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DI - Division d’Infanterie
Infantry Division

DI - Division d’Infanterie

The infantry were organised into metropolitan, North African and colonial troops. Excluding fortress troops, the peacetime metropolitan army consisted of 44 infantry regiments, 11 battalions of chasseurs à pied and 12 battalions of chasseurs alpin. Instead of being formed into regiments the chasseur battalions were grouped into demi-brigades usually of three battalions.

Infantry were classed as “Regular” from the peacetime army, “Type A” reserves comprising a regular cadre built up to strength with reservists and “Type B” reserves comprised of older reservists over 30 years of age. Some “Type B” reserve divisions had only one artillery regiment. The infantry’s type should not be thought as an indication of quality; the Dunkirk perimeter being held so bravely by “Type B” reservists.

The division d’infanterie (DI) was the standard component used by the high command to build armies. It contained approximately 500 officers and 17,000 men in three infantry regiments. Even the North African and colonial infantry divisions had the same basic structure; these included the division d’infanterie nord-africane (DINA), division d’infanterie d’Afrique (DIA) division d’infanterie marocaine (DM) and division d’infanterie coloniale (DIC).

Seven infantry divisions were motorised (DIM -division d’infanterie motorisée) containing the 20 regular motorised infantry regiments and one Zouave motorised infantry regiment.

Three light infantry divisions (two DLCh - division légère de chasseurs and one DLI - division légère d’infanterie) were formed for the Norwegian campaign with only six battalions, a company of light tanks (CACC) and a single artillery group although only the 1st DLCh actually took part.

The infantry also formed independent machinegun battalions which were not part of a division but attached to the general reserve.

The DI contained the following combat units:

Some "Type B" Reserve Infantry Division had the normal two artillery regiments replaced by:

RI - Régiment d’Infanterie

The DI contained 3 infantry regiments (RI - Régiment d'Infanterie). An infantry regiment consisted of:

  • 1 HQ Company (supply, medical, signals, pioneer and motorcycle reconnaissance platoons),
  • 1 Supply Company with 6 Renault UE tracked carriers
  • 1 Regimental Heavy Weapons Company.
  • 3 Infantry Battalions

Section Eclaireurs Motocyclistes

The motorcycle reconnaissance platoon consisted of:

  • 1 command section, 6 men, 1 VB grenade launcher, 3 motorcycles with side-cars.
  • 2 combat sections each with 10 men, 2 Chatellerault Fusil-Mitrailleur FM 24/29 7.5mm LMGs, 1 VB grenade launcher, 5 motorcycles with side-cars.

Companie de Engins

The regimental heavy weapons company contained:

  • 2 Anti-Tank Gun platoons each with 3 horse-drawn 25mm SA mle 34 guns.
  • 1 Mortar section with 2 81mm Mortars with horse-drawn mle 37 cart.

Not all infantry regiments had 25mm guns in their anti-tank platoons, some had to make do with the World War One vintage 37mm Mle 16 TRP.

Batallion d’Infanterie

The organisation of the infantry battalion and the chasseurs a pied was the same. Note that the organisation of the mechanised chasseurs (BCP - Battalion de Chasseurs Portés) is covered together with the DCR. 

An infantry battalion contained :

  • A Headquarters and command platoon including a signals section
  • 3 Rifle Companies
  • 1 Battalion Heavy Weapons Company.

Compagnie de Fusiliers-Voltigeurs

The rifle company (compagnie de Fusiliers-Voltigeurs) contained: 

  • 1 Command platoon 
    • 1 Command Section
    • 1 Supply Section
    • 1 Mortar Section with 1 60mm Mortar
  • 4 Rifle platoons

Companie de Mitrailleuses et Engins

The battalion heavy weapons company contained:

  • 1 Mortar and Gun platoon
    • 2 Mortar sections each with 2 81mm mortar and cart
    • 1 Anti-Tank Gun section with 2 25mm SA mle 34 horse-drawn anti-tank gun
  • 4 Machinegun platoons each with
    • 2 Machinegun sections each with 2 8mm 1914 Hotchkiss machineguns and 1-horse cart

Not all infantry battalions had 25mm guns, some had to make do with the World War One vintage 37mm Mle 16 TRP.

GRDI - Groupe de Reconnaissance de Division d'Infanterie

The Reconnaissance Battalion (GRDI - Groupe de Reconnaissance de Division d'Infanterie) was the only cavalry unit in the infantry division and provided it with a reconnaissance capability.

It consisted of:

  • 1 horsed cavalry squadron
  • 1 motorcycle squadron
  • 1 heavy weapons squadron

Cavalry Squadron

The horsed cavalry squadron contained:

  • 1 command troop including a 60mm mortar (pack horses)
  • 4 cavalry troops with 35 men and 2 LMG divided into a command and two combat sections
  • 1 machinegun section with 2 8mm 1914 Hotchkiss machineguns (horse-drawn)
  • 1 anti-tank section with two 25mm SA38 AT guns (horse-drawn). Not all GRDIs had this section.

Motorcycle Squadron

The Motorcycle Squadron consisted of:

  • 1 command troop including 1 60mm mortar section in motorcycles with side-cars.
  • 4 motorcycle troops each with
    • 1 command section, 6 men, 1 VB grenade launcher, 3 motorcycles with side-cars.
    • 2 combat sections each with 10 men, 2 Chatellerault Fusil-Mitrailleur FM 24/29 7.5mm LMGs, 1 VB grenade launcher, 5 motorcycles with side-cars.

Heavy Weapons Squadron

The Heavy Weapons Squadron contained:

  • 2 motorcycle machinegun platoons each with 4 8mm 1914 Hotchkiss machineguns and  heavy motorcycle and sidecar combinations.
  • 1 anti-tank section with 2 25mm SA38 anti-tank guns transported by light trucks. One of these anti-tank guns could be replaced by a 37mm infantry gun.

CDAC - Compagnie Divisionnaire Antichar

The divisional anti-tank company (CDAC – Compagnie Divisionnaire Anti Char) contained 12 infantry-crewed 25mm SA mle 34 anti-tank guns. The battery was split into 3 platoons each of four guns. The guns were horse-drawn and had horse-drawn ammunition carts.. 

RAD - Régiment d'Artillerie Divisionnaire

The light field artillery regiment (RAD Régiment d'Artillerie Divisionnaire) contained three battalions of 12 mle 1897 75mm horse-drawn guns divided into 3 batteries each of 4 guns.

Also attached to this regiment, was the divisional anti-tank battery (BDAC) and an anti-aircraft battery (BCA).

BDAC - Batterie Divisionnaire Antichar

The divisional anti-tank battery (BDAC – Batterie Divisionnaire Anti Char) was attached to the RAD and contained 8 artillery-crewed 47mm SA37 APX anti-tank guns. The battery was split into 4 sections each of two guns. It was intended to tow the guns using Laffly W15T trucks, but insuficient were available so the older Citroen P17 were still in use.

BCA - Batterie Contre-Avions

The anti-aircraft battery was attached to the RAD and contained 6 artillery-crewed Hotchkiss 25mm mle 1939 anti-aircraft guns. It was intended to tow the guns using Laffly W15T trucks, but insuficient were available so the older Citroen P17 were still in use in many units.

RALD - Régiment d'Artillerie Lourde Divisionnaire

The heavy field artillery regiment (RALD - Régiment d'Artillerie Lourde Divisionnaire) contained two battalions of 12 mle 1917 155mm horse-drawn howitzers divided into 3 batteries each of 4 guns. One battalion could be equipped with mle 1935 105mm howitzers instead.

RAMD - Régiment d'Artillerie Mixte Divisionnaire

The mixed field artillery regiment (RAMD - Régiment d'Artillerie Mixte Divisionnaire) equipped some “Type B” Reserve Infantry Division instead of the normal two regiments (RAD and RALD). 

The RAMD contained three battalions of 12 mle 1897 75mm horse-drawn guns divided into 3 batteries each of 4 guns and one battalion of 12 mle 1917 155mm horse-drawn howitzers divided into 3 batteries each of 4 guns. Like the RAD, the RAMD also had an attached BDAC and BAC.

Compagnie de Sapeurs-Mineurs

The engineer company (compagnie de sapeurs-mineurs) consisted of 4 platoons each with 3 squads. The company had 36 horse-drawn wagons, 2 liason cars and 8 trucks to carry its stores and equipment; the engineers themselves marched on foot.

The engineers were not intended to be used as combat troops. They were mainly armed with small arms (revolvers/pistols for the officers and rifles/carbines for the men). There were no LMGs. There were 2 Hotchkiss mle 1914 MGs or Saint-Etienne mle 1907 MGs in each company, mounted on tripods and used as AAMGs for convoy protection when moving.

In 1939 the Enginner regiments and battalions were disbanded and the companies were then officially independent. However these remained under the command of the engineer HQ at the division level.