1st Armored Division (France)
| 1re division | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Active | 1943–46 1948–99 2016 |
| Country |
 France |
| Allegiance |
French Army
|
| Branch | French Army |
| Type | Armored division |
| Role | Armoured warfare |
| Size | 25000 |
| Garrison/HQ | Besançon |
| Nickname(s) | division Saint-Louis |
| Motto(s) | Nomine et Virtute Prima |
| Engagements | World War II |
The 1st Armored Division (French: 1re Division Blindée, 1re DB) is a unit of the French Army formed during World War II.
Dissolved for a first time in 1946, the unit was recreated in 1948. It was again dissolved in 1999 with the cadre of the professionalization of the French Military.
The 1st Mechanised Brigade (1re BM), created on July 1, 1999, inherited traditions of the 1re DB. The 1re BM was again dissolved on July 21, 2015.
The 1st Division (1re DIV) was recreated in 2016.
The motto of the division, Nomine et Virtute Prima, translates literally to "La première par le nom et la valeur" in French, "The first in designation and worth". The choice of the insignia, the cross of Saint Louis by général Jean Touzet du Vigier, comes from the place of formation of the unit, Tunisia, where King Louis IX of France came to rest in 1270.
The division is known and referred to as "division Saint-Louis".
The division was cited three times at the orders of the armed forces during the Second World War.
In 1943, a French armed force was formed in North Africa. The unit was equipped with modern equipment coming from the United States, and the program anticipated the constitution of several armed divisions. Following various materials arrivals, only three divisions were constituted, on the following:
This division articulated based on U.S. American norms, in three tactical groupments, baptized by the Americans as Combat Command. Under these designations the three French divisions engaged in operations from 1944 to 1945.
Within this context, the 1st Armored Division 1st DB was formed on May 1, 1943. The division was heir to the Light Mechanic Brigade (French: Brigade Légère Mécanique, BLM) which combat engaged in Tunisia. On January 28, 1943, général du Vigier (promoted on December 25, 1942) took command of this unit in formation. He had left the command of the BLM to général Brossin de Saint-Didier and installed his command post in Mascara where the training center for armored brigades garrisoned.
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