7th North African Infantry Division

Last updated
7th North African Infantry Division
Active 16 March – 25 June 1940
Country Flag of France.svg France
Branch Terre
Type Division
Role Infantry
Engagements

World War II

The 7th Infantry Division North African ( 7 e DINA) was an infantry division of the French Army that participated in the Second World War.

French Army Land warfare branch of Frances military

The French Army, officially the Ground Army to distinguish it from the French Air Force, Armée de l'Air or Air Army, is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces. It is responsible to the Government of France, along with the other four components of the Armed Forces. The current Chief of Staff of the French Army (CEMAT) is General Jean-Pierre Bosser, a direct subordinate of the Chief of the Defence Staff (CEMA). General Bosser is also responsible, in part, to the Ministry of the Armed Forces for organization, preparation, use of forces, as well as planning and programming, equipment and Army future acquisitions. For active service, Army units are placed under the authority of the Chief of the Defence Staff (CEMA), who is responsible to the President of France for planning for, and use, of forces.

Contents

Combat history

The Division formed at Camp Valdahon from March 16 to April 20, 1940, as part of the General Headquarters Reserve. [1] The 97th Reconnaissance Group was a motorized cavalry unit composed of members of the French Foreign Legion. [2] The regiments of Tirailleurs were infantry formed from native North Africans led by French officers.

French Foreign Legion military service branch of the French Army

The French Foreign Legion is a military service branch of the French Army established in 1831. Legionnaires are highly trained infantry soldiers and the Legion is unique in that it was, and continues to be, open to foreign recruits willing to serve in the French Armed Forces. When it was founded, the French Foreign Legion was not unique; other foreign formations existed at the time in France.

At the end of May the division was attached to the 1 Army Corps, 7 Army [3] The 7th Army, itself newly formed, was intended fill a gap on the flank of the long German penetration, and perhaps take advantage of the apparent vulnerability of the panzer divisions, which, so far ahead of their other units might be attacked in the flank and rear. [4] However its forces were assigned from the reserve and other areas that were some distance from the new army sector, and would take some time to arrive. The time lag was compounded by French staffs, who fearing panzer raids where units were unloading, moved retraining points 'absurd distances' from potential jump off points. [4] The 7 na began arriving by train on 20 May, with two battalions alighting at St Just en Chausee, 40 km from Amiens, and other units even further. Its assembly was not complete until four days later, by which time the Panzers along the Somme had been replaced by Motorised Infantry, and the German marching infantry were not far behind. [4]

On 9 June, attempting to cover the retreat of the division, the 97th Reconnaissance Group defended the village of Quesnel, and launched repeated counterattacks against German armour, but in the process lost half their vehicles and suffered serious casualties. By the end of June the unit had lost half of its officers and two thirds of its men. [5]

By 25 June the division had suffered such high losses that it was disbanded. [1]

Commanders

Composition

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References

  1. 1 2 Pettibone, THE Organization and Order of Battle of Militaries in World War II: VOLUME VI ITALY and FRANCE, p 429
  2. Geraghty, Tony (1986). March or Die. London: Grafton Books. p. 183. ISBN   0-246-11975-6.
  3. Grandes Unités Françaises, Vol. I, pp. 69-71
  4. 1 2 3 Chapman, Why France fell, p 190
  5. Lepage, The French Foreign Legion: An Illustrated History, p 143