Ask the details of French DINA(divisions of North Africa)?

[zhongguoren]

We know that during the battle on the west in 1939-1940,some troops came from the French colonies also join the battle.The French Army formed some DINA(North Africa Division,I have some questions below:
1,the men in these divisions should be come from the French colonies in the North Africa,in the orginazation of the troops,the Frenchmen and the Arabs is mixed orginazed or not?And the officers of this kind of troop is all of France?
2,The DINA also have there own tank battlation?Did the equipment of the DINA can match with the lined infrantry divisions in the French?
3,I don't quite understand the diffience between the DINA and the "French Foreigner Corps".
It seems that the "French Foreigner Corps" is also in North Africa.
Thank you for help me!

[David Lehmann]

Hello,

The French Army in FRANCE in 1940 :

In 1940 there were 28* active infantry divisions (generally rather well equipped, most men under 30 years old) :
• 7 "motorized" infantry divisions (1e, 3e, 5e, 9e, 12e, 15e, 25e DIM)
• 10 infantry divisions (10e, 11e, 13e, 14e, 19e, 21e, 23e, 36e, 42e, 43e DI)
• 3 mountain infantry divisions (27e, 29e, 31e DIA)
• 4 colonial infantry divisions (1e, 2e, 3e, 4e DIC)
• 4 north African infantry divisions (1e, 2e, 3e, 4e DINA)
* there were only 20 in early 1939

Fortress infantry divisions : 101e, 102e, 103e, 104e and 105e DIF (administratively divisional organization but infantry regiments spread all along the Maginot Line).

The mobilization allowed to constitute :
• 24 “A” type reserve infantry divisions (equipment rather complete) :
--o 2e, 4e, 6e, 7e, 16e, 18e, 20e, 22e, 24e, 26e, 31e, 32e, 35e, 41e, 44e, 45e and 47e DI
--o 28e and 30e DIA
--o 5e, 6e and 7e DIC
--o 5e and 6e DINA

• 19 “B” type reserve infantry divisions (older men, many equipments and officers lacking) :
--o 51e, 52e, 53e, 54e, 55e, 56e, 57e, 58e, 60e, 61e, 62e, 63e, 66e, 67e, 68e, 70e and 71e DI
--o 64e and 65e DIA

A total of 71 infantry divisions (+ 5 fortress infantry divisions) at the beginning of the campaign.

There were also 4 armored divisions (1e, 2e, 3e and 4e DCR) depending from the infantry, 3 created between January and May 1940 and the fourth during the campaign.

For the cavalry, there were originally 3 cavalry divisions (1e, 2e and 3e DC) later reorganized to form 5 light cavalry divisions (1e, 2e, 3e, 4e and 5e DLC). There were also 3 light mechanized divisions (1e, 2e and 3e DLM) formed before May 1940 (the 3e DLM being mostly formed by reservists) plus the 4e and 7e DLM formed during the campaign on reduced establishments from two shattered cavalry divisions.

The fortress divisions could be considered active units as their components were originally active units. The ratio of active and reserve troops in the active, series A and series B divisions probably varied widely among those of the same type. It should also be pointed out some active divisions had to give up a large part of their active elements to form the series A and B divisions ; they could almost be called series A themselves.

On 10th May 1940 the cavalry consisted in :
• 5 Divisions Légères de Cavalerie (DLC)
• 3 Divisions Légères Mécaniques (DLM)
• 1 Brigade de Cavalerie (BC)
• 3 Brigades de Spahis (BS)
• 23 Groupes de Reconnaissance de Corps d'Armée (GRCA)
--o 20 normal (horses)
--o 3 motorized
• 105 Groupes de Reconnaissance de Division d'Infanterie (GRDI)
--o 52 normal (horses)
--o 7 motorized (5 with armored cars)
--o 46 reduced (in the colonies or late created units)
• A few corps francs de cavalerie (including armored cars) during the campaign
• 3 regiments in the 4e DCR


DINA stands for Division d'Infanterie Nord-Africaine, North-African Infantry Division.
1) The organization of a DINA is similar to a French "North-East" infantry division. Generally all the officers are white but there are white and arabs among the troops. The Africans were not segregated like in the US Army, the troops were mixed and there were also African officers, I have at least the example of one Senegalese captain.
2) There is no tanks in such a unit.
3) The equipment was as good as the other infantry units and most of the DINA were active trooops.
4) What do you call "French Foreigner Corps" ? There are aslo French colonial units, French overseas units and French Foreign Legion units ....

There were initially 4 DINA and 2 more after the mobilization. A 7e DINA was created on 16th March 1940 but the only North African element was the infantry.
These division were roughly identical in organization to the other type "North East" infantry divisions, except the infantry and artillery regiments were type "Nord Africaine".
The exception was 5e DINA, a "white" North African Division with Zouave infantry and colonial artillery regiments.
In October 1939, a regiment of North African troops from the 2e, 3e and 4e DINA were each replaced by a "white" regiment.
A division on open terrain would hold a front 5 to 7 kilometers wide and some 5 deep.

Composition of a DINA :
• A divisional headquarters
• 1 RZ (Régiment de Zouaves) = Zouave infantry regiment = Europeans (a metropolitan regiment in 4e DINA and a demi-brigade de Chasseurs à Pied in 6e DINA, no European regiment in 1e and 7e DINA - The Zouaves regiments are initially built with white colonists from Algeria)
• 2 North African infantry regiments (3 regiments in 1e and 7e DINA). These regiments were RTA = régiment de tirailleurs algériens, RTT = régiment de tirailleurs tunisiens or RTM = régiment de tirailleurs marocains
• A (13th) divisional pioneer company
• A (14th) divisional AT company (CDAC = compagnie divisionnaire anti-char - 12x 25mm SA34 AT guns)
• A North African light artillery regiment (RANA = régiment d'artillerie nord africaine, 36 75mm Mle1897 guns)
• A North African heavy artillery regiment (RALNA = régiment d'artillerie lourde nord africaine, 24 155mm C Mle1917 guns)
• A (10th) divisional AT battery (BDAC = batterie de défense anti-char, 8 47mm SA37 AT guns in several reserve divisions it is a mixed AT battery with 75mm and 47mm guns)
• A divisional artillery park (PAD = parc d'artillerie divisionnaire)
• An engineer battalion (bataillon de sapeurs-mineurs)
• A telegraph company
• A radio company
• A horse drawn HQ transport company
• A motor HQ transport company
• A divisional quartermaster service
• A divisional medical group

Total for the DINA :
• 497 officers, 1736 NCOs, 14309 corporals and men = 16542 soldiers
• 4869 horses / mules
• 1278 wagons
• 546 motor vehicles (cars, trucks, heavy trucks, Renault UE chenillettes)
• 284 motorcycles / side-cars
• 625 bicycles

Regards,

David

[David Lehmann]

The DIC = Division d'Infanterie Coloniale is composed largely of Europeans but also Senegalese troops.
This name covers the today so-called "Infanterie de Marine" (Marine Infantry, an elite corps also called "Fusiliers Marins" or "Marsouins"). Most of these units had a very high amount of Europeans in 1940.

There are initially 4 DIC in the active army plus 3 DIC formed at the mobilization.
In April a 8e DIC began to be created but was transformed in 8e DLIC.
A 9e DIC was planned during June 1940 but was never formed.
The 2e DIC had 2 mountain infantry regiments.

The colonial divisions were not in fact part of the French Army but officially under the control of the Minister of the Colonies

Amon the 3 infantry regiments there could be 3 "white"regiments (colonial), 2 whites and 1 African, 1 white and 2 Africans etc.
RIC = régiment d'infanterie coloniale (Europeans)
RICMS = régiment d'infanterie coloniale mixte sénégalais (includes one or more Senegalese battalion beside the European ones) when the DIC without Africans received several Senegalese battalions
RTS = régiment de tirailleurs sénégalais

In the artillery there were also some Madagascan soldiers.

-----------------------------

The Infantry Divisions type "Overseas"

There were 3 categories of type overseas infantry division mobilized in September 1939 (a bit like the active, A and B divisions in metropolitan France). All were mobilized in North Africa (and based there). Except the 3 Moroccan divisions they are designed as Divisions d'Infanterie d'Afrique.

- 1st category :
1e DM, 81e DIA, 82e DIA and 83e DIA
By May 1940 only 81e DIA and 83e DIA still existed, the others had been sent in metropolitan France with most elements converting to type "North East"

- 2nd category :
84e DIA, 85e DIA and 86e DIA

- 3rd category :
2e DM, 3e DM, 87e DIA, 88e DIA, 181e DIA, 182e DIA and 183e DIA
The 180's series were static protection divisions as the 2e DM which was later called "troupes de protection du Maroc".

In these divisions the infantry consists in :
RTA = régiment de tirailleurs algeriens
RTT = régiment de tirailleurs tunisiens
RTM = régiment de tirailleurs marocains
RTS = régiment de tirailleurs sénégalais
RZ = régiment de Zouaves

Regards,

David

[David Lehmann]

Légion Etrangère (French Foreign Legion)

At the eve of WW2 the French Foreign Legion has the highest number of men of its history with about 45,000 men. The 11e REI, 12e REI, 97e GRDI, 21e RMVE, 22e RMVE and 23e RMVE are wiped out during the combats of 1940. The new 13e DBLE will illustrate itself in Norway in 1940, then it fought from Bir Hakeim until VE day, beside the 1e REC and the new RMLE.

The first Legion units were formed in 1831, initially for use as static defensive units or as labour. In the successive years they were used in many of the conflicts France involved herself in throughout the world ; Legion units often being wiped out or so weakened they had to be withdrawn for reformation.
During WW1, the "Régiment de Marche de la Légion Etrangère" (RMLE) was the second most honoured unit of the French Army.
By August 1939 there were 5 REI (Régiment Etrangers d'Infanterie), with a 6th formed in the Levant from 4 battalions of the 1e REI at the start of October 1939. The 1e REI was also used to supply officers for other Legion units from its HQ and training depot, the "Dépôt Commun des Régiments Etrangers" (DCRE) at Sidi-Bel-Abbès. The Legion units used in France conformed to the same organization as the metropolitan infantry regiment, while those in French North-Africa and Indochina were on the "overseas" establishment. The 1e REI originally had seven battalions plus other companies but after reorganization in October 1939 was like the other overseas regiments with 2 or 3 battalions.
In metropolitan France two more foreign infantry regiments were also formed, the 11e and 12e REI, by recalling reservists to serve under officers and NCOs from active list. The 97e GRDI (Groupe de Reconnaissance de Division d'Infanterie), a foreign divisional reconnaissance group (roughly from the size of a battalion) was also formed, from the Legion cavalry.
Other units raised included the 13e DBLE (Demi-Brigade de la Légion Etrangère), which is created in February 1940 with 2 battalions, in French North-Africa, for use in Scandinavia (Narvik). The 21e, 22e and 23e RMVE (Régiment de Marche de Volontaires Etrangers) were raised in 1940 from foreign volunteers and refugees resident in France. A 24e RMVE was to be formed but was never created. Other units formed include the BMVE (Bataillon de Marche de Volontaires Etrangers) formed on 1st March 1940 at Barcarès; this unit was sent to the Levant where it was designated 11th battalion of the 6e REI. An emergency unit, the "bataillon de marche de légion étrangère du dépôt de Sathonay" (next to Lyon) was formed during June 1940. A pioneer battalion, the "bataillon de pionniers de volontaires de légion étrangère", was raised in May-June 1940 and assigned to the IVth Army.

The 11th REI, the first of these units to be formed, was also the first under fire. On 11th June 1940, in the Verdun sector, it distinguished itself during an heroic defense against a German division. It was almost completely wiped out. The survivors fought until the armistice, when forced at last to lay down their arms, they were disbanded and the regimental flag was burned. Of 700 Legionnaires POWs, nearly 500 escaped from Verdun. They would reappear later in North Africa, in the backbone of the new French army until the victory.

Lieutenant Colonel Magrin-Vernerey commands the 13e DBLE. It had been intended at first to send this unit to Finland, to help fight the Soviet invasion. Delays in training and government vacillation put paid to this plan, and in the end it was sent to Norway, a strangely arctic destination for a unit formed on the sands of North Africa. Embarking at Brest on 22nd April 1940, the 13e DBLE reached Liverpool on 25th April, departing four days later to arrive on 6th May at Ballangen, the advanced base for operations at Narvik. At dawn on the 13th May, the Legionnaires landed on the soil of Norway. In a matter of hours, the 1st battalion took Bjervik and the 2nd battalion took Moeby. The next day, a patrol destroyed German aircrafts based on Lake Hartvivand. But the main objective was Narvik, on the other side of Rombakfjord.
The second landing took place on 28th May. The 2nd battalion climbed the cliffs, hard combats followed along the railway track linking Narvik to Sweden, until nightfall saw the 1st battalion in the heart of Narvik itself. The operation was completely successful, and the days that followed saw the Germans driven back to the border. They were saved, at the last moment, by the German offensive in France. Paris needed all of her troops, and the Legionnaires had to re-embark in haste, it was over on 6th June.
After spending several days trying to organize a defensive position in Brittany, the 13e DBLE found itself once again climbing the gangplanks at Brest, and crossing to England. There it was offered a choice, either to continue the fight under general De Gaulle, alongside the British, or to return to Morocco. The 2nd battalion, whose commander, Gueninchault, had been killed at Narvik, and in which the influence of the Georgian prince, Captain Amilakvari, was strong, chose Free France. The 1st battalion preferred repatriation to North-Africa.
On 31st August, the dissidents (who had provisionally awarded themselves the title of 14th Half Brigade, but who soon reverted to 13th DBLE) embarked once more in England. Their destination was Africa. After a check before Dakar, which remained loyal to marechal Pétain, the Legionnaires sailed right around the south of Africa. Their first operation was against the Italians in Eritrea where, on 8th April 1941, they took the port of Massawa from a garrison of 1400 troops. But it was in the Western Desert that the real glory awaited the Legionnaires of the 13th DBLE.
The 21e RMVE was assigned to the 35e DI on 1st May 1940, replacing the 49e RI. The 13th company (pioneers) of the 21e RMVE leaves on 28th May. The 21e RMVE is defeated during end June 1940 and captured.

The 22e RMVE is affected to the 19e DI on 9th May 1940 and is crushed while facing 2 Panzerdivisionen on 8th June 1940. The 22e RMVE includes many Spanish republicans refugees and Jews who fled central Europe, all very motivated by the anti-fascist fight and for some of them already war veterans. From 5th to 7th June, the 22e RMVE fights valiantly and receives a citation. Completely surrounded by enemy amored units, heavily bombarded by the Luftwaffe as well as by the artillery, the regiment holds its area during 48 hours and defeats all the German attacks. After violent close combats only 800 men are still operational from the 2500 initially available and they are captured by the German troops. Some of them were sent to the concentration camp of Mauthausen.

The 23e RMVE is initially assigned to the 17e DI, which should have been formed with the 22e and 23e RMVE, but it, finally gives rise to the 59e DLI (Division Légère d'Infanterie). The 22e RMVE is affected to the 19e DI on 9-10th May 1940 and the 23e RMVE to the 8e DI on 5th June 1940.

Regards,

David

[zhongguoren]

Thank you,David.You're wonderful!
Another little request:Could you send me some photos or pictures about the DINA?

[David Lehmann]

Hello,

Just concerning the infantry regiments in 1940 in the various DINAs :

1e DINA
- 5e RTM
- 27e RTA
- 28e RTT

2e DINA
- 11e RZ (Europeans)
- 13e RTA
- 22e RTA

3e DINA
- 12e RZ (Europeans)
- 14e RTA
- 15e RTA

4e DINA
- 7e RI (Europeans, metropolitan regiment)
- 23e RTA
- 25e RTA

5e DINA
- 14e RZ (Europeans)
- 6e RTM
- 24e RTT

6e DINA
- 24e DBCP (3e BCP + 19e BCP + 69e BCP) / replaced in April 1940 by 11e REI (Foreign Legion) (Europeans)
- 9e RTM
- 21e RTA

7e DINA (only the infantry is north African in this division)
- 31e RTA
- 20e RTT
- 10e RTM

Several nsignias :
RTA = http://mapage.noos.fr/4edmm/tirailleurs_algeriens.htm
RTT = http://mapage.noos.fr/4edmm/titailleurs_tunisiens.htm
RTM = http://mapage.noos.fr/4edmm/tirailleurs_marocains.htm

11e RZ, 12e RZ and 14e RZ :

[David Lehmann]

Various photos :

[David Lehmann]

Moroccan tirailleurs (but not from a DINA) and men from the 69e BCP, who will be part of the 6e DINA.

[David Lehmann]

And 2 photos, I think they are Algerian and/or Tunisian tirailleurs.

All the photos in this thread are from MILITARIA magazine and MILITARIA special issues magazine (HISTOIRE & COLLECTIONS) if I remember well, except the Moroccan with all the awards for which the photo is from the French Army archives (ECPAD).

Regards,

David

[Kelvin]

I remember 82nd and 87th North African infantry division also fought in 1940 and also Morcoccan division.

[takata_1940]

I remember 82nd and 87th North African infantry division also fought in 1940 and also Morcoccan division.

Hi,
You are right and they are listed in David's posts above as North African Infantry Divisions type "Overseas" (actually designed as DIA (Algerian/Tunisian) or DM (Morrocan).
Only the North African divisions initialy deployed in France (at mobilisation, or those formed later in France) were designed DINA and the others, initialy deployed in North Africa and Levant, were designed DIA and had different TOEs called "Overseas" or "Overseas Mountain".

Those which were later sent to France were transformed (if time permited) to standard North East TOE, like DINAs.
- 1e DM, 08.11.39 -> XVIIIe Région Militaire (Bordeaux)
- 82e DIA, 05.10.39 -> Ve Région Militaire (Orléans)
- 84e DIA, 08.06.40 -> Région Militaire de Paris
- 85e DIA, 04.06.40 -> Région Militaire de Paris
- 87e DIA, 06.11.39 -> XVIe Région Militaire (Lyon)

The DIC = Division d'Infanterie Coloniale is composed largely of Europeans but also Senegalese troops. This name covers the today so-called "Infanterie de Marine" (Marine Infantry, an elite corps also called "Fusiliers Marins" or "Marsouins"). Most of these units had a very high amount of Europeans in 1940.

This should be corrected: Marine Infantry ("marsouins") and Fusiliers Marins ("fusco") are totally different troops with different history: Fusiliers Marins always belonged to the Navy (are still under Marine Nationale today) and the Marine Infantry belonged to the Ministry of Colonies (Infanterie Coloniale) and are now under the Armée de Terre.

S~
Olivier

[Kelvin]

Hi, during the Italian campaign 1943-44, there were a French Expeditionary Corps ( 1st French motorized, 2nd and 4th Moroccan and 3rd Algerian division) How were they organized for these three Moroccan and Algerian divisions ? Did Algerian and Moroccan made up for most of manpower as the French homeland were still occupied by German ?

[takata_1940]

Hi, during the Italian campaign 1943-44, there were a French Expeditionary Corps ( 1st French motorized, 2nd and 4th Moroccan and 3rd Algerian division) How were they organized for these three Moroccan and Algerian divisions ? Did Algerian and Moroccan made up for most of manpower as the French homeland were still occupied by German ?

Those divisions were reorganized to US standards and equiped mostly with US kits beside some specificities like the Morrocan "Goums" which were highly effective mountain units.Those divisions, like most of the later 1st French Army which landed in Southern France, were mostly (ex-Vichy) professional colonial troops (North African and West African) but North Africa had also a large European population and plenty of Metropolitan refugiees. The trained manpower, cadres and troops, was not lacking but armament was pretty scarce. ex-Free French units were also agregated to it or formed their own division (Leclerc's 2nd Armored division) which landed in Normandy under General Patton's Third Army. This particular division was about 25% colonial troops, 25% ex-Spanish Republican and 50% French.

S~
Olivier

[Loïc]

2,5 % of Spanish Republicans in the Division but surely not 25 % in the whole Division : with near 15 or 16 000 men, including only 400 spanish and foreigners, 3600 indigenous this total gives ~25 % indigenous, at least 72 % French and only 2,5 % Spanish and others foreigners, even the only "spanish company" as usually said, even that 9th Company of the 3rd Battalion of the Régiment de Marche du Tchad had French and others foreigners soldiers

about the French Army Divisions in 1943-1945 there is a thread where we have given some datas, something about stupidities from the BBC, gosso modo 3e DIA and 2e DIM had 7000 French 7000 indigenous in each division, 4e DMM with more indigenous, and 1ére DMI with more French

the French military terminology of this period could be very equivocal for the people with these "Algerian" and others "North African" titles
Regimient d'Infanterie Coloniale du Maroc isn't a colonial morrocan regiment but a French Marine Infantry unit in garrison in Provence in 1939
Recce Algerian Spahis Regiments in 1943-1945 had ~85 % French and only 15 % indigenous, the same for the 1st March Moroccan Spahis Regiment of the 2nd Armored Division

[takata_1940]

Salut Loïc,

I took the numbers from wiki:

The Division's 14,454 personnel included men from the 2nd Light Division, escapees from metropolitan France, about 3,600 Moroccans and Algerians, and some 3,200 Spanish Republicans.

giving more accurately:
- Spanish: 22%
- North African: 25%
- French: 53%

I knew that this division had a large Spanish component but this source isn't always accurate. Most of the first Spanish troops came from the Lebanon-Syria's Foreign Legion battalions sent in 1939-1940 which joined the Free French. A large Spanish population existed in Marroco and Algeria with many more refugiees arrived after the Spanish Civil War. This number doesn't seem exagerated if the Spanish troops were concentrated in this Free French division rather than serving under any other ex-Vichy division which jailed them.

S~
Olivier