2nd Infantry Division (France)
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2e Division d'Infanterie | |
---|---|
Active | 1815–1940 |
Country | Second World War |
The
Heads of the 2nd Infantry Division
- 22 March 1815: Division General Donzelot
- .
- 1870: General Martineau des Chenez
- .
- 18 October 1873: General Bellecourt
- 18 November 1878 – 10 January 1880: General Blot
- .
- 28 February 1880 – 14 September 1880: General de Courcy
- 11 November 1880: General Vilmette
- 11 January 1882: General Bardin
- 17 July 1887 – 24 February 1891: General Mathelin
- .
- 4 April 1891 – 4 November 1891: General Swiney
- 11 November 1891 – 9 January 1892: General Peting de Vaulgrenant
- .
- 24 May 1894 – 26 October 1899: General Strohl
- 28 October 1899 – 11 May 1905: General de Germiny
- .
- 17 June 1905: General Bertrand
- 30 September 1905: General de Chomer
- 25 March 1906: General Durand
- 20 July 1907 – 31 May 1908: General de Chomer
- .
- 17 June 1908 – 18 July 1911: General Cramezel de Kerhué
- 28 July 1911 – 20 March 1914: General Bizart
- .
- 2 August 1914: General Deligny
- 8 September 1914: Colonel Garnier-Duplessix
- 21 September 1914: General Brulard
- 16 July 1915: General Guignadaudet
- 17 June 1917 – 15 July 1920: General Mignot[1]
- .
- 27 August 1940 – 10 November 1940: General Etcheberrigarray
The Hundred Days
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
1870 War
The division was part of the
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
Infantry
- 3rd Brigade
- 33rd Infantry Regiment from August 1914 to November 1916
- 73rd Infantry Regimentfrom 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 .
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 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
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
The Second World War
Under the
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
- ^ a b Tome X Ordres de bataille des grandes unités – Deuxième volume Divisions d'Infanterie, divisions de cavalerie. Paris: Imprimerie Nationale. 1924. pp. 11–19.
- ^ The Organization and Order of Battle of Militaries in World War II: Volume VI Italy and France Including the Neutral Countries of San Marino, Vatican City (Holy See), Andorra, and Monaco. p. 403.
External links
- The 2nd DI in the Battle of the Aisne (1917)
- "8e Regiment d'Infanterie Living History Group". armeefrancaise14-18.co.uk. Archived from the original on 4 September 2011.