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Draft:45th Infantry Division (France)

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45th Infantry Division
Active
  • 1914–1919
CountryFrance
BranchFrench Army
TypeInfantry Division
RoleInfantry
Engagements
Commanders
Notable
commanders

The 45th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the French Army that served in World War I. The 45th Division was formed on 19 August 1914 from personnel from Algeria and Morocco, within the 19th Military Region. The first gas attack on the Western Front was launched against its positions on 22 May 1915, which makes this unit notable.


Commanders

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  • 26 August 26, 1914 : General Antoine Drude[1]
  • 3 December 1914 – 23 September 1916 : General Fernand Quiquandon[1]
  • 23 September 1916 – 10 June 1918 : General Stanislas Naulin[1]
  • 10 June 1918: General Roger Michaud.[1]

Chain of command

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Chronology

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1914

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Mobilized in the 19th region, from 19 August. 24 August – 6 September : transported by sea to Sète, then by rail to the south of Paris; where its journey temporarily halted. From 3 September, redeployed towards the Le Mesnil-Amelot region.

Tirailleurs algériens in France during 1914
Tirailleurs marocains wounded on the banks of the Marne, September 1914.
Monument in memory of the defence of the Chambry cemetery by the Zouaves of the 45th Division on 6 and 7 September 1914.
Elements of the cavalry corps assist with the evacuation of the wounded of the Moroccan brigade, who have seized Penchard. Battle of the Marne, 8 September 1914.

6–13 September : engaged in the First Battle of the Marne. From 6 to 10 September, Battle of the Ourcq. Fighting towards Penchard, Chambry, Aisne, Barcy and Étrépilly, Seine-et-Marne. From 10 September, continued via Lizy-sur-Ourcq and Longpont (in liaison with the British Expeditionary Force), as far as Soissons. 13 September – 3 October : engaged in the first battle of the Aisne. Crossing of the Aisne (river) towards Soissons and repeated fighting north of Crouy. Then stabilization of the front and occupation of a sector in this region. On 23 and 30 September, French attacks towards the Perrière farm and north of the Montagne Neuve farm.[2]

3 October 1914 – 25 February 1915: withdrawal from the front and transport by railway to the Arras region. Engaged, from 5 October, in the First Battle of Artois. Fighting in the region of Bailleul-Sir-Berthoult, Roclincourt, Thélus and Écurie. Stabilization and occupation of a sector towards Roclincourt and La Targette (mine warfare). 31 October : front extended to the right towards the White House. 5 November : fight towards Écurie and north. 16 November : reduced front on the left to the south of La Targette. 28 November : German attack towards Écurie; from 27 to 29 November French counterattacks. 7–8 December : new German attacks and French counter-attacks. 17–18 February 1915 : French attacks.[2]

1915

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25 February – 13 April : withdrawal from the front; rest towards Avesnes-le-Comte, then from 30 March towards Doullens; instruction. (Elements in sector with the 10th Army Corps (France), towards Arras up to 2 March). From 6 April, transport by rail from the Doullens region to the south of Bergues. 13 April – 8 June : movement towards the front and occupation of a sector towards Poelkapelle and Langemark (in liaison with the British army).[8] 22 April : German gas attack during the Second Battle of Ypres;[a][10][11] violent French counter-attacks. Then occupation of a new sector towards Boezinge and Het-Sas. 16–17 May : French attacks on Hill 17 towards Pilkem.[12] 20–21 May : German counterattacks.[13] 23 May : sector moved, right towards Wieltje and Boezinge.[13] 30 May : new French attacks on Hill 17. 8 June – 30 September : relief by the Second Army of the B.E.F.;[14] bypass movement towards the north, then occupation of a new sector on the Yser, towards Boezinge and Steenstrate (in liaison with the British and Belgian armies).[15] 30 September 1915 – 11 March 1916 : withdrawal from the front and rest to the south-east of Bergues; instruction. From 21 November, elements in the Nieuwpoort sector.[13]

1916

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11 March – 9 May : transport by rail in the Crépy-en-Valois region; rest. From 18 March, movement in stages towards Jonchery-sur-Vesle; rest and work. From 20 April, transport by rail in the Sainte-Menehould region and rest in that of Triaucourt. 9–23 May : movement towards the front. Engaged in the Battle of Verdun between La Hayette and Avocourt Wood. Fighting in Camard wood. 23 May–9 June : withdrawal from the front; rest to the west of Saint-Dizier. From 30 May, transport by rail in the Châtel-sur-Moselle region; rest. 9 June – 9 August : movement towards the front and occupation of a sector between Vezouze and Chapelotte. 9 August – 1 September : withdrawal from the front; rest towards Rambervillers. From 12 August, movement towards the Saffais camp; instruction. 25 August, transport by rail in the Grandvilliers region; rest.[16]

1–16 September : transport by trucks to Fouilloy. Committed from 4 September in the Battle of the Somme, towards the Hôpital farm and the Forest. On 13, 14 and 15 September, French attacks. 16 September – 6 October : withdrawal from the front; rest towards Formerie. From 29 September, transported by rail to the Dunkirk region; rest. 6 October 1916 – 12 January 1917 : movement towards the front and occupation of a sector between Nieuport and Saint-Georges.[16]

1917

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12 January – 16 February : withdrawal from the front, transport by rail from Dunkirk to Chantilly; instruction at the Pontarmé training camp and from 7 February, rest in Neuilly-en-Thelle. 16 February – 4 March : works at Fitz-James, for the entrenched camp of Paris. 4–15 March : movement towards the front and occupation of a sector towards Beuvraignes and the Bois des Loges (excluded). 15 March – 2 April : withdrawal from the front, work towards Montdidier, then from 27 March transport by rail to Mailly-le-Camp; rest. 2–22 April 22 : movement towards the front, via Mourmelon-le-Petit, then on the 5 April occupation of a sector north of Prosnes. Engaged from 17 to 20 April in the Battle of the Hills (capture of Mount Haut and the Casque). 11 April – 19 May : withdrawal from the front, movement towards Mourmelon-le-Grand; rest towards La Chaussée-sur-Marne.[17]

19 May – 18 August : transport by rail to the front and from 26 May, occupation of a sector towards La Neuville-au-Pont and the north of Loivre. 18 August – 14 September : withdrawal from the front; rest at Verneuil (the 90th brigade is left in the sector until 22 August). 14 September – 6 October : occupation of a sector in the Sapigneul region, la Miette. 6–22 October : withdrawal from the front, movement towards Chaumuzy, then rest towards Saint-Martin-d'Ablois. 22 October – 11 December : movement towards the front and occupation of a sector towards Sapigneul and the south of Godat. From 16 November, ring road movement and occupation of a new sector between Courcy and the south of Godat. 11 December 1917 – 26 January 1918 : withdrawal from the front; rest and instruction towards Damery.[17]

1918

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26 January – 29 March : movement towards the front and occupation of a sector towards Courcy, Marne and Bétheny. 29 March – 28 April : withdrawal from the front and transport by trucks in the Vendeuil region. Engaged on 5 April in the Battle of the Avre (Second Battle of Picardy). Contribution to stopping the German offensive during violent fighting between Grivesnes and the west of Montdidier.[7] 28 April – 20 May : withdrawal from the front and movement towards Nivillers; from 30 April, transport by rail in the region of Épernay; rest and instruction towards Tours-sur-Marne, then from 17 May towards Ville-en-Tardenois. 20 May – 2 June : movement towards the Saint-Thierry massif, then 21 May occupation of a sector towards Courcy and Loivre. From 27 May, engaged in the Third Battle of the Aisne (alongside IX Corps of the British army). [18] Resistance on the Vesle, then southwest of Reims, towards Rosnay, Marne and Ormes, Marne.[7]

2 June – 6 August : withdrawal from the front and rest towards Mareuil-sur-Ay. On 4 July, occupation of a sector between Prunay and the Fort de la Pompelle. Engaged on 15 July in the Fourth Battle of Champagne. Resistance to the German shock. 2 August, bypass movement; engaged towards Rosnay and Gueux, Marne in the Second Battle of the Marne. 6 August – 8 September : occupation of a sector on the Vesle, towards Muizon and to the east. 8–20 September : withdrawal from the front and movement towards Arcis-le-Ponsart; then occupation of a sector between the west of Romain, Marne and the south of Glennes. From 16 September, engaged between the Vesle and the Aisne in the push towards the Hindenburg position. Fighting towards Glennes and 14 September towards Romain's tree. 20 September – 8 October : organization of the positions conquered north of the Vesle between the west of Romain and the south of Glennes. On 27 September, front extended to the left as far as the north-east of Baslieux-lès-Fismes. 8 October – 5 November: withdrawal from the front, movement towards Muizon. From 10 October, occupation of a sector on the Suippe, towards Burgundy; then progression towards the region of Saint-Germainmont, Le Thour (battle of the Serre). Organization in this region of a reduced sector on the left, 24 October to the north of Saint-Germainmont. 5–11 November : withdrawal from the front and rest towards Condé-en-Brie.[7]

Order of battle

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1914

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Tirailleurs algériens taking the train in 1914
Early WW1 colour photograph of French Zouaves
French Zouaves in the First World War
Chasseur d'Afrique in 1914.
Tirailleurs marocains in 1914.

On 5 September, the division was created, with four régiments at its core, three of Zouaves, one of tirailleurs algériens, each regiment comprising three infantry battalions.

  • 89th Brigade
Régiment de marche du 1er zouaves
Régiment de marche du 3e zouaves[19]
  • 90th Brigade
Régiment de marche du 2e zouaves
Régiment de marche du 2e régiment de tirailleurs algériens[19]
  • Divisional organic elements

Divisional cavalry: Régiment de marche of Chasseurs d'Afrique from the 1st and 2nd Regiments
Artillery: a divisional artillery with 3 groups
Engineers: a field company of sappers
Lines of communication: a detachment of telegraphists, a reserve of medical equipment, Sanitary Sections, a group of stretcher-bearers, 4 Field Ambulances, 4 hospital sections.
Logistics: Divisional Train, Supply section, [19] Horse Transport section, 1 auxiliary convoy, supply section's Field Bakeries and Butcheries, Motor Ambulance Convoy.

From 8 September to 5 October 1914, a Brigade of Moroccan tirailleurs under the command of General Ditte[20] composed of two regiments (one of 3 battalions under the command of Colonel Touchard and one of 2 battalions under the command of Major Poeymireau) was assigned as reinforcements to the 45th Division, and fought during the Battle of the Marne.[19][21] Among their ranks was Lieutenant Alphonse Juin, early in his military career.

1915

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Tirailleurs algériens in their old "Turcos" uniform.
For the benefit of the photographer, a re-enactment of the 2nd Zouaves in a trench near Barcy-Chambry in September 1914. Probably done in 1915.

1 January 1915

  • 89th Brigade
Régiment de marche du 7e zouaves – name change, had been the 1st[19]
Régiment de marche du 5e zouaves – name change, had been the 3rd[19]
  • 90th Brigade
Régiment de marche du 3e zouaves – name change, had been the 2nd[19]
Régiment de marche du 6e régiment de tirailleurs algériens – name change, had been the 2nd[19]


1 July 1915

  • 89th Brigade
3e régiment mixte de zouaves et tirailleurs – Régiment de marche du 7e zouaves, name change, comprised two Zouave battalions and a batallion of tirailleurs tunisiens[19]
3e Régiment bis de zouaves – name change, had been the 5th[19]
  • 90th Brigade
2e Régiment bis de zouaves – name change, had been the 3e régiment de marche de zouaves, sent to the Macedonian front in November 1915[19] to join the Armée d'Orient (1915–1919).[22][23]
Régiment de marche du 1er régiment de tirailleurs algériens – name change, had been the 6th[19]

1916

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  • 89e brigade
3e régiment mixte de zouaves et tirailleurs
3e régiment bis de zouaves
  • 90e brigade
1er et 3e Bataillon d’Infanterie Légère d’Afrique[19]
1er régiment de marche de tirailleurs algériens

1918

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3e régiment bis de zouaves
1er régiment de marche de tirailleurs algériens
1st, 2nd and 3rd Light Infantry Battalions of Africa

The 2nd African Light Infantry Battalion joined the 45th Division during the summer of 1918 to form a group of battalions composed of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.[19]

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ The French troops in the path of the gas cloud suffered 2,000–3,000 casualties, with 800 to 1,400 fatalities.[9]

Citations

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  1. ^ a b c d Pompé 1924, pp. 361.
  2. ^ a b c d Pompé 1924, p. 364.
  3. ^ a b c Pompé 1924, p. 365.
  4. ^ Edmonds & Wynne 1995, p. 340.
  5. ^ a b Pompé 1924, p. 366.
  6. ^ a b Pompé 1924, p. 367.
  7. ^ a b c d Pompé 1924, pp. 367–368.
  8. ^ Edmonds & Wynne 1995, pp. 173–176.
  9. ^ Greenhalgh 2014, pp. 89–91.
  10. ^ Edmonds & Wynne 1995, pp. 176–184.
  11. ^ Hure 1977, p. 283.
  12. ^ Edmonds & Wynne 1995, p. 339.
  13. ^ a b c Pompé 1924, pp. 364–365.
  14. ^ Edmonds 1928, p. 85.
  15. ^ Edmonds 1928, pp. 99, 106, 107, 119.
  16. ^ a b Pompé 1924, pp. 365–366.
  17. ^ a b Pompé 1924, pp. 366–367.
  18. ^ Edmonds 1939, pp. 42, 62–67, 77–78, 102, 106–107.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Pompé 1924, pp. 362–363.
  20. ^ "La brigade Marocaine". www.circuit-bataille-marne1914.fr (in French). Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  21. ^ "La Brigade marocaine et la bataille de la Marne". Archives départementales de Seine-et-Marne (in French). Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  22. ^ "Historique du 2e Régiment Bis de Marche de Zouaves". Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  23. ^ Pompé 1924, pp. 972–973.

Bibliography

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  • Edmonds, J. E.; Wynne, G. C. (1995) [1927]. Military Operations France and Belgium, 1915: Winter 1915: Battle of Neuve Chapelle: Battles of Ypres. History of the Great War. Vol. I (Imperial War Museum and Battery Press ed.). London: Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-89839-218-0.
  • Edmonds, J. E. (1928). Military Operations France and Belgium, 1915: Battles of Aubers Ridge, Festubert, and Loos. History of the Great War Based on Official Documents By Direction of the Historical Section of the Committee of Imperial Defence. Vol. II (1st ed.). London: Macmillan. OCLC 58962526.
  • Edmonds, J. E. (1939). Military Operations: France and Belgium, May–July: The German Diversion Offensives and the First Allied Counter-Offensive. History of the Great War based on Official Documents by Direction of the Committee of Imperial Defence. Vol. III (1st ed.). London: Macmillan. OCLC 220616786.
  • Greenhalgh, Elizabeth (2014). The French Army and the First World War. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-107-60568-8.
  • Huré, Robert, ed. (1977). L'Armée d'Afrique : 1830-1962. Paris: Charles-Lavauzelle. OCLC 757208988.
  • Larcade, Jean-Louis (2000). Zouaves et Tirailleurs: les régiments de marche et les régiments mixtes (1914-1918), Vol I. Livet, Normandie: Editions des Argonautes. ISBN 2-95-151710-6.
  • Larcade, Jean-Louis (2001). Zouaves et Tirailleurs: les régiments de marche et les régiments mixtes (1914-1918), Vol II. Livet, Normandie: Editions des Argonautes. ISBN 2-95-151711-4.


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