3rd Algerian Infantry Division
Encyclopedia
The 3rd Algerian Infantry Division was an infantry division of the French Army
during the last half of the Second World War
. The 3e DIA had one of the most successful combat records of any French Army division during the Second World War. It paid a high price for this distinction, suffering more than 3,000 soldiers killed in action between 1942 and 1945. It was considered by Marshal Juin
and General de Monsabert
as the "worthy heir" of the Legio III Augusta
.
on May 1, 1943 from elements of the Constantine Division and the division was structured and equipped in a manner similar to, although not identical to, U.S. infantry divisions of the period. The primary combat units of the division as initially organized were the 3rd and 7th Algerian Tirailleur
Regiments, and the 4th Tunisian Tirailleur Regiment. In March 1945, the 7th Algerian Tirailleurs returned to north Africa and its place was taken by the 49th Infantry Regiment.
The 3e DIA fought within the French Expeditionary Corps in the Italian Campaign
, the campaign in Southern France
, the Vosges Mountains
, and Alsace
during 1943 - 1944 before spearheading the advance of the French II Corps
into Germany and entering Stuttgart
on April 22, 1945.
Part of the French occupation army in Germany, the 3e DIA was inactivated and used to form a mixed infantry and armor division in April 1946. The division's honors and traditions were carried on first by the 3rd Armored Division
and then the 3rd Mechanised Brigade
.
The 3rd Algerian Infantry Division was made up of about 16,500 men including 60% Maghrebis (mostly Algerians) and 40% French (mostly Pieds-Noirs
).
, citations made during World War I, World War II or colonial conflicts were accompanied with awards of a Croix de guerre
(Cross of War) with attachments on the ribbon depending on the degree of citation: the lowest being represented by a bronze star (for those who had been cited at the regiment or brigade level) while the highest degree is represented by a bronze palm (for those who had been cited at the army level). A unit can be mentioned in Despatches. Its flag is then decorated with the corresponding Croix. After two citations in Army Orders, the men of the unit concerned are all entitled to wear a fourragère
.
The 3rd Algerian Infantry Division was awarded four citations in Army Orders and all its regiments were awarded a Fourragère
(at least two citations in Army Orders).
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
during the last half of the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The 3e DIA had one of the most successful combat records of any French Army division during the Second World War. It paid a high price for this distinction, suffering more than 3,000 soldiers killed in action between 1942 and 1945. It was considered by Marshal Juin
Alphonse Juin
- Early years :Juin was born at Bône in French Algeria, and enlisted in the French Army, graduating from the École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr in 1912.- Career :...
and General de Monsabert
Joseph de Goislard de Monsabert
Joseph de Goislard de Monsabert , was a French general who served during the Second World War....
as the "worthy heir" of the Legio III Augusta
Legio III Augusta
Legio tertia Augusta was raised in the year 43 BCE most likely by the consul Gaius Vibius Pansa and the emperor Augustus who served the Roman Empire in North Africa until at least the late 4th century CE. It is possible that it fought in the battle of Philippi against the murderers of Caesar...
.
History
The division was formed in AlgeriaAlgeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
on May 1, 1943 from elements of the Constantine Division and the division was structured and equipped in a manner similar to, although not identical to, U.S. infantry divisions of the period. The primary combat units of the division as initially organized were the 3rd and 7th Algerian Tirailleur
Tirailleur
Tirailleur literally means a shooting skirmisher in French from tir—shot. The term dates back to the Napoleonic period where it was used to designate light infantry trained to skirmish ahead of the main columns...
Regiments, and the 4th Tunisian Tirailleur Regiment. In March 1945, the 7th Algerian Tirailleurs returned to north Africa and its place was taken by the 49th Infantry Regiment.
The 3e DIA fought within the French Expeditionary Corps in the Italian Campaign
Italian Campaign (World War II)
The Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war in Europe. Joint Allied Forces Headquarters AFHQ was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the...
, the campaign in Southern France
Operation Dragoon
Operation Dragoon was the Allied invasion of southern France on August 15, 1944, during World War II. The invasion was initiated via a parachute drop by the 1st Airborne Task Force, followed by an amphibious assault by elements of the U.S. Seventh Army, followed a day later by a force made up...
, the Vosges Mountains
Vosges mountains
For the department of France of the same name, see Vosges.The Vosges are a range of low mountains in eastern France, near its border with Germany. They extend along the west side of the Rhine valley in a northnortheast direction, mainly from Belfort to Saverne...
, and Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
during 1943 - 1944 before spearheading the advance of the French II Corps
II Corps (France)
The 2nd Army Corps was first formed before World War I. During World War II it fought in the Campaign for France in 1940 and during the 1944-45 campaigns in southern France, the Vosges Mountains, Alsace, and southwestern Germany...
into Germany and entering Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
on April 22, 1945.
Part of the French occupation army in Germany, the 3e DIA was inactivated and used to form a mixed infantry and armor division in April 1946. The division's honors and traditions were carried on first by the 3rd Armored Division
3rd Armored Division (France)
The 3rd Armored Division was an armored unit of the French Army. The division was active during World War II.The 3rd Armored Division was formed in Tunisia in June 1943 and moved into Morocco for its first mission. The division didn’t receive its armor until December 1943 and then gradually lost...
and then the 3rd Mechanised Brigade
3rd Mechanised Brigade (France)
The 3rd Mechanised Brigade is a mechanised unit of the French Army.It maintains the traditions of the World War II 3rd Algerian Infantry Division which were later carried on by the 3rd Armored Division.- Composition :...
.
Commanders
- November 1942 - April 1943: General Welvert
- May 1943 - September 1944: General de MonsabertJoseph de Goislard de MonsabertJoseph de Goislard de Monsabert , was a French general who served during the Second World War....
- September 1944 - October 1945: General Guillaume
Structure
- 3rd regiment of Algerian Tirailleurs
- 4th regiment of Tunisian Tirailleurs
- 7th regiment of Algerian Tirailleurs (replaced by the 49th Infantry Regiment in March 1945)
- 3rd regiment of Algerian Spahis
- 7th regiment of African Chasseurs
- 67th regiment of African Artillery
The 3rd Algerian Infantry Division was made up of about 16,500 men including 60% Maghrebis (mostly Algerians) and 40% French (mostly Pieds-Noirs
Pied-noir
Pied-Noir , plural Pieds-Noirs, pronounced , is a term referring to French citizens of various origins who lived in French Algeria before independence....
).
Division Combat Casualties
| Killed in Action | French | Maghrebis | Total |
| Tunisia Campaign Tunisia Campaign The Tunisia Campaign was a series of battles that took place in Tunisia during the North African Campaign of the Second World War, between Axis and Allied forces. The Allies consisted of British Imperial Forces, including Polish and Greek contingents, with American and French corps... (1942–43) |
50 | 72 | 122 |
| Italian Campaign Italian Campaign (World War II) The Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war in Europe. Joint Allied Forces Headquarters AFHQ was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the... (1943–44) |
587 | 1,307 | 1,894 |
| Campaign in Southern France Operation Dragoon Operation Dragoon was the Allied invasion of southern France on August 15, 1944, during World War II. The invasion was initiated via a parachute drop by the 1st Airborne Task Force, followed by an amphibious assault by elements of the U.S. Seventh Army, followed a day later by a force made up... (1944–45) |
292 | 599 | 891 |
| German campaign (1945) | 52 | 119 | 171 |
| Total (1942–1945) | 981 (32%) | 2,097 (68%) | 3,078 |
Decorations
In FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, citations made during World War I, World War II or colonial conflicts were accompanied with awards of a Croix de guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
(Cross of War) with attachments on the ribbon depending on the degree of citation: the lowest being represented by a bronze star (for those who had been cited at the regiment or brigade level) while the highest degree is represented by a bronze palm (for those who had been cited at the army level). A unit can be mentioned in Despatches. Its flag is then decorated with the corresponding Croix. After two citations in Army Orders, the men of the unit concerned are all entitled to wear a fourragère
Fourragère
The fourragère is a military award, distinguishing military units as a whole, that is shaped as a braided cord. The award has been firstly adopted by France, followed by other nations such as the Netherlands, Belgium and Portugal.- History :...
.
The 3rd Algerian Infantry Division was awarded four citations in Army Orders and all its regiments were awarded a Fourragère
Fourragère
The fourragère is a military award, distinguishing military units as a whole, that is shaped as a braided cord. The award has been firstly adopted by France, followed by other nations such as the Netherlands, Belgium and Portugal.- History :...
(at least two citations in Army Orders).
Fourragère of the regiments
- Fourragère in the colors of the Médaille MilitaireMédaille militaireThe Médaille militaire is a decoration of the French Republic which was first instituted in 1852.-History:The creator of the médaille was the emperor Napoléon III, who may have taken his inspiration in a medal issued by his father, Louis Bonaparte, King of Holland...
(four to five citations in Army Orders)- 3rd regiment of Algerian Tirailleurs
- 4th regiment of Tunisian Tirailleurs
- Fourragère in the colors of the Croix de GuerreCroix de guerreThe Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
(two to three citations in Army Orders)- 7th regiment of Algerian Tirailleurs
- 7th regiment of African Chasseurs
- 3rd regiment of Algerian Spahis
- 67th regiment of African Artillery
Article Sources
- Grandes Unités FrançaisesGrandes Unités FrançaisesGrandes Unités Françaises is a monumental six-volume World War II order of battle and military unit history reference compiled by the historical service of the chief of staff of the French Army...
, Volumes IV and V-1, French Army Historical Service, Paris: Imprimerie Nationale, 1970 and 1972. - Le Réarmement et la Réorganisation de l'Armée de Terre Française (1943 - 1946), J. Vernet, French Army Historical Service, Château de Vincennes, 1980.
- Anthony Clayton, France, Soldiers, and Africa, Brassey's Defence Publishers, 1988
- Livre d'or de la 3e Division d'Infanterie Algérienne, Imprimerie Nationale, 1948
- Capitaine Heurgon, La victoire sous le signe des trois croissants la vie, les peines et les gloires de la troisième division d'infanterie algerienne, P. Vrillon, 1946
- Paul Gaujac, Le Corps expéditionnaire français en Italie, Histoire et collections, 2003
- Alphonse JuinAlphonse Juin- Early years :Juin was born at Bône in French Algeria, and enlisted in the French Army, graduating from the École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr in 1912.- Career :...
, Mémoires, Fayard, 1959
See also
- French Expeditionary Corps (1943–1944)
- Days of Glory -- a fictional film about the 7th Algerian Regiment