The 3rd Algerian Infantry Division () was an infantry division of the Army of Africa which participated in

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 ...

. Following the liberation of French North Africa, the division fought in Tunisia, Italy, metropolitan France and in Germany. As part of the French Expeditionary Corps led by the Marshal

Alphonse Juin Alphonse Pierre Juin (16 December 1888 – 27 January 1967) was a senior French Army general who became Marshal of France. A graduate of the École Spéciale Militaire class of 1912, he served in Morocco in 1914 in command of native troops. Upon ...

by landing in Provence, liberating

Toulon Toulon (, , ; , , ) is a city in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France. Located on the French Riviera and the historical Provence, it is the prefecture of the Var (department), Var department. The Commune of Toulon h ...

and

Marseille Marseille (; ; see #Name, below) is a city in southern France, the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Departments of France, department of Bouches-du-Rhône and of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regions of France, region. Situated in the ...

, fighting in the Vosges during the difficult battles for the liberation of Basse-sur-le-Rupt and Cornimont, and in Alsace as part of the French 1st Army under General

Jean de Lattre de Tassigny Jean Joseph Marie Gabriel de Lattre de Tassigny (2 February 1889 – 11 January 1952) was a French ''général d'armée'' during World War II and the First Indochina War. He was posthumously elevated to the dignity of Marshal of France in 1952. ...

Creation and composition

* November 1942 to April 1943: Marching Division of

Constantine Constantine most often refers to: * Constantine the Great, Roman emperor from 306 to 337, also known as Constantine I * Constantine, Algeria, a city in Algeria Constantine may also refer to: People * Constantine (name), a masculine g ...

(). * April 15, 1943: the 3rd Algerian Infantry Division was established by General of the French Army

Henri Giraud Henri Honoré Giraud (; 18 January 1879 – 11 March 1949) was a French military officer who was a leader of the Free French Forces during the Second World War until he was forced to retire in 1944. Born to an Alsatian family in Paris, Giraud ...

under the orders of General Monsabert, with two infantry regiments with red fourragere, the 7^e RTA and 4^e RTT, one regiment with yellow fourragere, the 3^e RTA and 67^e RAA, similarly with yellow fourragere, 3 regimental colors decorated with the Légion d'honneur (3^e RTA, 4^e RTT and 7^e RTA). * April 15, 1946: the division was disbanded. It was considered by General

Joseph de Goislard de Monsabert Joseph Jean de Goislard de Monsabert (Libourne 30 September 1887 – Dax, 13 June 1981), was a French general who served during the Second World War. Monsabert graduated from Saint-Cyr military academy and was commissioned as a lieutenant in ...

and Marshal

to be a successor of the

Roman Legion The Roman legion (, ) was the largest military List of military legions, unit of the Roman army, composed of Roman citizenship, Roman citizens serving as legionary, legionaries. During the Roman Republic the manipular legion comprised 4,200 i ...

of North Africa

Legio III Augusta Legio III Augusta ("Third Augustan Legion") was a legion of the Imperial Roman army The Imperial Roman Army was the military land force of the Roman Empire from 27 BC to 476 AD, and the final incarnation in the long history of the Roman army ...

. The 3^e DIA was also referred to as the ''Division of the Three Crescents'' () representing the 3

Tirailleur A tirailleur (), in the Napoleonic era, was a type of light infantry trained to skirmish ahead of the main columns. Later, the term "''tirailleur''" was used by the French Army as a designation for indigenous infantry recruited in the French c ...

s Regiments: * 3rd Algerian Tirailleurs Regiment () * 4th Tunisian Tirailleurs Regiment () * 7th Algerian Tirailleurs Regiment () The 3^e DIA was awarded four citations at the orders of the armed forces between 1943 and 1945, along with the

1st Free French Division The 1st Free French Division () was one of the principal units of the Free French Forces (FFL) during World War II, renowned for having fought the Battle of Bir Hakeim. Consisting of troops from mainland France and from the then French colon ...

(1^re DFL), which also received four citations. The 3^e DIA was considered the most decorated division of the Second World War, with all forming regiments having been awarded a French Fourragere. The 3rd Division is the modern successor of the 3rd Algerian Infantry Division. The 3rd Division was recreated in 2016 as part of the reorganization of the

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 ...

Insignia & motto

The division insignia represents a winged statuette of the "Victory of

Cirta Cirta, also known by #Names, various other names in classical antiquity, antiquity, was the ancient Berbers, Berber, Punic people, Punic and Roman Empire, Roman settlement which later became Constantine, Algeria, Constantine, Algeria. Cirta was ...

" (), discovered in 1855 in

(old Cirta in the province of

Numidia Numidia was the ancient kingdom of the Numidians in northwest Africa, initially comprising the territory that now makes up Algeria, but later expanding across what is today known as Tunisia and Libya. The polity was originally divided between ...

), and is the representation of the

Roman Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of Roman civilization *Epistle to the Romans, shortened to Romans, a letter w ...

Goddess A goddess is a female deity. In some faiths, a sacred female figure holds a central place in religious prayer and worship. For example, Shaktism (one of the three major Hinduism, Hindu sects), holds that the ultimate deity, the source of all re ...

protector of the

emperors The word ''emperor'' (from , via ) can mean the male ruler of an empire. ''Empress'', the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife ( empress consort), mother/grandmother (empress dowager/ grand empress dowager), or a woman who rule ...

and venerated by the

Roman army The Roman army () served ancient Rome and the Roman people, enduring through the Roman Kingdom (753–509 BC), the Roman Republic (509–27 BC), and the Roman Empire (27 BC–AD 1453), including the Western Roman Empire (collapsed Fall of the W ...

. The motto is "''It crescendo,"'' "It has grown."

World War II

Tunisian campaign (1942-1943)

The 3rd Algerian Infantry Division has its origins in the Marching Division of Constantine of General Welvert.

Italian campaign

Created on May 1, 1943, in

Constantine, Algeria Constantine (), also spelled Qacentina or Kasantina, is the capital of Constantine Province in northeastern Algeria. During Roman times it was called Cirta and was renamed "Constantina" in honour of Emperor Constantine the Great. Located somewh ...

and placed under orders of General Goislard de Monsabert, the 3^e DIA disembarked in Italy in December 1943. As part of the French Expeditionary Corps, commanded by the future Marshal Juin, the 3^e DIA captured Monte du Belvédère on January 25. While attracting the German forces attention, the division contributed to the success of the landing at Anzio, and for the American advance on the heights of Cassino. As a result of this battle, the 4^e RTT suffered the loss of half of its strength. In May 1944, the division made way to Monte-Cassino where Allied forces had already been engaged for several months and participated in breaking through the Gustav line by advancing into the mountains from the Garigliano River.

French & German campaign (1944-1945)

On August 15, 1944, the 3^e DIA disembarked in Provence, at Cogolin in the Var, liberated

and

, then made its way to the valley of the Rhône. In September–October 1944, the division arrived in the Vosges region. On October 3, 1944, under the orders of Général Guillaume, the division mounted the assault between Moselle and Moselotte, advanced through Moselotte, the villages of Beaumont, Saulxures, and into the northern highlands. The division, then progressed towards Cornimont, turning back on October 15 at Tête des Cerfs, at the Piquante Pierre, at Rondfaing, at Chapechatte, all German counter-attacks. In 20 days, the 3^e DIA advanced more than 15 km while clearing the sectors of Belfort and Gérardmer. Beginning of November 1944, the division was engaged in Le Haut du Tôt, Forge and Rochesson to cover the American U.S. Corps. Countering assaults, the division apprehended le Tholy, Château-Lambert, Col de Bussang, Col de Bramont and Col d'Oderen. In December 1944, the division mounted the first assaults on Colmar, clearing the Col du Bonhomme, capturing Orbey and the highlands of Worhof which remained the capital of the Haut-Rhin, accordingly preparing the departure base, from which the French military liberated Alsace. Beginning January 1945, the division was called to defend Strasbourg and pushed back one the final assaults on Kilstett. On March 15, 1945, the division pierced through Oberhoffen-sur-Moder and captured Lauterborn. The division then crossed the Lauter and advanced into Germany. On March 31, 1945, at the head of the 1st Army, the division crossed the Rhine in the region of Spire. Reinforced by Moroccan Goumiers, the division overcame German resistance at Heuchelberg and Stromberg. On April 16, the division led at Enz in the north, infiltrating by Nagold in the south and encircled Pforzheim. The campaigns of Alsace and Germany ended with the 3^e DIA in Stuttgart. On May 1, the division paraded in front of Général de Lattre de Tassigny. When it was dissolved on April 15, 1946, the division was awarded four citations for outstanding performance.

Composition

Disembarked in Italy in December 1943, the division had a strength of 16,840 men out of which 60% were Maghrebis and 40% Europeans.

Infantry

* 3rd Algerian Tirailleurs Regiment () - Colonel de Linares, then Agostini and de la Boisse * 4th Tunisian Tirailleurs Regiment () - Colonel Roux then Guillebaud * 7th Algerian Tirailleurs Regiment () - Colonel Chapuis, replaced in March 1945 by the 49th Infantry Regiment A North African

regiment was composed of over 3,000 men (including 500 officers and sous-officers) and 200 vehicles. The proportion of troops that were Maghrebis reached 69% for the regiment, 74% for the battalion, 79% for the company fusiliers-voltigeurs, 52% for the anti-tank company and 36% for the infantry cannon company.

Armoured

* 3rd Algerian Spahi Regiment () - colonel Bonjour * 7th African Chasseur Regiment (): - colonel Van Hecke. The two regiments were composed of 900 to 1,000 men with 15% Maghrebis and 85% Europeans.

Artillery

* 67th African Artillery Regiment () * 37^e group de FTA (). One

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 ...

regiment was composed of more than 2,000 men out of which 40% are Marghrebis.

Other units

* 83rd Engineer Battalion * 3rd Medical Battalion * 3rd Divisionary Repair Company (3^e CRD) * Mixed Signals Company 83/84

Decorations

The division was cited 4 times on the orders of the armed forces during the Second World War with its regiments awarded the fourragere with at least 2 citations.''Livre d'Or de la 3e Division d'Infanterie Algérienne'', Imprimerie Nationale, 1948 * Fourragere with olive colors of the

médaille militaire The ''Médaille militaire'' (, "Military Medal") is a military decoration of the French Republic for other ranks for meritorious service and acts of bravery in action against an enemy force. It is the third highest award of the French Republic, ...

and

Croix de Guerre 1939-1945 Croix (French for "cross") may refer to: Belgium * Croix-lez-Rouveroy, a village in municipality of Estinnes in the province of Hainaut France * Croix, Nord, in the Nord department * Croix, Territoire de Belfort, in the Territoire de Belfort depa ...

(4-5 citations at the orders of the armed forces) ** 3rd Algerian Tirailleurs Regiment (4 citations) ** 4th Tunisian Tirailleurs Regiment (4 citations) * Fourragere with olive colors of the Croix de Guerre 1939-1945 (2-4 citations) ** 7th Algerian Tirailleurs Regiment (3 citations) ** 7th African Chasseur Regiment (3 citations) ** 3rd Algerian Spahi Reconnaissance Regiment (3 citations) ** 67th African Artillery Regiment (2 citations) ** 83 Engineer Battalion (2 citations)

Division Commanders

* November 1942 - April 1943: Général Marie-Joseph-Edmond Welvert, killed in action April 10, 1943. * May 1943 - September 1944: Général Joseph de Goislard de Monsabert * September 1944 - October 1945: Général Augustin Guillaume

Division Combat Casualties

During

, the total losses («

Morts pour la France (, ) is a legal expression in France and an honour awarded to people who died during a conflict, usually in service of the country. Definition The term is defined in L.488 to L.492 (bis) of the ''Code of Military Disability Pensions and War ...

») suffered by the 3^e DIA between November 1942 and May 1945 were 3,078 men (2097 Marghrebis and 981 Europeans), almost 20% of the division. These do not include the 123 Frenchmen killed belonging to the FFI of the Franc Corps Pommiès/49th Infantry Regiment attached temporarily to the division between the end of November 1944 and May 1945:

Footnotes

References

* De Lattre de Tassigny, ''Histoire de la première armée française'', Plon, 1949 *''

Grandes Unités Françaises Grandes Unités Françaises (full title: ''Guerre 1939-1945 Les Grandes Unités Françaises'') is a monumental six-volume (the fifth volume is actually composed of four separate works) World War II order of battle and military unit history referenc ...

'', Volumes IV and V-1, French Army Historical Service, Paris: Imprimerie Nationale, 1970 and 1972. *''Le Réarmement et la Réorganisation de l'Armée de Terre Française (1943 - 1946)'', J. Vernet, French Army Historical Service, Château de Vincennes, 1980. * Anthony Clayton, ''France, Soldiers, and Africa'', Brassey's Defence Publishers, 1988 * ''Livre d'or de la 3e Division d'Infanterie Algérienne'', Imprimerie Nationale, 1948 * Capitaine Heurgon, ''La victoire sous le signe des trois croissants la vie, les peines et les gloires de la troisième division d'infanterie algerienne'', P. Vrillon, 1946 * Paul Gaujac, ''Le Corps expéditionnaire français en Italie'', Histoire et collections, 2003 *

, Mémoires, Fayard, 1959

External links

Monte Cassino - the Battle of Belvedere
{{Liberation of France Infantry divisions of France Algerian Infantry Division, 3rd Military of French Algeria Military units and formations disestablished in 1946