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 covers up every detail on the 18 day campaign (1940) 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. (Besides the badges)
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 (3rd Infantry Division), under Colonel Louis Barthélemy
2nd Line Regiment (12th Infantry Division), under Colonel Devloo
3rd Line Regiment (1st Infantry Division), under Captain Victor Defonseca
4th Line Regiment (1st Infantry Division), under Colonel Arthur De Cae
5th Line Regiment (2nd Infantry Division), under Colonel R. Carion
6th Line Regiment (2nd Infantry Division), under Colonel H. Godeau
7th Line Regiment (4th Infantry Division), under Colonel M. Gondry
8th Line Regiment (9th Infantry Division), under Colonel V. Vermeulen
9th Line Regiment (6th Infantry Division), under Colonel A. Bouha
10th Line Regiment (Formed the Ardennes Hunters)
11th Line Regiment (4th Infantry Division), under Colonel Louis Horckmans
12th Line Regiment (3rd Infantry Division), under Colonel Yvan Gerard
13th Line Regiment (8th Infantry Division), under Colonel Adrian Labio
14th Line Regiment (11th Infantry Division), under Colonel E. Hennequin
Foot hunters The foot hunters are a variant for a ‘Jager’ regiment.
1st Regiment Foot Hunters (5th Infantry Division), under Colonel L. Dagois
2nd Regiment Foot Hunters (5th Infantry Division), under Colonel Georges Lescornez
3rd Regiment Foot Hunters (10th Infantry Division), 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 (6th Infantry Division), under Colonel André Van Sprang
1st Carabiner Regiment (6th Infantry Division), under Colonel, Robert Oor
1st Regiment Carabiner-Cyclists (Group Ninitte), 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 (1st Division Ardennes Hunters), under Colonel Robert Deschepper
2nd Regiment Ardennes Hunters (1st Division Ardennes Hunters), under Colonel Florent Merckx
3rd Regiment Ardennes Hunters (1st Division 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 (4th Infantry Division)
16th Line Regiment (9th Infantry Division)
17th Line Regiment (9th Infantry Division)
18th Line Regiment (7th Infantry Division)
19th Line Regiment (8th Infantry Division)
20th Line Regiment (11th Infantry Division)
21st Line Regiment (8th Infantry Division)
22nd Line Regiment (12th Infantry Division)
23rd Line Regiment (12th Infantry Division)
24th Line Regiment (1st Infantry Division)
25th Line Regiment (3rd Infantry Division)
26th Line Regiment (Was in 2nd Division in 1914, Non-existent in 1940)
27th Line Regiment (Was in 2nd Division in 1914, Non-existent in 1940)
28th Line Regiment (2nd Infantry Division)
29th Line Regiment (11th Infantry Division)
Foot hunters 4th Regiment Foot Hunters (5th Infantry Division)
5th Regiment Foot Hunters (10th Infantry Division)
6th Regiment Foot Hunters (10th Infantry Division)
Grenadiers and carabiners 2nd Grenadier Regiment (7th Infantry Division)
2nd Carabiner Regiment (7th Infantry Division)
3rd Regiment Carabiner-Cyclists (1st Cavalry Division)
4th Regiment Carabiner-Cyclists (1st Cavalry Division)
Ardennes Hunters 4th Regiment Ardennes Hunters (2nd Division Ardennes Hunters)
5th Regiment Ardennes Hunters (2nd Division Ardennes Hunters)
6th Regiment Ardennes Hunters (2nd Division 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 (15th Infantry Division)
32nd Line Regiment (13th Infantry Division)
33rd Line Regiment (13th Infantry Division)
34th Line Regiment (13th Infantry Division)
35th Line Regiment (14th Infantry Division)
36th Line Regiment (14th Infantry Division)
37th Line Regiment (16th Infantry Division & Maritime Base)
38th Line Regiment (14th Infantry Division)
39th Line Regiment (18th Infantry Division)
40th Line Regiment (Non-existent)
41st Line Regiment (16th Infantry Division)
42nd Line Regiment (15th Infantry Division)
43rd Line Regiment (15th Infantry Division)
44th Line Regiment (16th Infantry Division)
Foot hunters 7th Regiment Foot Hunters (17th Infantry Division)
8th Regiment Foot Hunters (17th Infantry Division)
9th Regiment Foot Hunters (17th Infantry Division)
Grenadiers and carabiners 3rd Grenadier Regiment (18th Infantry Division)
3rd Carabiner Regiment (18th Infantry Division)
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 (Non-existent)
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 (Ardennes Hunters)
Reinforcement and Training Center (Ardennes Hunters)
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 Cavalry Division)
1st Lancers Regiment (2nd Cavalry Division)
2nd Lancers Regiment (1st Cavalry Division)
3rd Lancers Regiment (1st Cavalry Division)
1st Horseback Regiment (2nd Cavalry Division), 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 (1st Cavalry Division, transferred to Group Ninitte)
2nd Regiment Carabiner-Cyclists (2nd Cavalry Division)
Reserve units First reserve 2nd Guides/Gidsen Regiment (Group Ninitte)
4th Lancers Regiment
T13 Battalion (2nd Cavalry Division)
Eskadron Armored Cars (2nd Cavalry Division)
Cyclist Squadron of 1st Infantry Division (Group Ninitte)
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 (1st Cavalry Division)
4th Regiment Carabiner-Cyclists (2nd Cavalry Division)
Second reserve Cyclist Squadron of 13th Infantry Division
Cyclist Squadron of 14th Infantry Division (Group Ninitte)
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 (Cavalry Corps)
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 (Border Cyclists)
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