2nd Infantry Division (France)


The French Infantry Division was one of the oldest divisions of the French army.

Heads of the 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
  • .
  • 27 August 1940 – 10 November 1940: General Etcheberrigarray

The Hundred Days

Schmitz brigade, commanded by Brigade General Nicolas Schmitz.
Aulard brigade, commanded by Brigade General Pierre Aulard.
company of the Foot Artillery Regiment, with 8 troops.

1870 War

The division was part of the Rhine Army, commanded by Marshall Mac Mahon.
Composition :
After the dissolution of the Imperial Army, it joined the new Armée de la Loire, commanded by General Louis d'Aurelle de Paladines.
Infantry Division : General Martineau des Chenez

First World War

Composition during the War

The Infantry Division was mobilised in the Military Region in August 1914. Its infantry was originally organized as two brigades. In November 1916, the division was triangularized. The two regiments of the 3rd Brigade were sent to the 51st Infantry Division, while those of the 4th Brigade, and the newly attached 208th went directly under divisional command.
Infantry
Artillery
Cavalry
Engineers

History

1914

4–13 August
13–23 August
23–29 August
29 August – 6 September
6–13 September
13 September – 12 December
'''12 December 1914 – 12 January 1915'''

1915

12–20 January
20 January – 2 March
2 March – 5 April
5–11 April
11–29 April
29 April – 11 May
11–15 May
15 May – 3 September
3 September – 2 October
'''2 October 1915 – 12 February 1916'''

1916

12–21 February
21 February – 8 March
8 March – 14 April
14 April – 24 July
24 July – 3 September
3 September – 5 October
5–9 October
9–16 October
16 October – 30 November
30 November – 14 December
'''14 December 1916 – 6 January 1917'''

1917

6 January – 27 February
21 February – 6 March
6 March – 8 April
8–19 April
19 April – 7 July
7–30 July
30 July – 4 August
4–22 August
22 August – 6 October
6–16 October
16 October – 21 November
21 November – 7 December
7 '''December 1917 – 17 January 1918'''

1918

17 January – 20 March
20–31 March
31 March – 20 May: Retreat from the front; movement towards Fismes, and, on 3 April, towards Écuiry; rest.
20–31 May
31 May – 18 July
18–27 July
27 July – 19 August
19–29 August
29 August – 11 September
11 September – 28 October
'''28 October – 11 November'''

Hierarchy

The division was part of the 1ier Corps d'Armée from mobilisation in August 1914 until the Armistice of 11 November 1918.

The Second World War

Under the order of battle of 10 May 1940, the Infantry Division joined the Colonial Army Corps, under the command of General Condé of the Third French Army.
Structure of the division in 1939: