4th Armored Division (France, 1940)


The 4th Armored Division was a short-lived armoured unit of the French Army. Formed on 10 May 1940 on the battlefield, it comprised mainly tank battalions. It fought without interruption for forty days and was initially commanded by Charles de Gaulle.

Battle of France

Formation

The division was formed under Colonel De Gaulle on 10 May 1940.

Fighting the Blitzkrieg

The 4DCr launched an attack on 17 May at the Battle of Montcornet, where it successfully threw back the German defenses but had to retreat on its starting positions for lack of support and air cover. It then moved south of Abbeville to attack German bridgeheads across the Aisne river, fighting the Battle of Abbeville on 28/29 May with the aim of breaking through to the encircled Allied units trapped in Dunkirk.
On 1 June, the 4e DCr was relieved by the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division and regrouped at Marseille-en-Beauvaisis to attach itself to the armoured group under General Charles Delestraint. On 6 June, De Gaulle was relieved of his command to rejoin his new commission as State under-secretary for War in the government. De Gaulle was replaced by Colonel Chaudesolle for one day. General Pierre Jules de la Font took command of the division on 7 June.
On 10 June, the armoured group was attached to the Paris Army, and on 12 June, the division was assigned to the 10th Army Corps. From then on, it took part in rear-guard fights during the retreat, notably on the Loire river from 12 to 19 June, and until the cease-fire on 26 June.

Composition

The division was composed of the following units:
  • 46e bataillon de chars de combat19e bataillon de chars de combat4e bataillon de chasseurs portés24e bataillon de chars de combat
  • 303e régiment d'artillerie tractée4e groupe autonome d'artillerie
  • 322e RATTT / 1er groupe
  • 322e RATTT / 2e groupe 10e régiment de cuirassiers - One squadron equipped with the Panhard 178 3e cuirassiers / 1er groupe d'escadron - One squadron equipped with SOMUA S35 tanks
  • 10/80e BDAC
  • 11/86e BDAC 47e bataillon de chars de combat 44e bataillon de chars de combat
  • 1020e batterie, 404e DCA
  • 305e RATTT / 1er groupe 2e bataillon du 7e régiment de dragons portés 3e cuirassiers / 2e groupe d'escadron - One squadron equipped with Hotchkiss H35 tanks
  • 665e batterie divisionnaire antichar 51e batterie antichar autonome
  • 661e batterie divisionnaire antichar

Equipment

The division was equipped with the following vehicles: