Division Légère Mécanique

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

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.

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

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

Infantry divisions in the French Army fell into three "series"—A, B and C. Series A included active units and higher-quality reserve units, respectively designated active and formation. The Series A active units had 2/3 of their authorized strength while the Series B formation units had a little over 20% of their authorized strength. At mobilization, all Series A units were to be brought up to full strength with designated reserve units. Series B units had small active components and at mobilization would be mostly composed of reserve personnel. Series C units had no active personnel and were composed entirely of reserve units. 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.

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

French: Division d'infanterie polonaise

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

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

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

AKA "The New Army"
The terms of the armistice ensured the Vichy French 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.

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