List of Belgian regiments in World War II


This list covers the regiments of the Belgian Army from 1939 to 1945, from mobilization to the ensuing Battle of Belgium and the Battle of France, along with Free Belgian regiments till 1945. This article is based on, which covers up every detail on the 18 day campaign in the Belgian Perspective.

Divisions

22 divisions form the basis of the Belgian Army. A division at full strength had three infantry regiments, an artillery regiment, an engineer battalion, and some transmission troops. Additional arms may include quartermaster companies, tanks, and signal units. Three divisions form a corps.

Original six divisions of 1914

1st Infantry Division
2nd Infantry Division
3rd Infantry Division
4th Infantry Division
5th Infantry Division
6th Infantry Division

Divisions formed in the mobilization process of 1938-1939

7th Infantry Division
8th Infantry Division
9th Infantry Division
10th Infantry Division
11th Infantry Division
12th Infantry Division
13th Infantry Division
14th Infantry Division
15th Infantry Division
16th Infantry Division
17th Infantry Division
18th Infantry Division
1st Cavalry Division
2nd Cavalry Division

Ardennes Hunter divisions (Chasseurs Ardennais)

Formed in 1934, they were specifically supposed to hold the Ardennes against attack. There were only two divisions.
1st Division Ardennes Hunters, also known as 1st Division Chasseurs Ardennais
2nd Division Ardennes Hunters, also known as 2nd Division Chasseurs Ardennais

Group Ninitte

Group Ninitte was a special group of regiments that acted as a flexible reserve and defence force.

Infantry 1940

Before World War II began, the Belgian Army had only 19 regiments, of which most were regiments of the line. In the ensuing mobilization process of the 1930s, each regiment was split, or reinforced, to form 3 more regiments. There was a traditional distinction between the Line Infantry, Foot Hunters, Carabiners, and Grenadiers, but all uniforms remained the same.
The Infantry Regiments were divided among 18 Infantry Divisions, two Cavalry Divisions, Several Corps, and Group Ninitte.

Field army

Most of these regiments saw combat in World War I, and were split to form other regiments. These regiments were well equipped as they were the first to enter combat.

Line regiments

1st Line Regiment, under Colonel Louis Barthélemy
2nd Line Regiment, under Colonel Devloo
3rd Line Regiment, under Captain Victor Defonseca
4th Line Regiment, under Colonel Arthur De Cae
5th Line Regiment, under Colonel R. Carion
6th Line Regiment, under Colonel H. Godeau
7th Line Regiment, under Colonel M. Gondry
8th Line Regiment, under Colonel V. Vermeulen
9th Line Regiment, under Colonel A. Bouha
10th Line Regiment
11th Line Regiment, under Colonel Louis Horckmans
12th Line Regiment, under Colonel Yvan Gerard
13th Line Regiment, under Colonel Adrian Labio
14th Line Regiment, under Colonel E. Hennequin

Foot hunters

The foot hunters are a variant for a ‘Jager’ regiment.
1st Regiment Foot Hunters, under Colonel L. Dagois
2nd Regiment Foot Hunters, under Colonel Georges Lescornez
3rd Regiment Foot Hunters, under Colonel A. Sthouse

Grenadiers and carabiners

Grenadiers, like all other armies in the world, consist of strong forces in the army. Carabiners fight quick skirmishes with the enemy to allow regular infantry to join the front. Carabiner-Cyclists also have cycles to increase mobility, allowing them to cooperate with cavalry, unlike most infantry. The Carabiner-Cyclists are also considered as cavalry.
1st Grenadier Regiment, under Colonel André Van Sprang
1st Carabiner Regiment, under Colonel, Robert Oor
1st Regiment Carabiner-Cyclists, under Colonel M. Flameng
2nd Regiment Carabiner-Cyclists, under Colonel Albert Mersch

Ardennes Hunters

The Ardennes Hunters were special forces in the Belgian Infantry. Created in 1934 by the reformation of the 10th Line Regiment, these regimental forces position themselves in the Ardennes, manning posts important junctions in the Ardennes region. In the Battle of Belgium, they slowed down the German onslaught, in time for the rest of the army to retreat to new positions.
1st Regiment Ardennes Hunters, under Colonel Robert Deschepper
2nd Regiment Ardennes Hunters, under Colonel Florent Merckx
3rd Regiment Ardennes Hunters, under Colonel H. Robert

Reserve units

First Reserve

The First Reserve was formed of young recruits in the 1930s. They consisted of regiments that were produced between early 1930 to late 1930. They have the same equipment as regiments in the Field Army.
Line regiments
15th Line Regiment
16th Line Regiment
17th Line Regiment
18th Line Regiment
19th Line Regiment
20th Line Regiment
21st Line Regiment
22nd Line Regiment
23rd Line Regiment
24th Line Regiment
25th Line Regiment
26th Line Regiment
27th Line Regiment
28th Line Regiment
29th Line Regiment
Foot hunters
4th Regiment Foot Hunters
5th Regiment Foot Hunters
6th Regiment Foot Hunters
Grenadiers and carabiners
2nd Grenadier Regiment
2nd Carabiner Regiment
3rd Regiment Carabiner-Cyclists
4th Regiment Carabiner-Cyclists
Ardennes Hunters
4th Regiment Ardennes Hunters
5th Regiment Ardennes Hunters
6th Regiment Ardennes Hunters
Ardennes Jagers Motorized Battalion
T13 Company at Namur

Second Reserve

The Second Reserve composed of conscripts that just joined in late 1939. These newer regiments were poorly equipped, their weaponry dated back to the early 1900s. Additionally, each regiment in the Second Reserve was smaller than their First Reserve counterparts, lacking a Fourth Battalion. A lack of heavy weapons plagued the Second Reserve for the duration of the Battle of Belgium.
Line regiments
31st Line Regiment
32nd Line Regiment
33rd Line Regiment
34th Line Regiment
35th Line Regiment
36th Line Regiment
37th Line Regiment
38th Line Regiment
39th Line Regiment
40th Line Regiment
41st Line Regiment
42nd Line Regiment
43rd Line Regiment
44th Line Regiment
Foot hunters
7th Regiment Foot Hunters
8th Regiment Foot Hunters
9th Regiment Foot Hunters
Grenadiers and carabiners
3rd Grenadier Regiment
3rd Carabiner Regiment

Reinforcements

Each regiment in the Field Army also made an additional reinforcing regiment to support operations. These regiments also acted as training forces.

Line regiments

51st Line Regiment
52nd Line Regiment
53rd Line Regiment
54th Line Regiment
55th Line Regiment
56th Line Regiment
57th Line Regiment
58th Line Regiment
59th Line Regiment
60th Line Regiment
61st Line Regiment
62nd Line Regiment
63rd Line Regiment
64th Line Regiment

Foot hunters

10th Regiment Foot Hunters
11th Regiment Foot Hunters
12th Regiment Foot Hunters

Grenadiers and carabiners

4th Grenadier Regiment
4th Carabiner Regiment
5th Regiment Carabiner-Cyclists

Ardennes hunters

7th Regiment Ardennes Hunters
2nd Motorized Battalion
Reinforcement and Training Center
4th Army Depot

Fortress units

These units hold major junctions and forts along the front and consist of old veterans:
1st Regiment of Special Fortress Units
VI Special Fortress Unit Battalion
VII Special Fortress Unit Battalion

Cavalry 1940

Units considered to be ‘cavalry’ are a mix of Lancers, carabiners, Guides, Cyclists, and Armor. They act in support of Infantry and Artillery. Most of the regiments of the cavalry are motorized in the early 1930s.

Field units

1st Guides/Gidsen Regiment
1st Lancers Regiment
2nd Lancers Regiment
3rd Lancers Regiment
1st Horseback Regiment, also known as 1st Regiment Jagers op Paard, and 1st Chasseurs Regiment
2nd Horseback Regiment, also known as 2nd Regiment Jagers op Paard, and 2nd Chasseurs Regiment
1st Regiment Carabiner-Cyclists
2nd Regiment Carabiner-Cyclists

Reserve units

First reserve

2nd Guides/Gidsen Regiment
4th Lancers Regiment
T13 Battalion
Eskadron Armored Cars
Cyclist Squadron of 1st Infantry Division
Cyclist Squadron of 2nd Infantry Division
Cyclist Squadron of 3rd Infantry Division
Cyclist Squadron of 4th Infantry Division
Cyclist Squadron of 5th Infantry Division
Cyclist Squadron of 6th Infantry Division
Cyclist Squadron of 7th Infantry Division
Cyclist Squadron of 8th Infantry Division
Cyclist Squadron of 9th Infantry Division
Cyclist Squadron of 10th Infantry Division
Cyclist Squadron of 11th Infantry Division
Cyclist Squadron of 12th Infantry Division
3rd Regiment Carabiner-Cyclists
4th Regiment Carabiner-Cyclists

Second reserve

Cyclist Squadron of 13th Infantry Division
Cyclist Squadron of 14th Infantry Division
Cyclist Squadron of 15th Infantry Division
Cyclist Squadron of 16th Infantry Division
Cyclist Squadron of 17th Infantry Division
Cyclist Squadron of 18th Infantry Division

Reinforcements

5th Regiment Carabiner-Cyclists
7th Motorized Regiment

Border cyclists 1940

These are emergency mobile units at the border. But the Border Cyclists recruitment effort has been limited, and there were few units.
1st Border Cyclists Regiment
2nd Border Cyclists Regiment
Border Cyclists Battalion of Limburg
Border Cyclists Battalion
T13 Company

Belgian Air Force">Belgian Air Component">Belgian Air Force 1940

The Belgian Air Force consists of three main regiments, with aircraft that was bought from the Allies.
1st Aviation Regiment, also known as 1st Air Regiment
2nd Aviation Regiment, also known as 2nd Air Regiment
3rd Aviation Regiment, also known as 3rd Air Regiment
Air Force Auxiliaries Regiment

Gendarmerie 1940

The Gendarmerie were police units that are standard in almost every country. For Belgium, in 1940, Gendarmerie volunteers joined the army for reconnaissance.
1st Light Regiment
2nd Light Regiment
Territorial Gendarmerie

Army Health Service 1940

There are classes of medical units in the Belgian Army of 1940. There are 6 “pillars” that describe a medical unit based on its strategic importance and size. This list shows the medical corps of the Belgian Army.

1st Medical Corps (Reserve)

Medical Company
Army Ambulance
Light Surgery Ambulance
Heavy Surgery Ambulance
Medical Ambulance
‘Hygiene Train’
Ambulance Vehicle Train

2nd Medical Corps (Reserve)

Medical Company
Army Ambulance
Light Surgery Ambulance
Heavy Surgery Ambulance
Medical Ambulance
Hygiene Train
Ambulance Vehicle Train

3rd Medical Corps (In active service)

Medical Company
1st Army Ambulance
2nd Army Ambulance
1st Light Surgical Ambulance
2nd Light Surgical Ambulance
3rd Light Surgical Ambulance
Heavy Surgery Ambulance
1st Medical Ambulance
2nd Medical Ambulance
Hygiene Train
Ambulance Vehicle Train

Transport Corps

Company

Artillery 1940

This is a list of artillery regiments in the Belgian Army of 1940.

Field artillery

These artillery regiments are part of the active army, and are placed in divisional command.
1st Artillery Regiment
2nd Artillery Regiment
3rd Artillery Regiment
4th Artillery Regiment
5th Artillery Regiment
6th Artillery Regiment
7th Artillery Regiment
8th Artillery Regiment
9th Artillery Regiment
10th Artillery Regiment
11th Artillery Regiment
12th Artillery Regiment
13th Artillery Regiment
14th Artillery Regiment
15th Artillery Regiment
16th Artillery Regiment
17th Artillery Regiment
18th Artillery Regiment
19th Artillery Regiment
20th Artillery Regiment
21st Artillery Regiment
22nd Artillery Regiment
23rd Artillery Regiment
24th Artillery Regiment
25th Artillery Regiment
26th Artillery Regiment
VII Corps Artillery Group

Heavy army artillery

Army artillery regiments form heavy artillery support for the active army, but are not as mobile as the field artillery regiments. They are mostly divided between multiple units.
General Staff of Army Artillery
1st Army Artillery Regiment
2nd Army Artillery Regiment
3rd Army Artillery Regiment
4th Army Artillery Regiment
5th Army Artillery Regiment

Anti-aircraft artillery

Anti-aircraft defense was very rare in the Belgian army of the early 1900s. The artillery was mostly bought, and there were only two units, plus a general staff.
General staff of Ground Defense against Air targets
1st Regiment Ground Defense against Air targets
2nd Regiment Ground Defense against Air targets

Fortress artillery

Fortress Artillery are named for artillery that support Garrison sized forces in junctions and cities all around Belgium. There are 8 groups in total, 5 were part of a regiment.
Fortress Regiment of Liege
  • Group I
  • Group II
  • Group III
  • Group IV
  • Group V
  • Fortress Regiment of Namur
  • Group Defense of the Lower Scheldt

Reinforcements

The reinforcing artillery are made up of all classes, and reinforce sectors as independent regiments.
31st Artillery Regiment
32nd Artillery Regiment
33rd Artillery Regiment
34th Artillery Regiment
6th Army Artillery Regiment
3rd Regiment Ground Defense against Air targets

Engineers 1940

In World War I, Belgium had only three engineer regiments. But in the mobilization process, the engineer regiments duplicated wildly, and by the time 1940 began, there were 26 engineer battalions and supporting units. The battalions were split among the divisions and corps.

Engineer battalions

1st Engineer Battalion
2nd Engineer Battalion
3rd Engineer Battalion
4th Engineer Battalion
5th Engineer Battalion
6th Engineer Battalion
7th Engineer Battalion
8th Engineer Battalion
9th Engineer Battalion
10th Engineer Battalion
11th Engineer Battalion
12th Engineer Battalion
13th Engineer Battalion
14th Engineer Battalion
15th Engineer Battalion
16th Engineer Battalion
17th Engineer Battalion
18th Engineer Battalion
19th Engineer Battalion
20th Engineer Battalion
21st Engineer Battalion
22nd Engineer Battalion
23rd Engineer Battalion
24th Engineer Battalion
25th Engineer Battalion
26th Engineer Battalion
Engineer Company

Auxiliary units

1st Group of Auxiliaries
2nd Group of Auxiliaries

Reinforcements

40th Engineer Regiment
4th Battalion of Railway Troops
5th Company Pontonniers and ‘Inland Skippers’

Transmission troops 1940

Transmission troops were units attached to most active units of the Belgian Army. Divisions either have a company of these units or a battalion. Notice how only units from the Second reserve gain only a company and units from the active army and the First reserve gain a full battalion.

Divisional troops

1st Battalion of Transmission Troops
2nd Battalion of Transmission Troops
3rd Battalion of Transmission Troops
4th Battalion of Transmission Troops
5th Battalion of Transmission Troops
6th Battalion of Transmission Troops
7th Battalion of Transmission Troops
8th Battalion of Transmission Troops
9th Battalion of Transmission Troops
10th Battalion of Transmission Troops
11th Battalion of Transmission Troops
12th Battalion of Transmission Troops
13th Company of Transmission Troops
14th Company of Transmission Troops
15th Company of Transmission Troops
16th Company of Transmission Troops
17th Company of Transmission Troops
18th Company of Transmission Troops
19th Company of Transmission Troops
20th Company of Transmission Troops
28th Battalion of Transmission Troops
29th Battalion of Transmission Troops

Under corp command/under reserve

21st Battalion of Transmission Troops
22nd Battalion of Transmission Troops
23rd Battalion of Transmission Troops
24th Battalion of Transmission Troops
25th Company of Transmission Troops
26th Company of Transmission Troops
27th Company of Transmission Troops
30th Battalion of Transmission Troops

Others

31st Battalion of Transmission Troops
Regiment of Army Transmission Troops
40th Battalion of Transmission Troops

Free Belgian forces (1940-1945)

Independent Belgian forces evaded German disbanding following Belgian surrender. They would resist the Germans for the remainder of the war. Most were based in the UK, but some colonial forces were based in the Belgian Congo.

Ground forces

Piron Brigade
No. 10 (Inter Allied) Commando unit
5th Special Air Service
Public Force
  • 1st Groupement
  • 2nd Groupement
  • 3rd Groupement
  • 2nd Infantry Battalion
  • 3rd Infantry Battalion
  • 5th Infantry Battalion
  • 6th Infantry Battalion
  • 8th Infantry Battalion
  • 11th Infantry Battalion
  • 12th Infantry Battalion
  • 13th Infantry Battalion
  • 4th Gendarmerie Battalion
  • 7th Gendarmerie Battalion
  • 9th Gendarmerie Battalion
  • 10th Gendarmerie Battalion
  • 15th Gendarmerie Battalion
  • 16th Gendarmerie Battalion
  • 1st Battalion de Garde
There were more reconnaissance units and detached Gendarmerie companies and platoons.

Air squadrons

350th Squadron
349th Squadron

Belgian Navy in-exile">Belgian Navy">Belgian Navy in-exile

The Belgian Marine Corp/Navy was dismantled following the surrender. Yet, many officers escaped to England and joined the Royal Navy.