365 Char B1 were built until the surrender.Armour: In May 1940 France had over 3,000 tanks, and in terms of numbers, quality and firepower they were generally superior to those employed by the Germans. The Commandement des forces terrestres (CFT) - Land Forces Command has operational command of the army's combat forces and is headquartered in Lille. month . But the development of the fascist corporate state in the 1920s saw a revival of the influence of the Army. Organization: In May 1940, the French Army on the north-east front, which stretched from Switzerland to the North Sea, was divided into the 1st and 2nd Army Groups and the 7th Army. The Air Force had suffered considerable neglect between the wars, and its performance in 1940, with machines which were in general much inferior to those of the enemy, was not impressive. 180 talking about this. (c) FAR was formed in 1984 as a corps-sized formation formed from the French Army’s most mobile formations, many of them seaborne, airborne or air-mobile. The basic French infantry division had provided a model for those of many other countries, and consisted of a divisional headquarters, three infantry regiments, two artillery regiments, and a reconnaissance group of 4 squadrons: headquarters, motor-cycle, horse and weapons. 2017/02/03 - Strength and organization of Free French Army 1941-1944. French tank platoons were normally organised into platoons of three – apart from the R-35 and H-35 – which were used in fives. Later, I have learned programming and the development of computer games, and finally with the Internet, also web design. The French Army, officially the Ground Army (French: Armée de Terre [aʀme də tɛʀ], lit. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. There were 39 tank battalions in 1940 and for tactical purposes they were twinned to form tank battalion groups. The 3rd Division carries the traditions of the 3rd Algerian Infantry Division. Rifle Company (June 1965 — 1966) Army Special Forces Learn how your comment data is processed. Required fields are marked *. Once knocked off-balance France never recovered and despite brave and sometimes effective counter-attacks, German tactics, troop training, morale and much military equipment proved decisively superior. The Frencharmy's historical branch still … In the fall of 1943 the Air Force Field divisions were absorbed by the Army. For the most part the army was composed of poorly trained conscripts, as odds would have it, there was a better than 50% chance that he was a reservist recalled to the colors. Thus, the … Re enactment group portraying the French Military from end of WW2 to the present At the outbreak of war only five battalions had received the latest tanks (the Somua S-35 and Char B-1 models) while the rest still retained a variety of modern and semi-obsolete types. Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. World War II Armed Forces Orders of Battle and Organizations - All dates on this site are given thus: day . Strength and organization of the Army, Air Force and Navy of Denmark in April 1940 and their fate during the Second World War. The organization of this type of division varied, but it is believed that the basic pattern was originally a two-regiment, three-battalion division, with normal supporting units and an additional antiaircraft battalion. Total French front line strength on 10 May 1940 was 1,604 aircraft (764 fighters, 260 bombers, 180 reconnaissance planes, 400 liaison aircraft). After a campaign lasting less than two months France was forced to sue for peace and an armistice was signed on 22 June 1940. The cavalry divisions (DC) were renamed light divisions (DL) in February 1940 and then light cavalry divisions (DLC) in March 1940. Armored fighting vehicles were also to be found in the cavalry divisions undergoing mechanization, in five light cavalry divisions which were also still not completely mechanized, and in the reconnaissance groups. On 30 June 1939 the Regular Army numbered 187,893 officers and enlisted men, including Philippine Scouts, and including 22,387 in the Army Air Corps. The French Char B1 Bis was one of the most numerous French tanks, and tended to be fielded in platoons of 3; Whereas the smaller R35 was fielded in fives; Japanese Armoured Platoons The backbone of the French Army was the infantry which, apart from increased firepower, was in organization and training, very similar to that of World War I, and still relied on horse transport to a great extent. Total casualties amounted to 290,000 men killed or wounded and 1,900,000 taken prisoners. Regimental Tank Company (April 1948 — May 1952) Army Air Assault Division Airmobile Infantry Battalion. The 4th Air-Combat Brigade contains all the operational helicopter regiments of the army and is headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand. Moreover there is a lot of difference between theory and what you see in the battlefield. An active division at the start of the war, mobilized 2 September 1939 in Meknes, Algeria. While a full orbat for 10 may 1940 shouldn't be too difficult to puttogether, it's not quite as straightforward as it first seems. Introduction The US Army of World War II was created from a tiny antebellum army in the space of just three years. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. In rearming the French, the War Department and the U.S. Army became agents of an Allied policy which not enabled this country to further a friendship for France that dated from the Revolution, but in addition served the military interests of both nations. The general reserve comprised a further 17 infantry, 2 motorized and 3 armored divisions. The Foreign Legion Command manages French Foreign Legion-related issues (recruitment, traditions, employment, training, security) and is headquartered in Aubagne. Basically from the bottom to the top: 2 fireteams per combat group: the 300m team and the 600m team (the numbers describe the engagement distance) Only the observation tower is visible ! All information, figures, specifications and statistics used here had been compiled from a variety of sources and the large, over decades collected, library of the author about military history, WW2 and weapons. They included regiments of the French Foreign Legion, Zouaves, and Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian tirailleurs (light infantry). Strength, organization, equipment and divisions of the French Army and aircraft of the l’Army de l’Air in September 1939. They appear as a faction in Call of Duty 2: Big Red One , Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Call of Duty: WWII. Your email address will not be published. Organization chart of the French intelligence community DGSE: Directorate-General for External Security – Direction générale de la sécurité extérieure . This question arises a fair bit with readers of WorldWar2Facts.org, so we have compiled a table to help explain what the unit or group names mean, what units made up larger WW2 army units, the rough size of the unit, and what rank of officer or NCO was normally in charge. The Maginot Line was constructed from the Swiss border to Longwy from 1929 onward for 2.9 Billion Francs. There was one redeeming feature in this massive defeat: the performance of the French forces on the Italian border, where 185,000 men (in three divisions and various garrison forces) under General Olry completely halted the Italian attack of 20-25 June at a cost of 37 killed, 42 wounded and 150 missing (Italian losses 4,000 men). Headquarters Rapid Reaction Corps - France, Information and Communication Systems Command, Training and Interarms Combat Schools Command, 1st Marine Infantry Paratroopers Regiment, Headquarters Rapid Reaction Corps – France, État-major spécialisé pour l’outre-mer et l’étranger, Ecole Nationale des Sous-officiers d'active, "French forces to get new batch of Jaguar, Griffon armored vehicles", http://www.defense.gouv.fr/terre/presentation/organisation-des-forces/infanterie/bataillon-de-reserve-ile-de-france-24-r.i, 33rd Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS Charlemagne (1st French), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Structure_of_the_French_Army&oldid=1000495810, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Centre de doctrine et d'enseignement au commandement (CDEC) - Doctrine and Leadership teaching Centre, in, Section technique de l'Armée de terre (STAT) - Army Technical Section, in, Groupement aéromobilité de la section technique de l'Armée de terre (GAMSTAT) - Army Technical Section Airmobile Group, in, Corps de réaction rapide européen (CRR-E) - French Element European Rapid Reaction Corps (, Détachement avions de l'Armée de terre (DAAT) - Army Planes Detachment, in, École de l'Aviation légère de l’Armée de terre (EALAT) - Army Light Aviation School, in, École franco-allemande de formation des équipages Tigre (EFA Tigre) - Franco-German, Centre de formation inter-armées NH90 (CFIA NH90) -, Centre de formation franco-allemand pour le personnel technico-logistique Tigre (CFA PTL), Franco-German Tiger Logistic Formation Centre in, Compagnie de Commandement et de Transmissions des Forces Spéciales (CCTFS) - Special Forces Command and Signals Company, in Pau, Groupement d'Appui aux Opérations Spéciales (GAOS) - Special Operations Support Group, in Pau, Académie des Forces Spéciales (Académie FS) - Special Forces Academy, in Pau, Détachement du Service Militaire Volontaire (DSMV) - Voluntary Military Service Detachment, in, Détachement du Service Militaire Adapté (DSMA) - Adapted Military Service Detachment, in, Régiment du Service Militaire Adapté de la Martinique (RSMA-M) - Martinique Adapted Military Service Regiment, in, Régiment du Service Militaire Adapté de la Guadeloupe (RSMA-Ga) - Guadeloupe Adapted Military Service Regiment, in, Régiment du Service Militaire Adapté de Guyane (RSMA-Gy) - Guiana Adapted Military Service Regiment, in, Régiment du Service Militaire Adapté de La Réunion (RSMA-R) - Réunion Adapted Military Service Regiment, in, Régiment du Service Militaire Adapté de Nouvelle-Calédonie (RSMA-NC) - New Caledonia Adapted Military Service Regiment, in, Régiment du Service Militaire Adapté de Polynésie française (RSMA-PF) - French Polynesia Adapted Military Service Regiment, in, Bataillon du Service Militaire Adapté de Mayotte (BSMA-Mayotte) - Mayotte Adapted Military Service Battalion, in, Unité d'Instruction et d'Intervention de la, Unité d'Instruction et d'Intervention de la Sécurité Civile no 5 (UIISC 5) - 5th Civil Security Instruction and Intervention Unit (Firefighting unit), in, Unité d'Instruction et d'Intervention de la Sécurité Civile no 7 (UIISC 7) - 7th Civil Security Instruction and Intervention Unit (Firefighting unit), in, Délégation aux Réserves de l'Armée de Terre (DRAT) - Army Reserves Delegation, in Paris, Groupement du recrutement de la Légion étrangère (GRLE) -, Quartier Général du Corps de Réaction Rapide-France (QG CRR-FR) -, Centre de Formation Initiale des Militaires du rang 7, Régiment d'Infanterie-Chars de Marine (RICM) -, Centre de Formation Initiale des Militaires du rang 9, Centre de Formation Initiale des Militaires du rang 27, École militaire de haute montagne (EMHM) - High Mountain Military School, in, Groupement d'Aguerrissement en Montagne (GAM) - Mountain Acclimatization Grouping, in, Centre d'Instruction et d'Entraînement au Combat en Montagne (CIECM) - Mountain Combat Instruction and Training Center, in, Centre National d'Aguerrissement en Montagne (CNAM) - National Mountain Acclimatization Center, in, Bataillon de Commandement et de Soutien (BCS) - Command and Support Battalion, in Müllheim (Germany), Centre de Formation Initiale des Militaires du rang de la 2, Centre de Formation Initiale des Militaires du rang 6, École des Troupes Aéroportées (ETAP) - Airborne Troops School, in Pau, Centre de Formation Initiale des Militaires du rang 11, Centre Interarmées des Actions sur l’Environnement (CIAE) - Interarms Environmental Action Center (PSYOPS), in, Centre d'Enseignement et d'Entraînement du renseignement de l'Armée de Terre (CEERAT) - Army Intelligence Teaching and Training Center, in, Centre du Renseignement Terre (CRT) - Army Intelligence Center, in Strasbourg, Centre de Formation Initiale des Militaires du rang du renseignement / 151, École des transmissions (ETRS) - Signal School, in Cesson-Sévigné, Centre de Formation Initiale des Militaires du rang des transmissions / 18, Poste de Commandement de Force Logistique (PCFL) - Logistic Force Command Post, in Montlhéry, Régiment Médical (RMED) - Medical Regiment, in, Centre des Transports et Transits de Surface (CTTS) - Surface Transport and Transit Center, in, École du Train et de la Logistique Opérationnelle (ETLO) - Supply and Operational Logistic School, in, Centre de Formation Initiale des Militaires du rang de la logistique / 135, École de l'Infanterie (EI) - Infantry School, in, École du Génie (EG) - Engineering School, in, École de l'Artillerie (EA) - Artillery School, in Draguignan, École de cavalerie (EC) - Cavalry School, in Saumur, Centre Interarmées de la Défense NRBC (CIA NRBC) - Interarms, Centre National d'Entraînement Commando / 1, Centre d'Entraînement des Postes de Commandement / 3, Centre d'Entraînement Interarmes et du Soutien Logistique / 51, Centre d'Entraînement aux actions en Zone Urbaine / 94, Centre d'Entraînement de l'Infanterie au tir opérationnel (CEITO) - Infantry Operational Fire Training Center in, Régiment d'Infanterie de Marine du Pacifique - Nouvelle-Calédonie (RIMAP-NC) - Pacific Marine Infantry Regiment - New Caledonia, in, Régiment d'Infanterie de Marine du Pacifique - Polynésie (RIMAP-P) - Pacific Marine Infantry Regiment - Polynesia, in, Détachement de Légion Étrangère de Mayotte (DLEM) - Mayotte Foreign Legion Detachment, in, Direction Centrale de la Structure Intégrée du Maintien en condition opérationnelle des Matériels Terrestres (DC SIMMT) - Central Directorate of the Integrated Structure for the Maintenance of Terrestrial Materiel in Operational Condition, in, École du Matériel (ECOMAT) - Maintenance School, in, Centre de Formation Initiale des Militaires du rang du matériel / 1, Écoles militaires de Saint-Cyr Coëtquidan -, École d'Administration Militaire (EAM) - Military Administration School, in Coëtquidan, Lycées de la Défense - Terre - Army High-schools, Centre Expert Ressources Humaines et Solde - Human Resources and Salary Center, in, Groupement de Recrutement et de Sélection Île-de-France / 8, Groupement de Recrutement et de Sélection Nord-Est / 8th Régiment d'Artillerie (GRS NE - 8, Groupement de Recrutement et de Sélection Nord-Ouest / 41, Groupement de Recrutement et de Sélection Sud-Est / 99, Groupement de Recrutement et de Sélection Sud-Ouest / 7, This page was last edited on 15 January 2021, at 09:32. My name is Norman 'Kretaner' and since my childhood I am interested in history and strategy games. 123 (30 were regular, 9 motorized, 13 fortress, 12 North African, 9 colonial divisions), 3 + 5 cavalry divisions in process of motorisation, 1 battalion motorised rifles (c. 1,000 men), 180 - 240 (90-120 heavy Char B1, 90-120 light Hotchkiss H-39). The main infantry weapons carried by a standard French infantry company was 1935A pistols, Lebel 07/15 rifles and M27/29 light machine guns. Your email address will not be published. French Army In 1940 the French army was the second largest in the world, it had around 900,000 men and could call on an another 5,000,000 reserves. They were mostly peasant farmers with limited literacy. The following is the organization of the Armored Infantry Section (Section d'infanterie blindée) of the French Army as per the 1999 "Manuel d'emploi de la section d'infanterie". The French fleet and colonial forces were to remain intact for the time being. French Engineer Units Table of Organization 1914 914FXXX French Army at Outbreak of War 1914 914GHAA German 8th Army 26 August 1914 914GHAB German Army at the Battle of Tannenberg 26-31 August 1914 914GHAD German Forces Battle of the Marne 28-29 August 1914 914GHAE Army Infantry Division Infantry Battalion of the Infantry Brigade. The Army General Staff is headquartered in Paris. command of 1st French Army in 1987. The French Armed Forces areFrance'smainmilitary force, consistingof the French Army, French Navy, French Air Force and the National Gendarmerie. French Armoured Platoons. The structure of the French Army is fixed by Chapter 2 of Title II of Book II of the Third Part of the Code of Defense, notably resulting in the codification of Decree 2000-559 of 21 June 2000. Copyright © 2006-2021 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - THE OPERATORS OF THIS SITE DISSOCIATE THEMSELVES FROM CONTENTS OF OTHER WEBSITES, WHICH ARE LINKED ON THESE PAGES. France is divided into six Defense and Security zones, which provide territorial services to military and civil authorities in their area. In addition, a number of metropolitan divisions had been brought up to strength by the addition of non-metropolitan regiments. In 1944, after the landings of the Allies in France (Normandy, Provence), they expelled the German Army, putting an end to the Vichy Regime. Both elements of de Gaulle's Free French, the storied Army of Africa, and later the FFI Resistance troops would create the 1st French Army, and experience the trials of Liberating their homeland while creating an army on the go. All these formations combined horsed cavalry, motor-cycle troops, armored cars, tanks, and infantry mounted in cross-country vehicles. A battalion consisted of 20officersand 650 men. Tactically, however, the French were definitely inferior, and with one or two exceptions the handling of this valuable force was uninspired and wasteful. I'm in the fortunate position to combine all my interests with my work and to live on a place of my choice, on Crete. The new leader of Italy, Benito Mussolini, combined an authoritarian approach to domestic affairs with an … Their commandant had the status of regional commander and was appointed Senior Commandant of Colonial Troops in France. Under the terms of the armistice, in the unoccupied zone of France those forces that remained intact were rapidly demobilized except 100,000 men who were to maintain order (l’armee de l’ armistice). Indeed, according to French sources, only 420 modern fighters and 31 heavy bombers were serviceable when the Germans struck in May. The basic armored unit was the tank battalion, comprising a staff, three tank companies and a reserve company (in all, some 45 to 60 tanks). The Army Light Aviation Command is headquartered in Vélizy-Villacoublay. Along with Hitler's last attempt to stall the Allies during the Winter of 1944-45, and try to maintain their commitments to their French … Free French Army … Rifle Company (Nov 1970 — 1975) Infantry Regiment. 1st Moroccan Division. In May 1940 there were 9 divisions of colonial infantry, while in the 102nd Fortress Division there was a demi-brigade each of Indochinese and Malagasy machine gunners helping to man the Maginot Line. In May 1940, the French Army on the north-east front, which stretched from Switzerland to the North Sea, was divided into the 1st and 2nd Army Groups and the 7th Army. Divisions, units and Air Force in the Middle East and North Africa and the French Expeditionary Corps in Italy. Separate Black Shirtdivisions were organized for theEthiopian campaign. Colonial Forces: Troops from Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia counted as part of the metropolitan army, and North Africans made a large contribution to the French Army. In French parlance, "section" is equivalent platoon, while "groupe" is equivalent to squad. In this book, the first of two volumes examining the French Army of World War II (1939-1945), Ian Sumner and François Vauvillier examine the organisation, uniforms and equipment of the army of 1939-40 and Vichy France. Light 60mm mortars were attached to company headquarters. The 12 North African infantry divisions were each composed of three infantry regiments and one artillery regiment. The 1st Free French Light Division which fought in Syria was divided into two small brigades:The first comprising a battalion of the 13th Demi-Brigade of the French Foreign Legion and two Senegalese battalions;the second, a naval infantry battalion (which included two motorised companies) and a further two Senegalese battalions.The division was supported by an artillery battery of six guns; a tank company (eight tanks and armoured cars) and a contingent of naval infantry. There had been an earlier rapid-reaction corps of two divisions (9th Marine Division and 11th ... French Navy and German Kriegsmarine at the beginning of World War II in September 1939. When studying World War 2, a common question that arises is what exactly each army group or unit name means? The structure of the French Army is fixed by Chapter 2 of Title II of Book II of the Third Part of the Code of Defense, notably resulting in the codification of Decree 2000-559 of 21 June 2000.[1]. Operationally the command falls under the Special Operations Command. The National Territory Land Command is headquartered in Paris and tasked with preparing for and providing support for an eventual operational deployment French Army forces on the French national territory. Only the French units of the Franco-German Brigade are listed below. Three Brigades of spahis from Algeria and Morocco fought with distinction before retreating to the unoccupied zone of France. Subscribe to our newsletter with the latest reports from the war diaries and about World War I & II. The French heavy tank Char B1, at the beginning of WW2 one of the most dangerous and powerful tanks. ... Jun 7 2020 June 7, 2020. These forces comprised: 63 infantry divisions (of which 30 were regular) ; 7 motorized infantry divisions; 3 armored divisions; 3 light mechanized divisions; World War II Armed Forces — Orders of Battle and Organizations: Last Updated 02.11.2020: WWII Orders of Battle and Organizations. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Strength and organization of the Army Forces and Air Force of France at the beginning of the Western Campaign in May 1940. These divisions absorbed a number of the above-mentioned tank battalions and companies. NOTE: VISITING THIS SITE WITH ENABLED AD BLOCKERS IS PROHIBITED ! On 10 May 1940 the German offensive began by outflanking the Maginot Line in an advance through the Ardennes region, a move totally unexpected by the Allies. Organization: US Uniforms. Between January and May 1940, four reserve armored divisions were formed and placed at the disposal of the General Headquarters. Deployment, divisions, equipment and aircraft. The U.S. Army spills the words "Mission Command" everywhere from its literature, PowerPoint briefings, doctrine manuals, and professional journals that now seem to include an article on "Mission Command" in every issue. The period from 1940 until 1945 saw competition between Vichy France and the Free French Forces under General Charles de Gaulle for control of the overseas empire. Part I: Ships and deployment of Royal Navy and French Navy. The French Army organization is not easy to describe and is rather different from the American Army. The US forces would feel the strain as Market Garden didn't go as planned. The designation of formations as ‘colonial’ meant either that it had been raised in France to serve in the colonies, or that it was composed of native troops from the French Empire. 'Army of Land') to distinguish it from the French Air and Space Force (Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace), 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. Part horse and part motorized; were part of the cavalry arm in 1940. It includes orders of battle and formation charts as well as many illustration and colour uniform artworks. Numerous men had succeeded in escaping to the colonies, however, and many had been evacuated to England. Chinese Air Force, Fleet, Communist Forces, US Army Air Force at the beginning of WW2, German Orders of Battle – Battle of France. Assignments - Attachments - Commanders Diagrams - Authorized Strengths - Compositions Selection by Country Total strength of the French Air Force together with Aviation Colonaile: 1,200 fighters, 800 reconnaissance planes, 1,300 bombers. [amazon_link asins=’0802125131,0785812075,1591142954′ template=’ProductGrid’ store=’wwto-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’7cc78131-ff43-11e6-b2a1-9f7abcb4359c’]. The Army Special Forces Command recruits and trains the army's special forces units and is headquartered in Pau. From 1939 until 1940, the French Third Republic was at war with Germany. Early in WWII, the … The Italian Army had suffered heavy losses for only limited gains during World War One and in common with the other combatant nations the Army was drastically reduced in size and influence following the 1918 armistice. The six divisions were named after important datesin Fascist's history: 23Marzo, 28Ottobre, 21 Aprile, 3 Gennaio, 1 Febbraio & Trevere. year -- - - A symbol with a 3D shadow indicates a clickable, active ("hot") link - - - The date at the top of the page only indicates status of the information content, not changes of format, layout, or administration. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site! French colonial troops came under the control of a special directorate of the Ministry of War, and were stationed partly in the colonies and partly in, France. It also contained troops from the many French colonies and Polish exiles and could field 97 divisions. The Organisation Armée Secrète or OAS (meaning Secret Armed Organisation) was a right-wing French dissident paramilitary organisation during the Algerian War.The OAS carried out terrorist attacks, including bombings and assassinations, in an attempt to prevent Algeria's independence from French colonial rule. 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