25th Airborne Division (France)

25th Airborne Division
25e Division Aéroportée
Active 1946 - 1948
Country  France
Branch French Army
Type Airbrone Division
Role Airborne Infantry
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Insignia
Abbreviation 25e DAP

The 25th Airborne Division, (French: 25e Division Aéroportée, 25e DAP) was a unit of the French Army, infantry dominated, specialized in airborne combats and air assaults. Constituted at the end of 1945, the division was created on February 1, 1946 and was dissolved during the Indochina War in June 1948. The Division did not intervene in Indochina as a division.

Creation and different nominations

History, garrisons, campaigns and battles

Within the final courses and following World War II, France intended to constitute two Airborne Divisions based on the American U.S. model of Airborne Division formations. The first Division to set foot on the ground was the 24th Airborne Division, 24e DAP, however, the chronicle lack of effectifs forming translated into the quick dissolution of the later after only 3 months of existence. The infantry of the Division and the 24e CEP were then accordingly transferred to the 25th Infantry Division, 25e DI, the embryon of the new Airborne Division which adopted the respective designation on February 1, 1946.

The Airborne Infantry of the Division was mixed and consituted from the ensemble of combat units which partook to the end of the conflict. In the Division can be found of 1 Regiment of Africa, the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment 1e RCP, 1 regiment SAS of Free France, the 2nd Parachute Chasseur Regiment 2e RCP, which just merged with the 3rd Parachute Chasseur Regiment 3eRCP, the 4e RIA SAS and the 1st Choc Airborne Infantry Regiment 1er R.I.C.A.P, which made up the amalgame of Choc Units of the 1st Army (5th Choc Battalion / Commando Group of Africa, 5e BC; 3rd Choc Battalion / Commando Group of France, 3eBC and Choc Battalions).[1]

Since setting foot on ground, the division endured the lack of, in means of air transprot constituted exclusively of Junkers Ju 52, Dakota, Languedoc 161.[2]

Facing challenges to develop following previsions, the division underwent several reorginzations and transfers. In accord with such, on September 1946, were creatd three independent Airborne Groupment or GAP.

In February 1947, a last modification to the unit was in phase to form the preparation of GAP 3. The infantry of GAP 1 was formed by the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment, and the 42e demi-brigade formed that of GAP 2 while GAP 3 (instruction) was formed in 1947.[3] At creation of the later, a reformed battalion of the 2nd Parachute Chasseur Regiment 2e RCP, contributed to formation while other forming battalions consituted the Colonial Parachute Commando Demi-Brigade[4] which formed the 43e demi-brigade.

During these tenures, other consitutions witnissed formations. The 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment and 2nd Parachute Chasseur Regiment formed in 1946 SAS Parachute Demi-Brigade.

In June 1948, the Division along with GAP 2 were dissolved.[5]

Division Commander

Subordinate units

See also

References

  1. ↑ In La 25e DAP : l’expérience du modèle divisionnaire en France aux lendemains de la Seconde Guerre mondiale, page 61.
  2. ↑ In Histoire des parachutistes français, page 110.
  3. ↑ In Histoire des parachutistes français, pages 115.
  4. ↑ In Histoire des parachutistes français, pages 120.
  5. ↑ In Histoire des parachutistes français, page 168

Sources and Bibliographies

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