French Armed Forces 1940

Strength and organization of the Army Forces and Air Force of France at the beginning of the Western Campaign in May 1940.
Deployment, divisions, equipment and aircraft.

The French Armed Forces in May 1940

On 10 May 1940 the German offensive began by outflanking the Maginot Line in an advance through the Ardennes region, a move totally unexpected by the Allies. Once knocked off-balance France never recovered and despite brave and sometimes effective counter-attacks, German tactics, troop training, morale and much military equipment proved decisively superior. After a campaign lasting less than two months France was forced to sue for peace and an armistice was signed on 22 June 1940.

Under the terms of the armistice, in the unoccupied zone of France those forces that remained intact were rapidly demobilized except 100,000 men who were to maintain order (l’armee de l’ armistice). The French fleet and colonial forces were to remain intact for the time being. Total casualties amounted to 290,000 men killed or wounded and 1,900,000 taken prisoners.
Numerous men had succeeded in escaping to the colonies, however, and many had been evacuated to England.

There was one redeeming feature in this massive defeat: the performance of the French forces on the Italian border, where 185,000 men (in three divisions and various garrison forces) under General Olry completely halted the Italian attack of 20-25 June at a cost of 37 killed, 42 wounded and 150 missing (Italian losses 4,000 men).

The Battle of France

The Battle of France, also known as the Fall of France, was a major World War II battle that took place from May 10 to June 25, 1940.

Participants:
– Allies: France, United Kingdom, Belgium, Netherlands, Poland
– Axis: Nazi Germany, Italy (from June 10)
German Strategy:
– Blitzkrieg tactics: fast-moving armored units supported by air power
– Avoided the Maginot Line by attacking through the Ardennes forest
Timeline:
– May 10: Germany invades the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg
– May 14: German forces break through at Sedan, France
– May 20: German tanks reach the English Channel
– May 26-June 4: Dunkirk evacuation of Allied troops
– June 14: Paris falls to German forces
– June 22: France signs armistice with Germany
Outcome:
– Quick and decisive German victory
– France divided into occupied and unoccupied zones
– Establishment of the Vichy regime in southern France
Consequences:
– Nazi Germany gains control over much of Western Europe
– UK stands alone against Germany in Western Europe
– Boost to German morale and Hitler’s prestige
– Beginning of French Resistance movement
Reasons for Allied defeat:
– Superior German tactics and strategy
– Better coordination between German air and ground forces
– Outdated French military doctrine and equipment
– Poor Allied communication and coordination

The Battle of France was a pivotal moment in World War II, dramatically altering the balance of power in Europe and setting the stage for the next phase of the conflict.

French Army

Organization:

In May 1940, the French Army on the north-east front, which stretched from Switzerland to the North Sea, was divided into the 1st and 2nd Army Groups and the 7th Army.

These forces comprised:

• 63 infantry divisions (of which 30 were regular) ;
• 7 motorized infantry divisions;
• 3 armored divisions;
• 3 light mechanized divisions;
• 5 cavalry divisions;
• 13 fortress divisions.
• The general reserve comprised a further 17 infantry, 2 motorized and 3 armored divisions.

 

The backbone of the French Army was the infantry which, apart from increased firepower, was in organization and training, very similar to that of World War I, and still relied on horse transport to a great extent. The basic French infantry division had provided a model for those of many other countries, and consisted of a divisional headquarters, three infantry regiments, two artillery regiments, and a reconnaissance group of 4 squadrons: headquarters, motor-cycle, horse and weapons.

Armour: In May 1940 France had over 3,000 tanks, and in terms of numbers, quality and firepower they were generally superior to those employed by the Germans. Tactically, however, the French were definitely inferior, and with one or two exceptions the handling of this valuable force was uninspired and wasteful. The basic armored unit was the tank battalion, comprising a staff, three tank companies and a reserve company (in all, some 45 to 60 tanks). There were 39 tank battalions in 1940 and for tactical purposes they were twinned to form tank battalion groups. At the outbreak of war only five battalions had received the latest tanks (the Somua S-35 and Char B-1 models) while the rest still retained a variety of modern and semi-obsolete types. In addition to the battalion groups there were also 11 independent tank companies.

Between January and May 1940, four reserve armored divisions were formed and placed at the disposal of the General Headquarters. These divisions absorbed a number of the above-mentioned tank battalions and companies. Armored fighting vehicles were also to be found in the cavalry divisions undergoing mechanization, in five light cavalry divisions which were also still not completely mechanized, and in the reconnaissance groups. All these formations combined horsed cavalry, motor-cycle troops, armored cars, tanks, and infantry mounted in cross-country vehicles.

Colonial Forces: Troops from Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia counted as part of the metropolitan army, and North Africans made a large contribution to the French Army.
The 12 North African infantry divisions were each composed of three infantry regiments and one artillery regiment. They included regiments of the French Foreign Legion, Zouaves, and Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian tirailleurs (light infantry).
Three Brigades of spahis from Algeria and Morocco fought with distinction before retreating to the unoccupied zone of France.
French colonial troops came under the control of a special directorate of the Ministry of War, and were stationed partly in the colonies and partly in, France. Their commandant had the status of regional commander and was appointed Senior Commandant of Colonial Troops in France. The designation of formations as ‘colonial’ meant either that it had been raised in France to serve in the colonies, or that it was composed of native troops from the French Empire.
In May 1940 there were 9 divisions of colonial infantry, while in the 102nd Fortress Division there was a demi-brigade each of Indochinese and Malagasy machine gunners helping to man the Maginot Line. In addition, a number of metropolitan divisions had been brought up to strength by the addition of non-metropolitan regiments.

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French Army divisions in 1940 (A):

	Infantry Division	Light mechanised Division	Armoured Division
Total units	123 (30 were regular, 9 motorized, 13 fortress, 12 North African, 9 colonial divisions)	3 + 5 cavalry divisions in process of motorisation	4 - 6
Infantry regiments	3 with 3,000 men and 80 officers each	1 with 3,000 men and 80 officers	1 battalion motorised rifles (c. 1,000 men)
Officers	500	?	?
NCOs, Privates	17,000	?	?
Total men	17,500	?	?
Machine guns	514 (168 heavy, 346 light)	160 (48 heavy, 112 light)	?
Mortars	51 (27 light, 24 heavy)	7 (9 light, 8 heavy)	?
Howitzers and Field guns	60 (36 x 75mm M1897/17, 12 x 105mm, 12 x 155mm)	?	24 (105mm, tractor-drawn)
Anti-tank guns	49 (43 x 25mm, 6 x 47mm)	9 (25mm)	?
Horses	?	?	?
Motor vehicles	?	?	?
Tanks	-	90 - 120 plus armoured cars	180 - 240 (90-120 heavy Char B1, 90-120 light Hotchkiss H-39)

French Army divisions in 1940 (B):

	Tank Battalion Group	Spahi Brigade
Total units	c. 8-12	3+
Infantry regiments	?	-
Officers	?	80
NCOs, Privates	?	2,200 (Cavalry)
Total men	?	2,280
Machine guns	?	?
Mortars	?	?
Howitzers and Field guns	?	?
Anti-tank guns	?	?
Horses	?	2,000
Motor vehicles	?	150
Tanks	90 - 120	-

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French Air Force

The Air Force had suffered considerable neglect between the wars, and its performance in 1940, with machines which were in general much inferior to those of the enemy, was not impressive. Indeed, according to French sources, only 420 modern fighters and 31 heavy bombers were serviceable when the Germans struck in May.

Total French front line strength on 10 May 1940 was 1,604 aircraft (764 fighters, 260 bombers, 180 reconnaissance planes, 400 liaison aircraft).

Total strength of the French Air Force together with Aviation Colonaile: 1,200 fighters, 800 reconnaissance planes, 1,300 bombers.

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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)