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3rd Colonial Infantry Division (France)
Encyclopedia
The 3rd Colonial Infantry Division was a division of the French Marine Forces
Troupes de marine
The or Infanterie de marine, formerly Troupes coloniales, are an arm of the French Army with a colonial heritage. The Troupes de marine have a dedicated overseas service role. Despite their title they have been a part of the Army since 1958...
, comprising both French and colonial troops.
The compagnie franches de la mer or French Marines were created in 1622 by Richelieu, and placed under the Ministry of the Navy in the early 19th century. These were reorganized into régiments d'infanterie coloniale
French Colonial Forces
The French Colonial Forces , commonly called La Coloniale, was a general designation for the military forces that garrisoned in the French colonial empire from the late 17th century until 1960. They were recruited from mainland France or from the French settler and indigenous populations of the...
in 1900 and placed under the Ministry of War. In 1958, all Colonial Infantry Regiments were retitled "French Marines", also known as the RIMa.
The 3rd Colonial Infantry Division fought in the First and Second world wars.
Composition
- 1er régiment d'infanterie coloniale August 1914
- 2e régiment d'infanterie coloniale August 1914
- 3e régiment d'infanterie coloniale August 1914 - February 1916
- 7e régiment d'infanterie coloniale August 1914 - November 1918
- 21e régiment d'infanterie coloniale August 1914 - November 1918
- 23e régiment d'infanterie coloniale end of 1914 - November 1918
- 58e régiment d'infanterie coloniale du Sénégal June - October 1916
- 88e régiment d'infanterie territoriale August - November 1918
As part of the French 1st Colonial Corps , at various times it was part of the French First Army, French Second Army
Second Army (France)
The Second Army was a Field army of the French Army during World War I and World War II. The Army became famous for fighting the Battle of Verdun in 1916 under Philippe Pétain.-World War I:*General de Curières de Castelnau...
, French Third Army
Third Army (France)
The Third Army was a Field army of the French Army, which fought during World War I and World War II.-World War I:*General Ruffey *General Sarrail *General Humbert...
, French Fourth Army
Fourth Army (France)
The Fourth Army was a Field army of the French Army, which fought during World War I and World War II.-World War I:*General Fernand de Langle de Cary *General Henri Gouraud...
, French Fifth Army, French Sixth Army
Sixth Army (France)
The Sixth Army was a Field army of the French Army during World War I and World War II.-World War I:*General Maunoury *General Dubois *General Fayolle...
, French Seventh Army
Seventh Army (France)
The Seventh Army was a field army of the French Army during World War I and World War II.-World War I:*General Putz *General de Maud’Huy...
, French Eighth Army
Eighth Army (France)
The Eighth Army was a Field army of the French Army during the World War I and World War II.After the armistice it was part of the occupation of the Rhineland...
and French Tenth Army
Tenth Army (France)
The Tenth Army was a Field army of the French Army during World War I. It took part in the Battle of the Somme in 1916. After the armistice it was part of the occupation of the Rhineland...
.
Engagements
1914: The division fought in the Battle of the ArdennesBattle of the Ardennes
The Battle of the Ardennes was one of the opening battles of World War I. It took place from August 21–23, 1914, part of the Battle of the Frontiers.-Background:...
(where it lost roughly 11,000 men out of a contingent of 15,000), the Battle of the Meuse, the First Battle of the Marne
First Battle of the Marne
The Battle of the Marne was a First World War battle fought between 5 and 12 September 1914. It resulted in an Allied victory against the German Army under Chief of Staff Helmuth von Moltke the Younger. The battle effectively ended the month long German offensive that opened the war and had...
and the First Battle of Champagne
First Battle of Champagne
The First Battle of Champagne was fought early in World War I in the Champagne region of France, between the French and German Empire armies. It was effectively the first significant attack by the Allies against the Germans since the construction of trenches following the so-called 'Race to the...
.
1915: Many small engagements, plus the Second Battle of Champagne
Second Battle of Champagne
The Second Battle of Champagne was a French offensive against the invading German army beginning on 25 September 1915, part of World War I.-September 25 - October 6:...
.
1916: The Battle of the Somme (twice).
1917: The Second Battle of the Aisne
Second Battle of the Aisne
The Second Battle of the Aisne , was the massive main assault of the French military's Nivelle Offensive or Chemin des Dames Offensive in 1917 during World War I....
, and many small engagements.
1918: The Third Battle of the Aisne
Third Battle of the Aisne
The Third Battle of the Aisne was a battle of the German Spring Offensive during World War I that focused on capturing the Chemin des Dames Ridge before the American Expeditionary Force could arrive completely in France. It was one of a series of desperate offensives, known as the Kaiserschlacht,...
, the 4th Battle of Champagne, the Second Battle of the Marne
Second Battle of the Marne
The Second Battle of the Marne , or Battle of Reims was the last major German Spring Offensive on the Western Front during the First World War. The German attack failed when an Allied counterattack led by France overwhelmed the Germans, inflicting severe casualties...
, and many minor engagements until the end of the war.
See also
- Troupes de marineTroupes de marineThe or Infanterie de marine, formerly Troupes coloniales, are an arm of the French Army with a colonial heritage. The Troupes de marine have a dedicated overseas service role. Despite their title they have been a part of the Army since 1958...
- Fusiliers de MarineFusiliers de MarineThe Fusiliers Marins are units specialised in the protection and defence of key sites of the French Navy on land. They consist of about 1,800 men.Their deployments include:...
- Naval light infantry - French Colonial ForcesFrench Colonial ForcesThe French Colonial Forces , commonly called La Coloniale, was a general designation for the military forces that garrisoned in the French colonial empire from the late 17th century until 1960. They were recruited from mainland France or from the French settler and indigenous populations of the...
External links
- Official site
- Unofficial site (managed by the national federation of veterans of oversea and marine troops)