1st Moroccan Division (1939)

Not to be confused with Moroccan Division (France).
1st Moroccan Division
1reDivision Marocaine
Active October 27, 1939 - 1940
Country  France
 Morocco
Branch French Army
Type Infantry Division
Role Infantry
Engagements
Insignia
1re D.M 1reDivision Marocaine

The 1st Moroccan Division (French: 1re division marocaine (1939), 1reD.M) created on October 27, 1939 was an infantry division of the Army of Africa (French: Armée d'Afrique) which participated to Battle of France (May–June 1940) of World War II.

The 1st Moroccan Division illustrated savoir-faire at the Battle of Gembloux on May 15, 1940 then during the defense of Lille end of May 1940.

Creation and different nominations

World War II (1939-1940)

Formed in Meknès on September 2, 1939, the division made way to Oran on October 24, disembarks at Marseille and stationed from Bayonne to Luchon and from Toulouse to La Rochelle before making way by train on November 14 to the zone de Fresnes-en-Woevre, Vigneulles-les-Hattonchâtel and Sponville.

Front de Lorraine

On December 17, the 1st Moroccan Division relieved the 1e D.I.N.A in the sector of Eizange (Third Army (France)), with a command post at Bertrange. On January 23, 1940, the division was to the turn relieved by the 20e D.I and regrouped in the zone of Uckange, Moyeuvre, Roncourt, while making way by land on February 3 toward Vitry-le-François et Châlons. The division garrisoned for two months. On April 1, the division was transproted towards the zone of de Bavai, du Quesnoy, de Maubegne with a command post at Berlaimont (1st Army, 5th Army Corps; 5e C.A). On the 4, the division relieved the 82e D.I.A in the sector of Hainaut, de Wargnies-le-Petit at la Sambre.

Bataille de la Dyle

On May 10, 1940, the division made way, by land, in the night towards Mons, Havre and Sars-la-Bruyère. On the 11, the division still made way in the night, towards Houdeng, Thieu and Seneffe. On the 12 and 13, the 1er and 2e R.T.M were transported by truck during the night, on the position Ernage-Gembloux where the division positioned on the 14. During that day, following the unfolding of the 3e D.L.M, actions were confused around Ernage under the bombardments of the stukas and the opposing artillery. On the 15, Ernage was lost in the morning and accompanied by a liaison rupture with the 1st Motoryzed Infantry Division (1re DIM), combats where delivered on the halting lines, then came the orders of unfolding on the V.F de Tilly, a difficult unfold. On the 16, the division occupied position on Villers-la-Ville at Marbais, a continuous combat. On the 17, the division unfolded behind the canal Charleroi-Bruxelles, then towards Mons. In part liaisons were in part ruptured. On the 18, elements of the division were regrouped at South-West of Valenciennes.

Two commemorative plaques were placed at the foot steps of the Church of église Saint-Pierre de Noirmont near Ernage for the memory of combatants of the 110th Infantry Regiment (French: 110e régiment d'infanterie, 110e R.I) and the 1st Moroccan Division which fell in combat around the Ernage.

Bataille du Nord

Main article: Siege of Lille (1940)

On May 19, with those still capable and remaining, the men take up position facing the south-east, on the Escaut, of the bridge of Rouvignies at Bouchain. On the 20, opposing forces reach Escaut at the bridge of the cimenterie, leading to a reestablishment of the position by a couter-attack. Following a regroupment in the zone of Marchiennes-Campagne, Warlaing, Erre, the division made way north of la Scarpe, on May 21, from Wred to Warlaing. On the 22, 23, the 2e and 7e R.T.M were reorganized in marching battalions, and one artillery regiment disappeared. On the 24, the division made way on the canal of la Deule, facing south-west, from Oignies to Baraques. On the 25, combat engaged the division at Meurchin and Pont-à-Vendin. On the 26, opposing forces overcome la Deule at ponts de Courrières et Maudit, and seize faubourg south of Carvin. The arrival of elements of the 2e D.I.N.A allowed the reestablishing of the Camphin front, Provin, Les Baraques, with a couter-attack of the 3e D.L.M. On the 27, combat were engaged at Don and Allennes. At night, the division unfolded on Lys. On the 28, cut in three sections and separated, the 1st Moroccan Division unfolded towards Lille, engaged in combat in Lille-Canteleu on the 29 and 30, then debris joined Malo-Terminos, succeeded to embark, endured losses at sea by aerial bombardments, paused in England from June 2 to June 5, transported to Brest, then managed to reorganize on the 8 and 9 in the zone of Beaumesnil. In, Barre-en-Ouche, the division managed to relocated the regimental trains and the services of the division evacuated towards the north before the encirclement.

While counting almost 4000 men remaining in the 1st Moroccan Division, the division made way to Risle, to la Ferrière and la Neuve-Lyre on June 10, redressed a 1e R.T.M with 2 battalions and passed to the 1st Light North-African Division.

1st Moroccan Division, 1reDM

From May 10 to June 24, the 1st Moroccan Division counted 700 killed out of which 70% where Maghrebis soldiers originating from Morocco and Algeria.[1]

Composition

The 1st Moroccan Division composed in 1940, almost 61% Moroccan military volunteers and 39% of French cadres ( Officers, Sous-Officiers, and French volunteers).[2]

Infantry

Artillery

Corps Attachments

Division Commander

Commandant : général Audet (1939-26 February 1940), then général Mellier (February 27, 1940). Chef d'état-major : Commandant Nardin, then Captain Castaing (May 22, 1940). Infantry Division Commandant: Colonel Crépin. Artillery Division Commandant: Colonel Ronin.

Homages

Battle Honors

The battle inscription Gembloux 1940 was attributed to the regimental flags of the :

Collective citations at the orders of the Armed Forces: Following the war, the regiments of the 1st Moroccan Division obtained an official homage from the French Armed Forces and Belgium Armed Forces (8 citations).

1st Moroccan Division Homages

A road in Gembloux, Belgium bears the name of Rue de la Première Division Marocaine (Road of the 1st Moroccan Division).

See also

References

  1. ↑ Militaires décédés durant la Seconde Guerre mondiale, SGA, mémoire des hommes
  2. ↑ Commandant d’Ornano, « La 1re Division marocaine dans la bataille de Gembloux », Revue historique des armées, juin 1952, p.111-135

See also

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