Phantom French units

[Andy H]

The Allies 'formed' a number of deception formations during the war to decieve the enemy of its intentions.

From Thaddueus Holts 'The Decievers' he lists in Appendix III these deception units. Included in this list are the following French 'units' with limited information

7th Algerian Infantry Division: Formed in NA after the Tunisian campaign. In NA in May 1944, under US XXXI Corps US 7th Army

8th Algerian Infantry Division:Formed in NA after the Tunisian campaign. In NA in May 1944, under US XXXI Corps US 7th Army

3rd Armoured Division: :Formed in NA after the Tunisian campaign. In garrison in NA in May 1944

10th Colonial Infantry Division: Formed in NA after the Tunisian campaign. In NA in May 1944, part of '2nd French Expeditionary Corps' , the name by which de Lattre's French Army B (subsequently French First Army) was known during the Wantage* period

Can anyone add anything to the above regarding these French units?

Regards

Andy H

*Wantage was adeception plan that enlarged the notional OoB in the Mediterranean, Feb'44-May'45, to induce the Germans to believe that there were sufficient reserves in both eastern & western Mediterranean to undertake large-scale op's against southern europe.

[Loïc]

But the "deception"/phantom Divisions in US & British Armies are purely ficticious (135th Airborne, 157th Infantry Divisions...)
these 5 French Divisions have been really raised in French North Africa in 1943 and disbanbed due to difficulties with the Americans for rearm all the units :
3e Division Blindée september 1943-september 1944; 1st may 1945-15 april 1946
6e Division d'Infanterie Marocaine july-15 september 1943
7e Division d'Infanterie Algérienne june 1943-15 august 1944
8e Division d'Infanterie Algérienne july 1943-15 february 1944
10e Division d'Infanterie Coloniale june 1943-15 february 1944
the Regiments belonging to these formations will reinforce the others Divisions or the General Reserve or even disbanded vexing greatly the French, this period was known as the "Battle of the services" the Americans obliged the French to post soldiers from their combat formations in services and support units, military depots and workshops, the French were completely cursed to see that US and British had Mobile Laundries.

Regards
Loïc

[Andy H]

Hi Loic

Thank you for clearing that up. It was vexing me somewhat that they actually did form but Holt still listed them under his deception units appendix.

Maybe he did so in the knowledge that they were never going to amount to real formations (in whatever context) and that Allies kept them on there OoB purely for the Wantage deception.

Do you have the divisional OoB's for these divisions?

Do you know anything about the 1st & 2nd Colonial Far East Divisions mentioned in this thread http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=108163

Regards

Andy H

[Loïc]

I have only the Orbat' for both Divisions given by François Vauvillier in his Osprey

the 2e Division Coloniale de Marche became 10e DIC in august 1943 :
RMIC-AOF Régiment Mixte d'Infanterie Coloniale-Afrique Occidentale Française
(recce unit former 2nd Recce Colonial Regt/10th Recce Colonial Regt)
RAC-AOF Régiment d'Artillerie Coloniale AOF
16e 17e 18e Régiment de Tirailleurs Sénégalais
72e BG

7e DIA :
1er 9e 29e RTA
4e RMZT (Regt Mixte Zouaves-Tirailleurs)
1er RSA
65e RA
81e BG

8e DIA :
2e 6e RTA
9e Zouaves
7e RTM
2e RSA
66e RA

Regiments de
RTA Tirailleurs Algériens
RTM Tirailleurs Marocains
RSA Spahis Algériens (armd recce, 85 % of French, 15 % of North Africans)
RA Artillery
BG Engineer Battalion

I know that I have the 3rd Armoured Division too but I am not sure that I have something for the short-lived 6th Moroccan

Regards
Loïc

[Andy H]

Hi Loic

Thank you again for providing that information and anythingelse you find will be most welcome.

I have one final question. Do you know who the relevant divisional commanders where?

Regards

Andy H