The 6th Army Corps () was a corps-level formation of the French Army that saw active service during both World War I and World War II. In May 1940, during the Battle of France, it was part of the Third Army under Group d'Armees 2, Army Group 2.
History The corps was established in 1873 and was headquartered in Châlons-sur-Marne. From that time it was responsible for the Ardennes, Marne, and Meurthe-et-Moselle.
From 1873 to 1914 it included the 12th Infantry Division (Reims, 6e Region Militaire); 40th (Saint-Mihiel); and 42nd Infantry Division (Verdun), the 6th Cavalry Brigade, and the 6th Artillery Brigade.
It was responsible for fortified places at Reims; Verdun, and Chalons-sur-Marne.
After the First World War it remained responsible for the Ardennes, Marne, and Meurthe-et-Moselle.
World War II (1939–1940) During the mobilization in September 1939, the 6th Army Corps was placed under the command of General Lucien Loizeau. Positioned on the Maginot Line, the corps held defensive sectors in Lorraine. During the German offensive in May 1940, the corps remained primarily in its fortified positions until the general retreat was ordered in mid-June.Les Grandes Unités Françaises de la Guerre 1939-1945, Vol. 1, Service Historique de l'Armée de Terre (SHAT), 1967. General Loizeau was taken prisoner on 20 June 1940.
Structure The 6th Army Corps was a Série A formation.Sumner, Ian: The French Army 1939–45 (1), Osprey Men-at-Arms 315, 1998. As an active frontline corps, it maintained a high proportion of active-duty personnel (cadres d'active) and was prioritized for modern equipment; notably, its 42nd Infantry Division maintained 100% of its authorized strength at the start of the campaign.Nafziger, George: The French Army, 1939-1940, Vol. 1, Nafziger Collection, 1992.
The corps' operational framework relied on the four functional pillars of the Corps Troops (Éléments Organiques de Corps d'Armée - EOCA): Infantry and Protection (Infanterie et Protection): The 606th Pioneer Regiment (606e Régiment de Pionniers) was tasked with fortifying rear areas and securing corps infrastructure. Artillery and Logistics (Artillerie et Train): Heavy firepower was provided by the 103rd Heavy Horse-Drawn Artillery Regiment (103e RALH), utilizing 105mm L and 155mm GPF batteries, supported by the Corps Artillery Park (Parc d'Artillerie) and the logistical assets of the transport branch (Train). Engineering (Génie): Specialized Sapper-Miner companies (Sapeurs-Mineurs 106/1 & 106/2) and bridging assets (Équipage de Ponts 106/16) facilitated tactical movement. Communications (Transmissions): Command and control were ensured by dedicated Telegraphic (106/81) and Radio (106/82) companies.
This organization followed the French doctrine of the "Methodical Battle" (Bataille conduite), where the corps acted as the central tactical and administrative frame to coordinate its divisions and attached Fortified Sectors (Secteurs Fortifiés).
Order of Battle (May 1940) According to the records of the SHAT and contemporary mobilization documents, the corps was structured as follows:
Corps Troops (Éléments Organiques de Corps d'Armée) Infantry: 606th Pioneer Regiment (606e Régiment de Pionniers) Cavalry: 8th Corps Reconnaissance Group (8e GRCA) Artillery: 103rd Heavy Horse-Drawn Artillery Regiment (103e RALH) Engineering: 106/1 & 106/2 Sapper-Miner Companies, 106/16 Bridging Company, 106/21 Engineering Park Company Communications: 106/81 Telegraphic, 106/82 Radio, and 106/83 Pigeon Detachments Services and Logistics: 106/6 Operating Service Group, 206/6 Butcher Company, 6th Horse-Drawn Ambulance, 206th Light Surgical Ambulance
42nd Infantry Division (42e Division d'Infanterie) 42nd Infantry Division (Click "show" to expand) Infantry Regiments: 80th, 94th, and 151st Infantry Regiments (80e, 94e, 151e RI) Artillery: 61st Field Artillery Regiment (61e RAD), 261st Heavy Artillery Regiment (261e RAL), and 10th Divisional Anti-Tank Battery Attached Fortress Units: 161st & 162nd Fortress Infantry Regiments (RIF), 23rd Artillery Regiment (F), 53rd (mot) Machine Gun Battalion
26th Infantry Division (26e Division d'Infanterie) 26th Infantry Division (Click "show" to expand) Infantry Regiments: 86th, 98th, and 105th Infantry Regiments (86e, 98e, 105e RI) Artillery: 36th Field Artillery Regiment (36e RAD), 236th Heavy Artillery Regiment (236e RAL), and 10th Divisional Anti-Tank Battery Attached Assets: 2/153rd, 3/153rd, and 4/153rd Artillery Regiments (F)
Fortified Sector of Boulay Subsector of Burtoncourt: 162e RIF, 23rd Armored Battalion (23e BCC), 3/423rd Pioneer Regiment Subsector of Tromborn: 161e RIF, 153rd Artillery Regiment (F) Subsector of Narbefontaine: 160e RIF
References
External links The 6th Army Corps in the Battle of the Aisne (1917)
High Command of the French Army (May 1940) Commander-in-Chief Maurice Gamelin (until 19 May) • Maxime Weygand Army Groups Army Group 1 (Billotte) • Army Group 2 (Prételat) • Army Group 3 (Besson) • Army of the Alps (Olry)
Army Corps of the French Army (1939–1940) Regular Army Corps 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th • 7th • 8th • 9th • 10th • 11th • 12th • 13th • 14th • 15th • 16th • 17th • 18th • 19th • 20th • 21st • 22nd • 23rd • 24th • 25th Others 44th CAF • 45th CAF • Colonial Corps • Cavalry Corps
Third Army – Structure by Corps (May 1940) 6th Army Corps 26th Infantry Division • 42nd Infantry Division 24th Army Corps 51st Infantry Division Colonial Corps 2nd Colonial Infantry Division • 6th Colonial Infantry Division • 7th Colonial Infantry Division 42nd Fortress Corps 58th Infantry Division • Fortified Sector of Thionville Army Reserves 6th North African Infantry Division • 6th Cavalry Division (6e DC)
6th Army Corps – Order of Battle (May 1940) Subordinate Divisions 26th Infantry Division • 42nd Infantry Division Fortified Sectors Boulay Fortified Sector Corps Assets 8th Corps Reconnaissance Group • 606th Pioneer Regiment • 103rd Heavy Artillery Regiment