This is a listing of French divisions that served between 1939 and 1945.

Cavalry, mechanized and armoured divisions

Light cavalry divisions (DLC, Division Légère de Cavalerie)

Part horse and part motorized; were part of the cavalry arm in 1940. The cavalry divisions (DC) were renamed light divisions (DL) in February 1940 and then light cavalry divisions (DLC) in March 1940. They were supplied with Renault AMR 33s more so than 35s and Hotchkiss H35s.

Light mechanized divisions (DLM, Divisions Légères Mécaniques)

Division légère mécaniques were part of the cavalry arm in 1940. Entirely armoured and motorized. Supplied with Renault AMR 35s and Somua S35s.

Armoured divisions (DCr, Divisions Cuirassées)

Part of the infantry arm in 1940. Entirely armoured and motorized, equipped with 2 battalions of Char B1 bis and 2 battalions of Hotchkiss H39 tanks designed to support infantry operations.

Infantry and mountain divisions

Infantry divisions in the French Army fell into three "series"— active, A and B. Series A included higher-quality reserve units. Most of active units had 2/3 of their authorized strength in peace time. At mobilization, all active units were to be brought up to full strength with designated reserve units. Series A units would be created from both active and reserve personals while series B units would only have a limited active component, around 20%. The divisions were also designated by "type", of which there were Northeast, Overseas and Mountain. The type designation determined numbers and kinds of equipment and weapons allocation.

North African Forces 1940

Division types included Moroccan divisions (DM), north African divisions (DINA and DLINA) and African divisions (DIA).

Colonial units

Overseas units

Polish expatriate divisions in 1940 (DIP)

. Reconstituted Polish Army divisions formed from Polish expatriates in France.

Motorized and infantry divisions

Division types included infantry and mountain divisions (DI - no special abbreviation for mountain divisions), motorized divisions (DIM) and fortress divisions (DIF).

Light Chasseurs Divisions (DLCh)

The Chasseurs divisions were organized in April 1940 and were intended for use in Norway.

Light Infantry Divisions (DLI)

Most formed in May or June 1940. The light divisions had only two infantry regiments and were missing much equipment.

Provisional divisions formed from fortified sectors

Vichy French divisions

Vichy French divisions in France, 1940–42 (DM)

Also known as "the New Army;" or the Armistice Army. The terms of the Armistice of 22 June 1940 ensured the forces of Vichy France forces had only limited artillery and armored vehicles. Each division had three infantry regiments, a reconnaissance regiment of two battalions and an artillery regiment. When the Allies landed in north Africa, the Germans invaded Vichy France and the leadership of the Vichy French forces told the army to remain in its barracks rather than be massacred in the field. The Vichy Army was then disbanded by the Germans, although they authorized formation of one unit (1st Regiment of France) in early 1943. After the Allies landed in southern France, the 1st Regiment of France joined the Allied forces and formed the basis of several independent regiments which served in the 1944-45 campaign. Certain regiments of Vichy forces, carrying the numbers of 1940 units, were recreated in 1944-45 as part of the Army of Liberation.

Vichy French divisions in north Africa, 1941

AKA "The Army of Transition" French headquarters after 8 November 1942: Divisions:

Divisions of Free France, the Tunisian Campaign and the Army of Liberation

Free French divisions

These two divisions were Gaullist formations that, while excellent performers in combat, had friction operating with other units of the French Army that they considered to have been tainted by affiliation with the Vichy regime. They were also treated as a special reserve by De Gaulle, who, at times, assigned them to military and political tasks in various areas of France to the frustration of General de Lattre, the 1st Army commander from 1944–1945.

March divisions in the Tunisian Campaign

The March divisions ("March" means provisional organizations without a formal tradition) were formed from French forces stationed in North Africa in November 1942, took part in the Tunisian Campaign and were all disbanded in mid-1943. The troops from these divisions were then used to form the 2nd DIM, 3rd DIA, 4th DMM, 9th DIC, 1st DB and 5th DB, all of which fought on the European continent until V-E Day.

French North African divisions formed after the Tunisian Campaign

Divisions formed in France 1944–45

Organized with liberated manpower in 1944–45 and often assigned designations that had belonged to divisions in 1940. The two DCEO divisions were intended for use in Indochina to reassert French authority after the defeat of Japan.

Footnotes