2nd Colonial Infantry Division (France)

Last updated
2nd Colonial Infantry Division
Prise d'arme pour la remise de decorations a des officiers et soldats de la deuxieme division coloniale, par le general Mazillier, comman... - Boulogne-la-Grasse - Mediatheque de l'architecture et du patrimoine - APD0003225.jpg
Decoration of soldiers of the 2nd Colonial Infantry Division by General Emile-Alexis Mazillier on 22 January 1917.
ActiveBefore 1901 - 1923
July 1927 - June 1940
CountryFlag of France.svg  France
Allegiance France
Branch French Army
Type Infantry Division
Role Infantry
Engagements
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Paul Leblois
Joseph Gaudérique Aymerich

The 2nd Colonial Infantry Division (French : 2e Division d'Infanterie Coloniale, 2e DIC) was a French Army formation which fought in World War I and World War II.

Contents

World War I

At the start of World War I, the division was commanded by General Paul Leblois and composed of: [1]

4e Régiment d'Infanterie Coloniale
8e Régiment d'Infanterie Coloniale
22e Régiment d'infanterie Coloniale
24e Régiment d'infanterie Coloniale

During the entire 1st World War, the Division was part of the French 1st Colonial Corps and fought in many major battles in France.

1927 - 1940

On 1 November 1927, the 2nd Senegalese Colonial Infantry Division was recreated by transformation of the 30th infantry division.
It was stationed in Toulon, and later renamed 2nd Colonial Infantry Division.

During the Battle of France in May 1940 the division was made up of the following units:

The Division was first stationed in the Alps, but later moved to the North, where it fought in the Seine and Loire regions.
The Division was disbanded after the capitulation of the French Army in June 1940.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Troupes de marine</span> Corps of the French Army intended for amphibious and overseas operations

The Troupes de Marine is a corps of the French Army that includes several specialities: infantry, artillery, armoured, airborne, engineering, and transmissions (Signals). Despite its name, it forms part of the Army, not the Navy. Intended for amphibious and overseas operations, the Troupes de marine have been, and still are, in all the fights of the French army. It has gradually become professionalized since 1970.

The 1st Colonial Infantry Division was a French Army formation prior to World War I and during World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Senegalese Tirailleurs</span> Colonial infantry in the French Army

The Senegalese Tirailleurs were a corps of colonial infantry in the French Army. They were initially recruited from Senegal, French West Africa and subsequently throughout Western, Central and Eastern Africa: the main sub-Saharan regions of the French colonial empire. The noun tirailleur, which translates variously as 'skirmisher', 'rifleman', or 'sharpshooter', was a designation given by the French Army to indigenous infantry recruited in the various colonies and overseas possessions of the French Empire during the 19th and 20th centuries.

This is the order of battle for the Japanese invasion of French Indochina during World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Free French Division</span> Military unit of the Free French Forces during World War II

The 1st Free French Division was one of the principal units of the Free French Forces (FFL) during World War II, renowned for having fought the Battle of Bir Hakeim.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3rd Colonial Infantry Division (France)</span>

The 3rd Colonial Infantry Division was a division of the French Marine Forces, comprising mostly French citizen troops.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Régiment d'infanterie-chars de marine</span> Military unit

The Régiment d'infanterie chars de marine RICM in French, is a light cavalry regiment of the French Army, successor to the Régiment d'infanterie coloniale du Maroc RICM.

Jean Marcellin Joseph Calixte Gilles was a French Army general who served in World War II and several colonial conflicts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Marine Infantry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 1st Marine Infantry Regiment is a French regiment heir of the colonial infantry. The regiment is one of the quatre vieux regiments of the Troupes de Marine, with the 2nd Marine Infantry Regiment 2e RIMa, the 3rd Marine Infantry Regiment 3e RIMa, as well the 4th Marine Infantry Regiment 4e RIMa. Along with the 1st Marine Artillery Regiment 1er RAMa and the 2nd Marine Artillery Regiment 2e RAMa, the 1st Marine formed the Blue Division. The 1er RIMa is a light armoured unit, since 1986, alike with the régiment d'infanterie-chars de marine RICM.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">4th Marine Infantry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 4th Marine Infantry Regiment was a French marine regiment of the troupes de marine within the French Army. This regiment was part of the « Quatre Grands » of the Marine Infantry along with the 1st Marine Infantry Regiment 1er RIMa, the 2nd Marine Infantry Regiment 2e RIMa, the 3rd Marine Infantry Regiment 3e RIMa, however was dissolved in 1998. Along with the 1st Marine Artillery Regiment 1er RAMa and 2nd Marine Artillery Regiment 2e RAMa, the 4th Marine formed of the two brigades of the Blue Division. On June 14, 2001, the GSMA of Mayotte, heir to the 4th Marine Infantry Regiment, received the color guard of the regimental colors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2nd Marine Infantry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 2nd Marine Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Troupes de marine in the French Army, the only regiment to bear 16 battle honours inscriptions of the regimental colors. The regiment is one of the "quatre vieux" regiments of the Troupes de marine, with the 1st Marine Infantry Regiment 1er RIMa, the 3rd Marine Infantry Regiment 3e RIMa and the 4th Marine Infantry Regiment 4e RIMa ; also, alongside the 1st Marine Artillery Regiment 1er RAMa as well as the 2nd Marine Artillery Regiment 2e RAMa which formed the Blue Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3rd Marine Infantry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 3rd Marine Infantry Regiment is a unit of the French Army in the French Forces. The 3e RIMa is one of the oldest of the troupes de marine. This regiment is one of the "Quatre Grands" of marine infantry once garrisoned within the four military ports, ready to embark : the « Grand Un », the « Grand Deux », the « Grand Trois » and the « Grand Quatre ». The « Grand Trois » has participated actively to the various far expeditions of the 19th century in Africa, the Americas, Oceania and the Orient. Surnamed also the "3rd Marine", the unit was part of the « Blue Division » which illustrated capability at the Battle of Bazeilles on August 31 and September 1, 1870. The regiment was subordinated to the 9th Marine Infantry Brigade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">21st Marine Infantry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 21st Marine Infantry Regiment is a unit of the French military issued by filiation from the 2e RIC.

The Moroccan Division or the 1st Moroccan Division of 1914, initially the Marching Division of Morocco was an infantry division of France's Army of Africa which participated in World War I.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3rd Algerian Tirailleurs Regiment</span> Infantry Unit

The 3rd Algerian Tirailleurs Regiment was an infantry unit of the Army of Africa in the French Army. Recruited primarily from Algerian Muslims, it was mainly commanded by French officers. The racial boundaries were not absolute, with some French volunteers serving in the ranks and a limited number of Muslims being appointed as officers. After 1913 a selective form of conscription was applied to Algerian Muslims but the majority of Muslim soldiers serving in the 3e R.T.A continued to be voluntarily enlisted.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Army of the Rhine (1870)</span> Military unit

The Army of the Rhine was a French military unit that fought in the Franco-Prussian War. It was created after the declaration of war on July 18 1870.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">15th Military Division (Vichy France)</span> Military unit

The 15th Military Division also known as the 15th Military Region was an infantry formation of division-size of the Armistice Army that was active during World War II. The division's headquarters was in Marseille. This division was subordinated to the 1st Group of Military Divisions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2nd Moroccan Division</span> Military unit

The 2nd Moroccan Division was an infantry division of the French African Army which took part in the First World War in 1918-1919.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">9th Colonial Infantry Division</span> Military unit

The 9th Colonial Infantry Division was a French Army formation which fought in World War II.

17th Colonial Infantry Division was an infantry division of the French Army during the First World War. It was deployed overseas, seeing action during the Gallipoli campaign, and thereafter on the Salonika front, fighting alongside British troops in both theatres of war. It was sent to the Crimea in December 1918 as part of the Army of the Danube.

References