3rd Armoured Division (France, 1940)

3rd Armoured Division
3e Division Cuirassée
ActiveMarch - May 1940
Country France
BranchFrench Army
TypeArmoured Division
RoleArmoured warfare
Size200
Motto(s)Boutez En Avant (Push Forward)
EngagementsWorld War II
  • Battle of France
Military unit

The 3rd Armoured Division (French: 3e Division Cuirassée, 3e DCR) is a unit of the French Army formed during World War II that took part in the May–June 1940 Battle of France.

History

B1 bis tank of the 41st Tank Battalion, lost near Ouvrage La Ferté in May 1940

Formed 20 March 1940 at Reims. Campaigns: Battle of the Meuse, Meuse Front, Battle of the Aisne and Retreat of the center. Final command post at Montbard northwest of Dijon. Division captured 17–18 June. Subordination: XXI Corps of 2nd Army until 23 May, then various including 4th Army and XVIII Corps of 2nd Army.[1]

Composition

In May 1940:[2][3][4]

  • 41st Tank Battalion (B1 bis tanks)
  • 49th Tank Battalion (B1 bis tanks)
  • 42nd Tank Battalion (H39 tanks)
  • 45th Tank Battalion (H39 tanks)
  • 16th Motorized Rifle Battalion (bataillon de chasseurs portés)
  • 319th Artillery Regiment

References

  1. ^ GUF, Vol. 3, pp. 497-506.
  2. ^ Vauvillier, François (October 2007). "La division cuirassée en France en 1940 et ses perspectives : 1 - Les chars et les chasseurs portés". Histoire de Guerre, Blindés et Matériel (in French). No. 79. Histoire & Collections. pp. 38–49.
  3. ^ Vauvillier, François (January 2008). "La division cuirassée en France en 1940 et ses perspectives : 2 - l'artillerie d'accompagnement, l'artillerie antichars et la défense contre avions". Histoire de Guerre, Blindés et Matériel (in French). No. 80. Histoire & Collections. pp. 40–49.
  4. ^ Bonal, Capitaine (2 November 2016). "Les divisions cuirassées". defense.gouv.fr (in French).

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