French Armed Forces 1939

Strength, organization, equipment and divisions of the French Army and aircraft of the l’Army de l’Air in September 1939.

The French Army between the World Wars

The French Army between the World Wars (1918–1939) underwent significant changes shaped by the traumatic experiences of World War I, the political and economic climate of the interwar period, and the evolving nature of military technology and doctrine.

Overview

Post-World War I Context
– Heavy losses and trauma: France suffered enormous casualties in WWI (about 1.4 million dead), which deeply influenced military and political thinking.
– Defensive mindset: The devastation of the war led to a focus on defensive strategies to avoid a repeat of the trench warfare stalemate and massive casualties.
– Treaty of Versailles: France sought to enforce the treaty strictly to limit German rearmament and maintain security.

Structure and Organization
– Size: The French Army was one of the largest in Europe in the early 1920s, with millions of men in the reserves due to conscription.
– Conscription: Mandatory military service was retained, with terms typically around 18 months, later reduced to 12 months in 1928.
– Reserves: A large reserve force was maintained, with periodic training, to allow rapid mobilization.

Doctrine and Strategy
– Defensive doctrine: The French Army emphasized defense, influenced by the horrors of WWI. The prevailing doctrine was to hold ground and absorb enemy attacks.
– Maginot Line: One of the most significant manifestations of French defensive strategy was the construction of the Maginot Line, a vast system of fortifications along the German border, begun in the late 1920s and largely completed by the mid-1930s.
– Static warfare focus: The army was criticized for preparing for a repeat of trench warfare and underestimating the importance of mobility and mechanization.

Equipment and Modernization
– Artillery: France maintained strong artillery forces, which had been decisive in WWI.
– Tanks: France was an early leader in tank development, producing models like the Renault FT during WWI. In the interwar years, the French developed several tank types, including light tanks (e.g., Renault R35) and heavier tanks (e.g., Char B1).
– Mechanization: Despite some advances, the French Army was slow to fully mechanize infantry and cavalry units compared to Germany.
– Air Force: The French Air Force (Armée de l’Air) was established as an independent service in 1934, but it lagged behind Germany in modernization and numbers.

Challenges and Criticism
– Conservatism and bureaucracy: The French military establishment was often criticized for conservatism, internal rivalries, and slow adaptation to new forms of warfare.
– Political instability: Frequent changes of government and political divisions in France affected defense policy and military funding.
– Underestimation of Germany: Although France tried to maintain strong defenses, it underestimated the speed and effectiveness of German Blitzkrieg tactics.

Mobilization and Preparations before WWII
– Mobilization plans: France developed detailed mobilization plans to rapidly call up reserves and deploy forces along the German border.
– Alliances: France relied on alliances, particularly with Britain and smaller neighboring countries (e.g., Belgium, Czechoslovakia), to deter German aggression.
– Limited offensive capability: While defensive preparations were strong, the French Army was less prepared for offensive operations or rapid maneuver warfare.

Summary
Between the wars, the French Army focused heavily on defense, shaped by WWI experiences and political considerations. It built formidable fortifications and maintained large manpower reserves but struggled with modernization and adapting to new doctrines emphasizing mobility and combined arms. These factors contributed to the difficulties France faced during the German invasion in 1940.

The French armed forces in September 1939

France emerged from World War One with considerable military prestige, but the French Forces and indeed the whole nation were exhausted. After the experiences of World War One, there was considerable weight of opinion, and political pressure behind the view that a strategy based upon a solid defensive line accorded best with the demands of modern warfare and the needs of the country.

The result was the construction of the fortress complexes of the Maginot Line, which absorbed a great deal of the defense budget.
The French military establishment had its critics, and there was a small but vociferous school of thought which condemned the reliance on static fortifications.

The French Army, based on conscription, was of variable quality; reserve divisions especially were often considered a liability, and observers, including the British General Brooke, were shaken by their insubordination and slovenly appearance.
The French Army was mobilized on 1 September 1939: about 5,000,000 reservists were to be added to the standing army of 900,000 men.

Basic French Army units

Inventory of armored fighting vehicles in September 1939

Strength of l’Army de l’Air (French Air Force)

The air defense of France and her overseas Empire was the responsibility of five Air Regions (Dijon, Paris, Tours, Aix-en-Provence and North Africa) each of which was sub-divided into two Air Districts. The largest flying formations were the air divisions and independent brigades. An air division had two or three brigades each with two or three squadrons.
Front line strength on the eve of WW2 was 1,114 fighters, 1,002 bombers and 800 reconnaissance aircraft and in August 1939 there were 110,000 personnel of all ranks, a figure which had risen to 150,000 March 1940.

Strength l’Army de l’Air:

French Forces total

5,000,000 men, 99 divisions, 4,200 tanks, about 11,000 guns
2,916 planes (1,114 fighters, 1,002 bombers)
7 capital ships, 1 aircraft carrier, 19 cruisers, 70 destroyers, 75 submarines

References and literature

The Armed Forces of World War II (Andrew Mollo)
World War II – A Statistical Survey (John Ellis)
Krieg der Panzer (Piekalkiewicz)
Chronology of World War II (Christopher Argyle)