Inactive French Army unit
Military unit
The
French 2nd Infantry Division (
French : 2e Division d'Infanterie, 2e DI ) was one of the oldest divisions of the
French army .
Heads of the 2nd Infantry Division
The Hundred Days
Schmitz
brigade , commanded by
Brigade General
Nicolas Schmitz .
13th Light Infantry Regiment
17th Line Infantry Regiment
Aulard brigade, commanded by Brigade General
Pierre Aulard .
19th Line Infantry Regiment
51st Line Infantry Regiment
10th
company of the 6th Foot Artillery Regiment, with 8 troops.
1870 War
The division was part of the
Rhine Army , commanded by
Marshall Mac Mahon .
Composition :
50th Line Infantry Regiment
74th Line Infantry Regiment
78th Line Infantry Regiment
1st Algerian Tirailleur Regiment
After the dissolution of the Imperial Army, it joined the new
Armée de la Loire , commanded by General
Louis d'Aurelle de Paladines .
2nd Infantry Division : General Martineau des Chenez
1st Brigade : General Dariés
5th Marching Battalion: Commandant Chamard
39th Line Regiment: Colonel Jouffroy
Foreign Legion : Lieutenant-Colonel de Curten
25th Mobile Regiment (Gironde) : Lieutenant-Colonel d'Artigolles
2nd Brigade : General Rébillard
2nd Zouave Regiment: Lieutenant-Colonel Logerot
30th Marching Regiment: Lieutenant-Colonel Bernard de Seigneurens
29th Mobile Regiment (Maine-et-Loire): Lieutenant-Colonel de Paillot
Artillery :
18th battery of the 9th Regiment: Captain Pariaud
18th battery of the 12th Regiment: Captain Grosclerc
14th battery of the Mounted Guard Regiment: Captain Chastang
Engineers : 2nd section of the 19th company of the 3rd Regiment
First World War
Composition during the War
The 2nd Infantry Division was mobilised in the 1st
Military Region in August 1914. Its infantry was originally organized as two brigades. In November 1916, the division was triangularized. The two regiments of the 3rd Brigade were sent to the 51st Infantry Division, while those of the 4th Brigade, and the newly attached 208th (which came from the 51st Division) went directly under divisional command.
[1]
Infantry
3rd Brigade
33rd Infantry Regiment from August 1914 to November 1916
73rd Infantry Regiment from August 1914 to November 1916
4th Brigade
8th Infantry Regiment from August 1914 to armistice (under direct divisional control from November 1916)
110th Infantry Regiment from August 1914 to armistice (under direct divisional control from November 1916)
208th Infantry Regiment from November 1916 to armistice
A battalion of pioneers from the 72nd Territorial Infantry Regiment from August 1918 to armistice
Artillery
27th Field Artillery Regiment from the mobilisation to armistice
122nd battery from July 1916 to January 1918
101st battery from January 1918 to armistice
6th Artillery Group from 15 June 1918 to armistice
Cavalry
1st Squadron/6th Chasseur Regiment from mobilisation to armistice
Engineers
3rd Engineers Regiment
1/2 Company from mobilisation to armistice
1/2 bis Company from January 1915 to January 1916
1/52 Company from January 1916 to armistice
1/71 Company from January 1917 to armistice
Sappers from the 21st Regiment from January 1916 to January 1917
History
1914
4–13 August
Transport by railroad to the region of
Auvillers-les-Forges and crossing the
Meuse to reach
Revin and
Givet .
13–23 August
Movement, via
Olloy , to
Dinant .
15 August, combat at Dinant, formed defence in front of the Meuse, via Dinant and
Anbée .
22 August, movement towards
Charleroi .
23–29 August
Engaged in the
Battle of Charleroi , via
Saint-Gérard .
24 August, return, via
Couvin , to the region of
Guise
26 August, combat at
Gué-d'Hossus .
29 August – 6 September
Engaged in the
1st Battle of Guise ; combat at
Sains-Richaumont .
30 August, return, via
Crécy-sur-Serre ,
Pontavert and
Baizil , to the South of
Esternay .
6–13 September
Engaged in the
1st Battle of the Marne .
6–10 September,
Battle of Deux Morins : Combat in Esternay,
Bergères-sous-Montmirail and
Fontaine-Chacun .
10 September, continue, via
Verneuil and
Ville-Dommange , until
Reims .
13 September – 12 December
Engaged in the
1st Battle of Aisne : combat in the region of
Bétheny ,
la Neuvillette .
16 September, movement along the road heading North-West ; combat at
Cholera Farm and towards
la Ville-aux-Bois . Stabilisation and occupation of a sector towards
Gernicourt and
Beau marais Forest , heading left, on 15 October, until the
moulin Pontoy , and to the right, on 1 November, until
cote 108
12–14 October, French attack on Cholera Farm and the Ville-aux-Bois Forest.
4 November, attack and capture of
Sapigneul .
11 November, capture of cote 108.
12 December 1914 – 12 January 1915
Retreat from the front towards
Fismes .
16 December, transport by van to
Cuperly .
20 December or thereabouts, movement to
La Cheppe , heading to
Laval , to take part in the
1st Battle of Champagne : Engaged on 9 January 1915, North of
Mesnil-lès-Hurlus .
1915
12–20 January
Retreat from the front and back to
Bussy-le-Château .
20 January – 2 March
Occupation of the sector towards Mesnil-lès-Hurlus
16 March, French attack on
les Mamelles , leading to violent combat in the region (Battle of Champagne)
2 March – 5 April
Retrait from the front and back to
Courtisols (arriving 14 March)
20 and 21 March, movement to the region of
Avize ; rest.
29 March, transport by van towards
Vavincourt , then, at the end of 1st April, movement towards the South-East of
Verdun .
5–11 April
Engaged in the
1st Battle of la Woëvre , towards
Buzy Forest and the East of
Braquis .
11–29 April
Retreat from the front (arriving on 18th) ; further movement, via
Souilly and
Les Hauts-de-Chée , to
Commercy .
29 April – 11 May
Movement towards the front ; 30 April, attack on
Ailly Forest , leading to occupation of a sector towards Ailly Forest
5 May, German attack, and French counter-attack.
11–15 May
Retreat from the front, and transport by van to the regions of
Épernay and
Fismes .
15 May – 3 September
Movement towards the front and occupation of a sector of
Berry-au-Bac and the
moulin Pontoy , reduced to the right, on 18 August, to la Miette, then, on 31 August, up to
la Ville-aux-Bois .
3 September – 2 October
Retreat from the front, and rest at
Guyencourt .
2 October 1915 – 12 February 1916
Movement to the front, and occupation of a sector of
Sapigneul and
la Miette .
12 November, movement along the road, and occupation of a new sector between Berry-au-Bac and
Temple Farm , extended to the left, on 20 November, up to the Pontoy windmill:
Battle of Mines at
cote 108 .
1916
12–21 February
Retreat from the front and regrouping at
Ville-en-Tardenois ; rest and instruction.
21 February – 8 March
Transport by train, movement to the region of Verdun.
26 February, engaged by accident in the
Battle of Verdun , at
Douaumont (violent combat)
8 March – 14 April
Retreat from the front and rest at
Bar-le-Duc .
1st April, transport by van to the region of
Dormans ; rest.
11 April, movement to Fismes.
14 April – 24 July
Occupation of a sector between the road from
Paissy to
Chermizy-Ailles and
Soupir , reduced to the right on 17 July up to
Troyon .
24 July – 3 September
Retreat from the front and rest at Ville-en-Tardenois.
7 August, transport by truck to the region of
Conty .
Rest south-west of
Amiens until 25 August, towards
Corbie .
3 September – 5 October
Movement to the front ; engaged in the
Battle of the Somme , towards
le Forest and the Forest of
Maurepas
14 September, capture of
Priez farm .
19–26 September, capture of the 2nd line (further battles in the area, and the capture of
Combles , on the 26th)
27 September, again engaged, towards Combles and
Morval , leading to Combles and Frégicourt (former municipality reunited with
Combles in 1834).
5–9 October
Retreat from the front and rest at Conty.
9–16 October
Transport by van to the region of
Châlons-sur-Marne and rest at
Somme-Vesle .
16 October – 30 November
Movement to the front and occupation of a sector at
Maisons de Champagne and the
butte du Mesnil .
30 November – 14 December
Retreat from the front, and rest at
Possesse .
14 December 1916 – 6 January 1917
Movement to the camp at
Mailly , rest and instruction.
1917
6 January – 27 February
Gradual movement to the front, while occupying a sector covering Maisons de Champagne and
la Courtine
15 February, violent German attack.
21 February – 6 March
Retreat from the front, movement through the region of
Sainte-Menehould , via
Dampierre-le-Château ,
l'Épine ,
Sarry ,
Athis and
Vinay .
6 March – 8 April
Movement via Dormans ; instruction (work at the Aisne)
8–19 April
Movement to the front and occupation of a sector covering
Craonne and
le Ployron .
16 April, engaged in the
2nd Battle of the Aisne : combat on the Craonne plateau; defence, and organisation of their captured positions.
19 April – 7 July
Retreat from the front and rest at
Ventelay ; from 25 April, rest at
Viels-Maisons .
9 May, gradual movement towards the camp at Mailly ; rest and instruction.
15 June, gradual movement towards
Provins ; rest and instruction.
7–30 July
Transport by van to
Flandres .
14 July, movement of the infantry to the front and occupation of a sector covering
Het-Sas (under the orders of the
1st D.I. )
30 July – 4 August
Retrait from the front ; rest in the region of
Roesbrugge-Haringe .
4–22 August
Mouvement towards the front and rest in the region of
Bikschote
16 August, offensive against
Martje Vaert and
Broenbeck (
Battle of Langemarck – part of the
Battle of Passchendaele )
22 August – 6 October
Retreat from the front; rest and instruction in the region of
West-Cappel .
6–16 October
Occupation of a sector north of Bixschoote and
Langemark (together with the British Army) :
9 October, offensive in the forest of
Houthulst , attack on
Mangelaare (part of the
Battle of Poelcappelle ).
16 October – 21 November
Retreat from the front, then rest, instruction and work at
Bergues .
21 November – 7 December
Occupation of a sector north of Langemarck and
Kloosterschool (together with the British front)
7 December 1917 – 17 January 1918
Retreat from the front (relieved by the British Army). Rest at
Gravelines .
11 December, gradual movement to the region of
Senlis ; rest.
1918
17 January – 20 March
Gradual movement to
Soissons
22 January, work on the 2nd position in the region.
8 February, gradual movement towards
Roucy ; then work on the 2nd position in the region.
20–31 March
Movement towards the front and occupation of a sector in the region of Miette, Ployon.
31 March – 20 May : Retreat from the front; movement towards Fismes, and, on 3 April, towards
Écuiry ; rest.
14 April, bridging the Oise towards
Choisy-au-Bac .
2 May, movement towards
Warluis ; rest. Led to work on the 2nd position in the region of
Beauvais .
20–31 May
Movement towards
Marseille-en-Beauvaisis .
28 May, transport by train south to
Compiègne .
Soon afterwards, to
Montigny-Lengrain , to join the
Third Battle of the Aisne .
31 May – 18 July
Movement to the front and occupation of a sector covering
Dammard and
Troësnes : frequent local actions, particularly on 29, 30 June and 1 July, to the east of
Mosloy .
18–27 July
Engaged, at Troësnes to the south, in the
Battle of soissonnais et l'Ourq (
Second Battle of the Marne )
Progression towards
Épaux-Bézu and through the region of
Rocourt-Saint-Martin northward.
27 July – 19 August
Retreat from the front ; movement towards
Mareuil-sur-Ourcq , then to
Pierrefonds ; rest.
19–29 August
Movement to
Vic-sur-Aisne and occupation of a sector north of
Autrêches .
Engaged in the
2nd Battle of Noyon , at
l'Ailette , via
Pont-Saint-Mard .
29 August – 11 September
Retreat from the front and rest at
Pont-Sainte-Maxence .
11 September – 28 October
Transport via van to Alsace ; from 15 September, occupation of a sector covering
Burnhaupt-le-Haut and
Leimbach .
28 October – 11 November
Retreat from the front and gradual movement to
Ceintrey ; preparing offensive.
Hierarchy
The division was part of the
1ier Corps d'Armée from mobilisation in August 1914 until the
Armistice of 11 November 1918 .
The Second World War
Under the
order of battle of 10 May 1940, the 2nd Infantry Division joined the
Colonial Army Corps (with the
51st (Highland) Infantry Division and the
56th (London) Infantry Division ), under the command of General Condé of the
Third French Army .
Structure of the division in 1939:
[2]
Chief of Staff, 2nd Infantry Division – Major Villate
Components, 2nd Infantry Division
33rd Infantry Regiment
73rd Infantry Regiment
127th Infantry Regiment
34th Divisional Artillery Regiment
234th Division Heavy Artillery Regiment
Notes and references
External links
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Infantry
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