The 1st Colonial Infantry Division () was a

French Army The French Army, officially known as the Land Army (, , ), is the principal Army, land warfare force of France, and the largest component of the French Armed Forces; it is responsible to the Government of France, alongside the French Navy, Fren ...

formation prior to

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

and during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

Before World War I

Prior to the start of World War I, the division was composed of: *5th Colonial Infantry Regiment *6th Colonial Infantry Regiment * 21st Colonial Infantry Regiment *23rd Colonial Infantry Regiment However, in the re-organisation immediately prior to World War I, the division was disbanded, with the 5th and 6th Colonial Infantry Regiments going to the French 14th Corps, and the 21st and 23rd Colonial Infantry Regiments going to the French 1st Colonial Corps. :fr:Ordre de bataille de l'armée française le 1er août 1914 french: Ordre de bataille de l'armée française le 1er août 1914 (english: "Battle order of the French Army on August 1, 1914")

1927 - 1940

On 1 November 1927, the 1st Senegalese Colonial Infantry Division was recreated by transformation of the 35th infantry division.
It was stationed in Bordeaux, and later renamed 1st Colonial Infantry Division. It was an active division which existed during peacetime. The

Senegal Senegal, officially the Republic of Senegal, is the westernmost country in West Africa, situated on the Atlantic Ocean coastline. It borders Mauritania to Mauritania–Senegal border, the north, Mali to Mali–Senegal border, the east, Guinea t ...

ese Tirailleurs Regiments contained troops from

French West Africa French West Africa (, ) was a federation of eight French colonial empires#Second French colonial empire, French colonial territories in West Africa: Colonial Mauritania, Mauritania, French Senegal, Senegal, French Sudan (now Mali), French Guin ...

. The Colonial Infantry and

Artillery Artillery consists of ranged weapons that launch Ammunition, munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during sieges, and l ...

Regiments were made up of French troops who had volunteered to serve overseas if needed. During the

Battle of France The Battle of France (; 10 May – 25 June 1940), also known as the Western Campaign (), the French Campaign (, ) and the Fall of France, during the Second World War was the Nazi Germany, German invasion of the Low Countries (Belgium, Luxembour ...

in May 1940 the division was made up of the following units: * 3rd Colonial Infantry Regiment *12th

Senegalese Tirailleurs The Senegalese Tirailleurs () were a corps of Troupes coloniales, colonial infantry in the French Army. They were initially recruited from Saint-Louis, Senegal, the initial colonial capital city of French West Africa and subsequently throughout W ...

Regiment *14th

Regiment *71st Reconnaissance Battalion * 1st Colonial Divisionary Artillery Regiment *201st Colonial Artillery Regiment The Division was disbanded after the capitulation of the French Army in June 1940.

References

Colonial Infantry Division, 1st Infantry divisions of France French West Africa {{World-War-II-stub