97th Infantry Division Reconnaissance Group

Last updated
97th Reconnaissance Group of the Infantry Division
97deg GRDI.jpg
97th Reconnaissance Group of the Infantry Division Unit Insignia
ActiveDecember 1, 1939 – September 30, 1940
DisbandedSeptember 30, 1940
CountryFlag of France.svg  France
Branch Logo of the French Army (Armee de Terre).svg French Army
Type Cavalry
Role Reconnaissance
Size630 men total
Part of 7th North African Infantry Division
Engagements World War II
Battle honours Camerone 1863

The 97th Reconnaissance Group of the Infantry Division (French : 97e groupe de reconnaissance de division d'infanterie, 97e GRDI) was a motorized cavalry unit composed of members of the French Foreign Legion which existed briefly at the beginning of the Second World War. [1] The unit was involved in the Battle of France until France's surrender to Germany; the 97th GRDI remained intact for a few months after the surrender until it was disbanded on September 30, 1940.

Contents

History

Originally established as the 180th Reconnaissance Group of the Infantry Division on December 1, 1939, at Sousse, Tunisia as part of the French military mobilization at the beginning of World War II. Formed from elements of the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment and the 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment in addition to elements drawn from the 4th Cavalry Depot of Africa (4e Dépôt de Cavalerie d'Afrique). The 180th GRDI was a part of the 180th North African Infantry Division under the command of General Rochas.

On January 2, 1940, the 97th GRDI was transferred to Pont-du-Fahs in northern Tunisia and the unit was again transferred on February 3, 1940, to Bizerte also in northern Tunisia. On February 3, Lieutenant Colonel Paul Lacombe de La Tour was placed in command of the 97th Reconnaissance Group. On March 21, 1940, the 97th GRDI arrived at Marseilles and by March 24 the unit was transferred to Carcassonne where it was attached to the 16th Cavalry Division.

The 97th GRDI was sent to Camp Valdahon in Doubs on April 23, 1940, but its stay there was interrupted by the German offensive. On May 17, the 97th Reconnaissance Group moved towards Montdidier by rail and quickly thereafter found itself fighting a rear guard delaying action from May 19 to May 25. From June 5 to the 10th, the 97th Reconnaissance Group was engaged in combat as part of the French effort to defend their positions along the rivers Somme and Avre. On June 9, Lieutenant Colonel Paul Lacombe de La Tour was killed in action in the fighting around the woods around Noroy as the 97th GRDI, serving as a rear guard, attacked German panzer forces in an attempt to cover the 7th Division's retreat across the river Oise. In the assault, the 97th lost half of its fighting vehicles within minutes. The 97th then regrouped and charged again, suffering heavy casualties and losing the remainder of its vehicles to German fire.

After de la Tour's death, command of the unit was assumed by Captain de Guiraud, which he held until the French surrender. From June 11, 1940, to June 22, the 97th GRDI, now fighting largely as infantry, participated in continual delaying actions as part of the 7th North African Infantry Division along a path of retreat running from Luzarches to Saint-Jory-de-Chalais. On June 13, the 97th GRDI with the assistance of Moroccan tirailleurs, was able to prevent German forces from crossing the river Seine. On June 22, 1940, the Second Armistice at Compiègne was signed leading to a cessation of hostilities for the French. On September 7 the 97th Reconnaissance Group was repatriated back to Tunisia and by the months end the unit as a whole was disbanded. By the time of its disbandment, only 256 of the original 650 men were alive, the rest having been killed or captured.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">10th Panzer Division (Wehrmacht)</span> German armoured division during World War II

The 10th Panzer Division was an armoured division in the German Army, the Heer, during World War II, established in March 1939.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portuguese Army</span> Land forces of the Armed Forces of Portugal

The Portuguese Army is the land component of the Armed Forces of Portugal and is also its largest branch. It is charged with the defence of Portugal, in co-operation with other branches of the Armed Forces. With its origins going back to the 12th century, it can be considered one of the oldest active armies in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AMC Schneider P 16</span> French half-track armored car

The AMC Schneider P 16, also known as the AMC Citroën-Kégresse Modèle 1929 or the Panhard-Schneider P16, was a half-track that was designed for the French Army before World War II.

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

The 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment is the only cavalry regiment of the Foreign Legion in the French Army. It is one of two armoured cavalry regiments of the 6th Light Armoured Brigade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the French Foreign Legion</span>

The Foreign Legion has had a long and unique history amongst the units of the French Army. It was historically formed of expatriate enlisted personnel led by French officers. Founded by a royal ordinance issued by King Louis Philippe of France on March 9, 1831 with aim of bolstering the strength of the French Army while also finding a use for the influx of refugees inundating France at the time. The Foreign Legion subsequently found a permanent home in the ranks of the French military. The Foreign Legion's history spans across Conquest of Algeria, the Franco-Prussian War, numerous colonial exploits, both World Wars, the First Indochina War, and the Algerian War.

The 19th Army Corps was a corps of the French army. In December 1870, the Tours delegation created the 19th Army Corps which was formed in Alençon. It was recreated by decree of the JO of August 13, 1874, it brought together the various military units of Algeria. It constituted the nucleus of the Army of Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte</span> Military unit

The Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte is a detachment of the Foreign Legion based on the island of Mayotte, near Madagascar. It is the smallest operational unit of the French Army. The main role of the detachment is to maintain a French presence in the region, enabling the French armed forces to quickly react to events in the Indian Ocean and the east coast of Africa.

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

The 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment of the Foreign Legion in the French Army. the regiment was dissolved twice in 1946 and 1962; the regimental colors have been entrusted by the Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte since 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">6th Foreign Infantry Regiment</span> Military unit

The 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment of the Foreign Legion in the French Army from 1939 to 1941 and again from 1949 to 1955.

Paul Lacombe de La Tour was a French army officer who served from 1910 to 1940 through both World War I and World War II. He eventually rose to the rank of lieutenant-colonel and led the 97th Reconnaissance Group of the Infantry Division into combat during the Battle of France. La Tour was killed in action while commanding a rear guard action which was covering the withdrawal of the 7th North African Infantry Division across the Oise River.

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

12th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the French Army which took part in the Napoleonic Wars, World War I and World War II. It fought at the Battle of the Nations in 1813. It was converted to a motorised infantry role at Mourmelon-le-Grand in 1939 a few days before the French declaration of war on Germany and renamed 12th Motorised Infantry Division

The Groupes Franc Motorisé de Cavalerie or GFC was a type of autonomous unit of the French Army created during the Nazi Invasion. Taking inspiration for their name from the Corps Francs which had played an important role in the Phoney War, they were a very early attempt to create truly independent Combined Arms Combat Teams. Although little more than Company sized, they had organic Armored, Artillery, and Infantry elements all rolled into one small and highly mobile force. They were created somewhat out of desperation in response to the rapid German advance into France and operated as independent strike forces with great latitude of movement. Although they were found to be quite effective, their existence died with the Third Republic.

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

The 15th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the French Army originally formed after the end of the Franco-Prussian War that fought in World War I. It fought in World War II as the 15th Motorized Infantry Division, under the command of Alphonse Juin, surrendering during the Battle of France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armistice Army</span> Armed forces of Vichy France

The Armistice Army or Vichy French Army was the armed forces of Vichy France permitted under the terms of the Armistice of 22 June 1940. It was officially disbanded in 1942 after the German invasion of the "Free Zone" which was directly ruled by the Vichy regime.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regiment "Nizza Cavalleria" (1st)</span> Military unit

The Regiment "Nizza Cavalleria" (1st) is a cavalry unit of the Italian Army based in Bellinzago Novarese in Piedmont. The regiment is the reconnaissance unit of the Alpine Brigade "Taurinense".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regiment "Savoia Cavalleria" (3rd)</span> Military unit

The Regiment "Savoia Cavalleria" (3rd) is a cavalry unit of the Italian Army based in Grosseto in Tuscany. The regiment is the reconnaissance unit of the Paratroopers Brigade "Folgore".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regiment "Lancieri di Aosta" (6th)</span> Military unit

The Regiment "Lancieri di Aosta" (6th) is a cavalry unit of the Italian Army based in Palermo in Sicily. The regiment is the reconnaissance unit of the Mechanized Brigade "Aosta".

References

  1. Geraghty, Tony (1986). March or Die. London: Grafton Books. p. 183. ISBN   0-246-11975-6.