination: 3rd army, 6th army, 7th army, 10th army, ix corps, iii corps.
4th light cavalry division. formed 4th light division on 16 february 1940 @ saint rémy de bouzement. division became 4th light cavalry division on 3 march. campaigns: battle of meuse , retreat of center. division became 7th dlm on 5 june. final command post @ clairefontaine. subordination: 9th army , ii , xi corps of 9th army.
5th light cavalry division. formed 5th light division on 15 february 1940 @ la neuville-au-pont. division became 5th light cavalry division 3 march. campaigns: battle of meuse, aisne , somme front, somme front , battle of somme. bulk of division captured 12 june. final command post @ fontaine-le-dun. subordination: various corps of 2nd , 10th armies.
6th light cavalry division. formed 1 march 1940 in tunisia. elements later part of fsea in tunisian campaign.

light mechanized divisions (dlm, divisions légères mécaniques)

division légère mécaniques part of cavalry arm in 1940. entirely armoured , motorized. supplied renault amr 35s , somua s35s.

1st light mechanized division (former 4th cavalry division). active division @ start of war; alerted on 22 august 1939 in reims. campaigns: combat @ mouths of escaut, battle of north , retreat of left wing. division disbanded 11 july 1940. final command post vicinity saint-aquilin (château de moncey). subordination: 7th army, 9th army, cavalry corps of 1st army.
2nd light mechanized division (former 5th cavalry division). active division @ start of war; alerted 23 august 1939 in melun. campaigns: battle of dyle, battle of north , retreat of left wing. division disbanded on 16 july 1940. final command post @ jumilhac-le-grand. subordination: cavalry corps, ii british corps , x corps of army of paris.
3rd light mechanized division. new division created on 1 february 1940 in paris. campaigns: battle of dyle, battle of north , retreat of left wing. division disbanded on 11 july 1940. final command post @ ribérac. subordination: cavalry corps , iii corps.
4th light mechanized division. formed 10 june 1940 remnants of 1st dlc @ le perray-en-yvelines; division of battle-group strength. campaigns: retreat of center. division disbanded post-armistice. final command post @ la souterraine. subordination: 7th , 6th armies.
7th light mechanized division. formed 5 june 1940 in reduced strength remnants of 4th dlc vicinity limours. campaigns: battle of aisne , retreat of center. division became 7th cavalry brigade in army of vichy france. final command post @ moriat. subordination: 4th army, although under 2nd army , viii corps 17–18 june.

armoured divisions (dcr, divisions cuirassées de reserve)

part of infantry arm in 1940. entirely armoured , motorized, equipped 2 battalions of char b bis , 2 battalions of hotchkiss h39 tanks designed support infantry operations.

1st armoured division. formed 16 january 1940 @ châlons-sur-marne. missing half of motorcycles , artillery caissons on 10 may 1940. division took serious losses 17 may , had reformed 18 may until 1 june. campaigns: battle of meuse, battle of north, battle of somme , retreat of center. division disbanded in july , august 1940. final command post @ le dognon, northeast of limoges. subordination: xi corps of 9th army until 17 may, 6th army 1–25 june.
2nd armoured division. formed 16 january 1940 @ haute moivre. campaigns: battle of meuse, fronts of aisne , somme, somme front, battle of somme , retreat of center. final command post @ saint-pierre cherignat, northeast of limoges. division subsequently disbanded. subordination: corps of 7th army until 29 may , various, including 10th army, vii corps, ix corps, x corps, 51st british infantry division , groupement cuirassée.
3rd armoured division. formed 20 march 1940 @ reims. campaigns: battle of meuse, meuse front, battle of aisne , retreat of center. final command post @ montbard northwest of dijon. division captured 17–18 june. subordination: xxi corps of 2nd army until 23 may, various including 4th army , xviii corps of 2nd army.
4th armoured division. formed 15 may 1940 @ le vésinet; tanks included b1 bis, d2 , r35 s. campaigns: aisne front, somme front, battle of somme, retreat of left wing. initial commander charles de gaulle. final command post @ cussac, southwest of limoges. division disbanded 19 july 1940.




^ sumner, vol. 1, p. 14.
^ guf, vol. 3, pp. 311-321.
^ guf, vol. 3, pp. 324-347.
^ guf, vol. 3, pp. 349-373.
^ guf, vol. 3, pp. 375-380.
^ guf, vol. 3, pp. 381-392.
^ sumner, vol. 1, p. 9.
^ guf, vol. 4, p. 385.
^ guf, vol. 2, pp. 393-412.
^ guf, vol. 2, pp. 413-426.
^ guf, vol. 2, pp. 427-440.
^ guf, vol. 2, pp 441-448.
^ guf, vol. 2, pp. 449-456.
^ guf, vol. 3, pp. 458-475.
^ guf, vol. 3, pp. 477-496.
^ guf, vol. 3, pp. 497-506.
^ guf, vol. 3, pp. 507-524.