II Corps (France)
Encyclopedia
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. It was active under the First Army for many years after World War II.
2e Corps received credit for participation in these battles:
and consisted of the 4th Light Cavalry Division and 5th Motorized Division. In 1944-45, II Corps was subordinated to the First Army. During the campaigns in France and Germany, many divisions served with the corps but the 1st March Infantry Division
, the 3rd Algerian Infantry Division, and the 9th Colonial Infantry Division spent several months under II Corps command.
s, as well as the 15th Infantry Division. The corps was probably disestablished in the early 1990s. With the end of the Cold War, the French Army underwent significant reorganization and no longer has any numbered corps headquarters.
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...
it fought in the Campaign for France in 1940 and during the 1944-45 campaigns 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...
, 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...
, and southwestern Germany. It was active under the First Army for many years after World War II.
World War I
2e Corps was one of five corps of the Fifth Army and upon mobilization consisted of the 3rd and 4th Infantry Divisions. 2e Corps headquarters in 1914 was in Amiens. Commanders were:- At mobilization: Gen. Gérard
- 24 Jul 1915: Gen. Herr
- 10 Aug 1915: Gen. DuchêneDenis Auguste DuchêneDenis Auguste Duchene was a French World War I general. He was born on 23 September 1862 at Juzennecourt, Haute-Marne and died on 9 June 1950 at Bihorel, Seine-Inférieure...
- 29 Dec 1916: Gen. Buat
- 2 Jan 1917: Gen. Cadoudal
- 11 Jun 1918: Gen. Philipot
2e Corps received credit for participation in these battles:
- Aug 1914: Battle of the Ardennes
- Aug 1914: Battle of the Meuse
- Sep 1914: Battle of the Marne
- Sep 1914: Battle of Vitry
- Feb 1915: First battle of Champagne
- Apr 1915: First battle of Woëvre
- Feb 1916: Battle of VerdunBattle of VerdunThe Battle of Verdun was one of the major battles during the First World War on the Western Front. It was fought between the German and French armies, from 21 February – 18 December 1916, on hilly terrain north of the city of Verdun-sur-Meuse in north-eastern France...
- Jul 1916: Battle of the Somme
- May 1918: Third battle of the Aisne
- Jun 1918: Battle of Matz
- Jul 1918: Second battle of the Marne
- Sep 1918: Battle of Champagne and the Argonne
World War II
In 1940, the 2e Corps d'Armee Motorise was one of three corps of the Ninth ArmyNinth Army (France)
The Ninth Army was a Field army of the French Army during World War I and World War II. It initially was the only part of the French army that faced the Germans directly as they came unexpectedley through the Ardennes during the early stages of the Fall of France.-World War I:*General Ferdinand...
and consisted of the 4th Light Cavalry Division and 5th Motorized Division. In 1944-45, II Corps was subordinated to the First Army. During the campaigns in France and Germany, many divisions served with the corps but the 1st March Infantry Division
1st Free French Division
The 1st Free French Division was one of the principal units of the Free French Forces during World War II, and the first Free French unit of divisional size.-World War II:...
, the 3rd Algerian Infantry Division, and the 9th Colonial Infantry Division spent several months under II Corps command.
Cold War
In 1989, II Corps was headquartered in Baden Baden, Germany, and controlled the 3rd and 5th Armored Division5th Armored Division (France)
The 5th Armored Division was an armored division of the French Army that fought in World War II and the Algerian War. It was also active in Germany during the Cold War.-World War II:...
s, as well as the 15th Infantry Division. The corps was probably disestablished in the early 1990s. With the end of the Cold War, the French Army underwent significant reorganization and no longer has any numbered corps headquarters.
Article sources and citations
- Cordesman - Anthony H. Cordesman, NATO's Central Region Forces, London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd., 1988.
- GUF - Guerre 1939 - 1945. Les 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...
. Armée de Terre, Service Historique. Paris: Imprimerie Nationale, 1967. - Les Armées Françaises dans la Grande Guerre. Army Corps. Armée Service Historique. Paris: Imprimerie Nationale, 1922.
Further reading
- David G. Haglund and Olaf Mager (eds), Homeward bound? : allied forces in the new Germany, Westview Press, 1992. xi, 299 p. : ill. ; 22 cm. ISBN 0813384109.
- David Isby and Charles Kamps, Armies of NATO's Central Front, Jane's Publishing Company, 1985 (for c.1984 order of battle)