2nd Armored Division (France)
| 2e Division Blindée | |
|---|---|
Original badge of the 2nd Armored Division. The divisional badge features the Cross of Lorraine
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| Active | 24 August 1943 – 31 March 1946 1977 – 1999 |
| Country | France |
| Branch | French Army, ex-Free French |
| Type | Armored division, later 2nd Armored Brigade |
| Engagements |
Invasion of Normandy Liberation of Paris Liberation of Strasbourg Colmar Pocket Royan Western Allied invasion of Germany |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Philippe Leclerc |
The French 2nd Armored Division (French: 2e Division Blindée, 2e DB), commanded by General Philippe Leclerc, fought during the final phases of World War II in the Western Front. The division was formed around a core of units that had raided Italian Libya at the end of 1940 and Tripoli in 1943 under Leclerc, but was most known for its role in the fight at Kufra in 1941; later renamed the 2nd Light Division, in August 1943, it was organized under the US light armored division organization.
The division's 14,454 personnel included men from the 2nd Light Division, escapees from metropolitan France, about 3,600 Moroccans and Algerians and about 350 Spanish Republicans. Other sources give about 2,000, official records of the 2e DB show fewer than 300 Spaniards as they hid their nationality, fearing retaliation against their families in Spain.
The division embarked in April 1944 and shipped to various ports in Britain. On 29 July 1944, bound for France, the division embarked at Southampton. During combat in 1944, the division liberated Paris, defeated a Panzer brigade during the armored clashes in Lorraine, forced the Saverne Gap and liberated Strasbourg. After taking part in the Battle of the Colmar Pocket, the division was moved west and assaulted the German-held Atlantic port of Royan, before recrossing France in April 1945 and participating in the final fighting in southern Germany, even going first into Hitler's "Eagle's Nest" (Americans captured the town below). Deactivated after the war, the 2nd Division was again activated in the 1970s and served through 1999.
Infantry
Ier Régiment de Marche du Tchad
IIème Régiment de Marche du Tchad
IIIème Régiment de Marche du Tchad
Reconnaissance
1er Régiment de Marche de Spahis Marocains
Armor
501e Régiment de chars de combat
12ème Régiment de Chasseurs d'Afrique
12ème Régiment de Cuirassiers
Tank destroyers
Régiment Blindé de Fusiliers Marins (R.B.F.M)
Artillery
1er groupe du 3ème Régiment d'Artillerie Coloniale (1/3° R.A.C)
1er Groupe du 40ème Régiment d'Artillerie Nord Africain (1/40° R.A.N.A)
IIeme Groupe du 64ème Régiment d'Artillerie
Anti-Aircraft
22ème Groupe Colonial de F.T.A
Engineers
13ème Bataillon du Génie
Signals
97/84ème Compagnie Mixte de Transmissions
Motor transport and services
97ème Compagnie de Quartier Général
197ème Compagnie de Transport
297ème Compagnie de Transport
397ème Compagnie de Circulation Routière
497ème Compagnie de Services
Supply
15ème Groupe d'Escadrons de Réparations (15e G.E.R)
Medical
1ère Compagnie Médicale et Groupe d'Ambulancières "Rochambeau" (Rochambelles)
2ème Compagnie Médicale et Groupe d'Ambulancières de la Marine ("Marinettes")
3ème Compagnie Médicale et groupe d'Ambulancières "Quakers" (Britanniques)
...
Wikipedia