The Military Division (, abbreviated to DM) was a Vichy French infantry formation in 1940-1942, during World War II. The divisions were numbered according to the military regions. The Vichy French Military Division had a near-identical organisation as the French Infantry Divisions of 1939-1940, but with the restrictions of the Armistice of 22 June 1940 imposed them. The whole Army of Vichy France, except for the Garde, was demobilized on 27 November 1942 after Case Anton.
Organisation The table below shows the order of battle that a Military Division aspired to. In addition, each Military Division had a , which had the purpose of countering politically subversive actions, especially those by Communists, but also those of the supporters of Charles de Gaulle. UnitDivision headquarters3x Infantry regiments (each of an identical composition) (or 3x Demi-brigades of Chasseurs à Pied, each with 3 battalions)I battalion4 mixed rifle and MG companies, collectively including:Theoretically, there would be 3x 50mm 1937-pattern grenade launcher and 6x MAS-38 and Thompson submachine guns per platoon.
26x FM 24/29 light machine gun 16x Hotchkiss Mle 1914 machine gun 36x Lance Grenades de 50 mm modèle 37/VB rifle grenade 3x 60mm mortars 3x 81mm mortarsII battalion4 mixed rifle and MG companies (as above)III battalion4 mixed rifle and MG companies (as above)Cavalry regiment (either Cuirassier/Dragoon or Chasseur/Hussar)A single Cuirassier or Dragoon regiment (divided into reconnaissance groups) 2 mounted squadrons 3 cyclist squadrons (15x Hotchkiss MGs, 10x 81mm mortars) 1 armoured car squadron (8x Panhard AMD)The Panhard's anti-tank gun was replaced with a second 7.5mm machine gun.A single Chasseurs à cheval or Hussar regiment
4 mounted sabre squadrons 1 heavy weapons squadron (12x Hotchkiss MGs, 4x 81mm mortars)Artillery regimentI group 3 batteriesEach battery had four Canon de 75 modèle 1897.One battery was tractor-drawn, the other two were horse-drawn.II group 3 batteriesIII group 4 batteriesEngineer battalion 2 companies a half-company bridging trainSignals group,The term 'group' is used for support units, though equivalent to that of a company. also known as a battalionTransport group, also known as companyGuard regiment Moreover, there existed four cavalry regiments of the general reserve.
Equipment This Armistice banned anti-tank and gas protection equipment, while minimizing mechanization. However, the reduction of the French army meant that its remains could be entirely equipped with the newest and best equipment available, e.g. MAS-36 rifle, MAS-38 and Thompson submachine guns. The previously used VB rifle grenade was over time replaced with the Lance Grenades de 50 mm modèle 37. Artillery was only allowed to have 75mm calibre guns.
Military Divisions +Table of Military Divisions within the Vichy Army and their main component unitsMilitary divisionsLocation of divisional headquartersInfantry unitsCavalry regimentArtillery regiment7th Military DivisionBourg-en-Bresse
4e Chasseurs à Pied Demi-brigade:
5th Dragoon Regiment9th Military DivisionChâteauroux 1st Infantry Regiment
12th Military DivisionLimoges
1st Chasseurs à Pied Demi-brigade:
6th Cuirassier Regiment13th Military DivisionClermont-Ferrand 92nd Infantry Regiment 8th Dragoon Regiment14th Military DivisionLyon
3rd Chasseurs Alpins Demi-brigade:
15th Military DivisionMarseille 43rd Alpine Infantry Regiment
2nd Chasseurs Alpins Demi-brigade:
12th Cuirassier Regiment16th Military DivisionMontpellier
3rd Dragoon Regiment17th Military DivisionToulouse
150th Infantry Regiment2nd Dragoon Regiment
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