2nd Armoured Division (France, 1940)

Not to be confused with 2nd Armoured Division (France).

2nd Armoured Division
2^e Division Cuirassée
Badge of the division.
Active	January - July 1940
Country	France
Branch	French Army
Type	Armoured Division
Role	Armoured warfare
Motto(s)	Malgré
Engagements	Battle of France

The 2nd Armoured Division (French: 2^e Division Cuirassée, 2^e 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

Formed 16 January 1940 at Haute Moivre. Campaigns: Battle of the Meuse, Fronts of the Aisne and the Somme, Somme Front, Battle of the Somme and Retreat of the Center. Final command post at Saint-Pierre Cherignat, northeast of Limoges. Division subsequently disbanded. Subordination: I Corps of 7th Army until 29 May and then various, including 10th Army, VII Corps, IX Corps, X Corps, 51st British Infantry Division and the Groupement Cuirassée.^[1]

Composition

B1 bis tank of the 8th Battalion, lost in Guise, Northern France, in May 1940.

In May 1940:

• 8th Tank Battalion (B1 bis tanks)
• 15th Tank Battalion (B1 bis tanks)
• 14th Tank Battalion (H39 tanks)
• 27th Tank Battalion (H39 tanks)
• 17th Motorized Rifle Battalion (bataillon de chasseurs portés)
• 309th Artillery Regiment

References

1. GUF, Vol. 3, pp. 477-496.

Bibliography

• (GUF) Service Historique de l'Armée de Terre. Guerre 1939–1945 Les Grandes Unités Françaises. Paris: Imprimerie Nationale, 1967.