The 3rd Armoured Division () is a unit 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 ...

. The Division is the heir of the 3rd Algerian Infantry Division (3^e DIA) formed in 1943 and dissolved in 1946, which contributed in the liberation of Marseille during the Second World War. The 3rd Armoured Division was created in 1951 then dissolved in 1991. The 3rd Mechanised Brigade (3^e BM), created in 1999, inherited the traditions of the division. The 3rd Division (3^e DIV) was recreated on June 20, 2016 as part of a reorganisation of the French Army.

Creation and different nominations

* The 3rd Algerian Infantry Division (3^e DIA) was created on April 15, 1943; * Dissolution on April 15, 1946; * The 3rd Armored Division (3^e DB), heir of the 3rd Algerian Infantry Division, was created in 1951; * The 3rd Armored Division was dissolved in July 1991; * The 3rd Mechanised Brigade (3^e BM), created in July 1999 inherited traditions of the division. The brigade became designated as 3rd Light Armored Brigade (3^e BLB) in 2014; * The 3rd Division was recreated on June 20, 2016 part of the Scorpion Force alongside the 1st Division. File:Insigne de la 3° DIA.JPG, 3^e DIA File:Insigne de la 3e division blindée.jpg, 3^e DB File:3e Brigade Mécanisée.jpg, 3^e BM

Heraldry

It was under the signs of

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

traditions that général de Monsabert wanted to place the 3rd Algerian Infantry Division 3^e DIA during creation on May 1, 1943. The insignia of "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 ...

(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 ...

, today Constantine (provence in Algeria)) is supported by three crescents representing the Muslims, which composed the majority of the division, Allied to the metropolitans (blue white red
Origin of the insignia, La Victoire de Cirta
The "Victory" () was a

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 ...

that the

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 ...

de Cirta particularly venerated. The winged statuette was found during a search of an old garrison in Constantine in the 19th century. The motto of the 3rd Light Armoured Brigade was : « Plus d'honneur que d'honneurs » in French which translates literally to « More honor than the honors ». The motto of the 3rd Division currently is : « Un seul but : La victoire », which translates to «One goal, Victory».

History

1943 to 1946

The 3rd Algerian Infantry Division (3^e DIA), formed on April 15, 1943, fought in the Italy and France 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 ...

under 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

Augustin Guillaume Augustin Léon Guillaume (30 July 1895 – 9 March 1983) was a French general. He served in the French Army beginning in 1913, during World War I and World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 Septembe ...

. The division was dissolved on April 15, 1946.

1951 to 1991

The 3rd Division was reconstituted in 1951 at the corps of the

French Forces in Germany French military forces were stationed in Germany after the surrender of Germany after the end of World War II; France was one of four Allied powers allocated an occupation zone. The French occupation zone ( [], ) existed from the end of the war ...

(). This was a grand unit of almost 15000 men covering the Western part of Germany and comprising three brigades: * The 5th Mechanised Brigade at

Tübingen Tübingen (; ) is a traditional college town, university city in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated south of the state capital, Stuttgart, and developed on both sides of the Neckar and Ammer (Neckar), Ammer rivers. about one in ...

; * The 12th Mechanised Brigade at Offenbourg; * The 13th Motoryzed Brigade at

Konstanz Konstanz ( , , , ), traditionally known as Constance in English, is a college town, university city with approximately 83,000 inhabitants located at the western end of Lake Constance in the Baden-Württemberg state of south Germany. The city ho ...

the division became the 3rd Armoured Division in 1978. Three

infantry Infantry, or infantryman are a type of soldier who specialize in ground combat, typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadl ...

regiments, two tank regiments, two

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, one engineer regiment, and one command and support regiment. During the transformation of the FFA into FFECSA () (French Forces and Civilian Element), the division was redimensioned and dissolved in 1991.

Organigram in 1991

Two tank regiments, three

regiments, two

regiments, one engineer regiment, one command and support regiment: Based in Fribourg-en-Brisgau. * 3rd Dragoon Regiment () * 12th Cuirassiers Regiment () * 19th Group Mounted Chasseurs () * 42nd Infantry Regiment () * 152nd Infantry Regiment () Support: * 11th Artillery Regiment () * 34th Artillery Regiment () * 11th Engineer Regiment () Other support : * 3rd Command and Support Regiment ()

1999 to 2015

The 3rd Mechanised Brigade (3^e BM) created in 1999 retook traditions. The headquarter staff was based in Limoges. In 2011, the headquarter staff of the 3^e BM garrisoned at Clermont-Ferrand. On March 18, 2014, the 3rd Mechanised Brigade became designated as the 3rd Light Armoured Brigade (3^e BLB).

Since 2016

The 3rd Division (3^e DIV) was recreated during a ceremony on June 20, 2016. Interarm, the division is formed of three brigades part of the Scorpion Force alongside the 1st Division, units stationed in outre-mer and overseas. Headquarter staff is garrisoned in Marseille.

Composition

The 3rd Division is based in

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 ...

and is subordinated to the Commandement des Forces Terrestres (CFT). Effectifs form 25000 men and 4000 reservists in: * 2 Brigade Blindée (2 BB) – 2nd Armored Brigade, in

Strasbourg Strasbourg ( , ; ; ) is the Prefectures in France, prefecture and largest city of the Grand Est Regions of France, region of Geography of France, eastern France, in the historic region of Alsace. It is the prefecture of the Bas-Rhin Departmen ...

** 2 Compagnie de Commandement et de Transmissions (2 CCT) - 2nd Command and Signals Company ( VAB), in

Illkirch-Graffenstaden Illkirch-Graffenstaden () is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Grand Est in north-eastern France. It is the second-largest suburb of the city of Strasbourg, and is adjacent to it on the south-southwest. Illkirch-Graffenstaden's population ...

** 12 Régiment de Cuirassiers (12 RC) - 12th Cuirassier Regiment ( Leclerc MBTs, VBL vehicles), in Olivet ** 501^e Régiment de Chars de Combat (501 RCC) - 501st Tank Regiment ( Leclerc MBTs, VAB, VBL vehicles), in

Mourmelon-le-Grand Mourmelon-le-Grand () is a commune in the Marne department in north-eastern France. Population Camp de Châlons The ''camp de Châlons'', also known as ''camp de Mourmelon'', is a military camp of circa 10,000 hectares near Mourmelon-le-G ...

** Régiment de Marche du Tchad (RMT) -

Régiment de marche du Tchad The ''Régiment de marche du Tchad'' (RMT, " ''Ad hoc'' Regiment of Chad") is a mechanised unit of the French Army, belonging to the '' Troupes de Marine''. It is part of the 2nd Armoured Brigade. Formerly garrisoned north of Noyon it was moved ...

(VBCI IFVs), in Meyenheim ** 16 Bataillon de Chasseurs à pied (16 BCP) - 16th Chasseurs on Foot Battalion (VBCI IFVs), in

Bitche Bitche (English pronunciation: , ; German and Lorraine Franconian: ) is a commune in Moselle department, in the region of Grand Est in northeastern France. It is the Pays de Bitche's capital city, and the seat of the Canton of Bitche and the ...

** 92 Régiment d'Infanterie (92 RI) - 92nd Infantry Regiment (VBCI IFVs), in

Clermont-Ferrand Clermont-Ferrand (, , ; or simply ; ) is a city and Communes of France, commune of France, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regions of France, region, with a population of 147,284 (2020). Its metropolitan area () had 504,157 inhabitants at the 2018 ...

** 40 Régiment d'Artillerie (40 RA) - 40th Artillery Regiment ( AMX AuF1 howitzers (to be replaced by Caesar 8x8),

CAESAR Gaius Julius Caesar (12 or 13 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC) was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in a civil war. He ...

howitzers, RTF1 mortars, Mistral

missiles A missile is an airborne ranged weapon capable of self-propelled flight aided usually by a propellant, jet engine or rocket motor. Historically, 'missile' referred to any projectile that is thrown, shot or propelled towards a target; this u ...

), in

Suippes Suippes () is a commune in the Marne department in north-eastern France. It was part of the so-called ''la Champagne pouilleuse'', a region battered by conflict during World War I. In the early months of the war, British soldiers were deployed ...

** 13 Régiment du Génie (13 RG) - 13th Engineer Regiment ( VAB Génie), in

Valdahon Valdahon () is a commune in the Doubs department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in eastern France. Population Climate See also * Communes of the Doubs department The following is a list of the 563 communes of the Doubs depart ...

** Centre de Formation Initiale des Militaires du rang de la 2^e Brigade Blindée / 12^e Régiment de Chasseurs d'Afrique (CFIM 2^e BB - 12^e RCA) - 2nd Armored Brigade Troops Initial Formation Centre / 12th African Chasseurs Regiment, in Bitche * 6 Brigade Légère Blindée (6^e BLB) – 6th Light Armored Brigade, in

Nîmes Nîmes ( , ; ; Latin: ''Nemausus'') is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Gard Departments of France, department in the Occitania (administrative region), Occitanie Regions of France, region of Southern France. Located between the Med ...

** 6 Compagnie de Commandement et de Transmissions (6 CCT) - 6th Command and Signals Company ( VAB), in Nîmes ** 1 Régiment de Spahis (1^er RS) –

1st Spahi Regiment The 1st Spahi Regiment () is an armored regiment of the modern French Army, previously called the 1st Moroccan Spahi Regiment (). It was established in 1914 as a mounted cavalry unit recruited primarily from indigenous Moroccan horsemen. The regim ...

(

AMX-10 RC The AMX-10 RC is a French armoured fighting vehicle manufactured by Nexter Systems for armoured reconnaissance purposes. Equipping French cavalry units since 1979,https://imagesdefense.gouv.fr/fr/remise-du-premier-vehicule-amx-10-rc-au-2e-rh-r ...

, VAB, VBL vehicles), in Valence with AMX 10 RC ** 1 Régiment Étranger de Cavalerie (1 REC) -

1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment The 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment () is the only cavalry regiment of the Foreign Legion in the French Army. It is one of two armoured cavalry regiments of the 6th Light Armoured Brigade. The regiment has been stationed at Camp Carpiagne near ...

(

, VAB, VBL vehicles), in

** 2 Régiment Étranger d'Infanterie (2 REI) -

2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment The 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment () is an infantry regiment of the Foreign Legion in the French Army. The regiment is one of two mechanized infantry regiments of the 6th Light Armoured Brigade. Since the regiment's arrival from Bonifacio in ...

(

VBCI The véhicule blindé de combat d'infanterie ( English: ''armoured infantry fighting vehicle'') or VBCI is a French Infantry fighting vehicle designed and manufactured by ''GIAT Industries'' (now Nexter Systems) and Renault Trucks Defense (now ...

IFVs), in

** 13 Demi Brigade de Légion Etrangère (13 DBLE) -

13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion The 13th Demi-Brigade of Foreign Legion (), was created in 1940 and was the main unit of the 1st Free French Division, Free French Forces (FFL). From the coast of Norway to Bir Hakeim, to Africa then the Alsace, while passing by Syria and Italy ...

( VAB vehicles, to be replaced by

VBMR Griffon The Véhicule Blindé Multi-Rôle Griffon ( English: Multirole Armoured Vehicle Griffon) or VBMR Griffon is a French six-wheel multi-purpose armoured personnel carrier developed and manufactured by KNDS France (formerly ''Nexter Systems''), Ar ...

), in

La Cavalerie La Cavalerie (; ) is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France. During the 1970s it became the focal point of peasant resistance to the proposed extension of the Larzac military training base, just to the north. Population ...

** 21 Régiment d'Infanterie de Marine (21 RIMa) -

21st Marine Infantry Regiment The 21st Marine Infantry Regiment () is an infantry regiment of the Troupes de Marine issued by filiation from the 2nd Marine Infantry Regiment, 2e RIC. Creation and different nominations * 1831: creation of the 2nd Marine Infantry Regiment 2e ...

( VAB vehicles, to be replaced by

), in

Fréjus Fréjus (; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Var (department), Var Departments of France, department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regions of France, region in Southeastern France. It neighbours Saint-Raphaël, Var, Saint-Raphaël ...

** 3 Régiment d'Artillerie de Marine (3 RAMa) -

3rd Marine Artillery Regiment The 3rd Marine Artillery Regiment () is the heir to the 3rd Marine Artillery Regiment created in Rochefort by Napoleon Bonaparte's consular decree of May 13, 1803, the 3rd Colonial Artillery Regiment, then the 3rd Marine Artillery Regiment. The ...

(

and TRF1 howitzers, RTF1 mortars, Mistral

), in

Canjuers Canjuers is a calcareous plateau and a military camp in Provence located in southeastern France. It is the site of the largest military camp in Continental Europe. Geography Situated in the ''département'' of the Var in the Prealps of Castell ...

** 1 Régiment Étranger de Génie (1 REG) -

1st Foreign Engineer Regiment The 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment () is one of two combat engineer regiments of the Foreign Legion in the French Army. The regiment provides the combat engineering component of the 6th Light Armoured Brigade. It is currently stationed at Quar ...

, in

Laudun Laudun-l'Ardoise (; ) is a commune in the Gard department in the Occitania region in Southern France. It is located on the departmental border with Vaucluse, which is also the regional border with Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. The commune name w ...

** Centre de Formation Initiale des Militaires du rang 6 Brigade Légère Blindée / 4^e Régiment d'Infanterie de Marine (CFIM 6^e BLB - 4^e RIMa) - 6th Light Armored Brigade Troops Initial Formation Centre /

4th Marine Infantry Regiment The 4th Marine Infantry Regiment () was a French marine regiment of the troupes de marine within the French Army. This regiment was part of the « Quatre Grands » of the Marine Infantry along with the 1st Marine Infantry Regiment 1er RIMa, t ...

, in

* 11 Brigade Parachutiste (11^e BP) –

11th Parachute Brigade The 11th Parachute Brigade () is one of the French Army's airborne forces brigade, predominantly light infantry, part of the French paratrooper units and specialized in air assault, airborne operations, combined arms, and commando style raids. Th ...

, in

Balma Balma (; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Haute-Garonne Departments of France, department in southwestern France. It is east of Toulouse. The name of the town comes from the old Provençal dialect, Provençal word meaning "cave" or "gr ...

** 11 Compagnie de Commandement et de Transmissions Parachutiste (11 CCTP) - 11th Parachute Command and Signals Company, in Balma ** 1 Régiment de Hussards Parachutistes (1 RHP) -

1st Parachute Hussar Regiment The 1st Parachute Hussar Regiment () is an airborne cavalry unit in the French Army, founded in 1720 by Hungarian noble Ladislas Ignace de Bercheny. It is stationed in Tarbes and is a part of the 11th Parachute Brigade. Creation and differen ...

(

, ERC 90, VAB, VBL vehicles), in

Tarbes Tarbes (; Gascon language, Gascon: ''Tarba'') is a Communes of France, commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées Departments of France, department in the Occitania (administrative region), Occitanie Regions of France, region of southwestern France. It is ...

** 1 Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes (1 RCP) -

1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment The 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment () is the oldest and among the most decorated airborne forces regiments of the French Army. Established in the French Army in 1943, and formerly part of the French Air Force since 1937, the chasseur distinguishe ...

( VAB), in

Pamiers Pamiers (; ) is a commune and largest city in the Ariège department in the Occitanie region in southwestern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department. It is the most populous commune in the Ariège department, although it is not t ...

** 2 Régiment Étranger de Parachutistes (2 REP) -

2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment The 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment () is the only airborne regiment of the Foreign Legion in the French Army. It is one of the four infantry regiments of the 11th Parachute Brigade and part of the spearhead of the French rapid reaction force. Si ...

(VAB), in Calvi ** 3 Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine (3 RPIMa) -

3rd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment The 3rd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment () is one of the airborne force regiments of the Troupes de Marine. It is heir to the 3rd Colonial Commando Parachute Battalion created in 1948 and the 3rd Colonial Parachute Regiment . The regiment is ...

(VAB), in

Carcassonne Carcassonne is a French defensive wall, fortified city in the Departments of France, department of Aude, Regions of France, region of Occitania (administrative region), Occitania. It is the prefectures in France, prefecture of the department. ...

** 8 Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine (8 RPIMa) -

8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment The 8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (, 8e RPIMa) is an airborne regiment of the Troupes de Marine. The 8e RPIMa was created on 28 February 1951 and the men wear the red beret. It is part of the 11th Parachute Brigade. The regiment is ga ...

(VAB), in

Castres Castres (; ''Castras'' in the Languedocian dialect, Languedocian dialect of Occitan language, Occitan) is the sole Subprefectures in France, subprefecture of the Tarn (department), Tarn Departments of France, department in the Occitania (adminis ...

** 35 Régiment d'Artillerie Parachutiste (35 RAP) -

35th Parachute Artillery Regiment The 35th Parachute Artillery Regiment () is the only airborne artillery unit of the French Army forming the air artillery component of the 11th Parachute Brigade. It is based in Tarbes together with the air cavalry, the 1st Parachute Hussa ...

(

howitzers, RTF1 mortars, Mistral

), in

** 17 Régiment du Génie Parachutiste (17 RGP) -

17th Parachute Engineer Regiment The 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment () is heir to the traditions of the 17th Colonial Engineer Regiment () which fought illustriously during the Second World War . It is the only airborne engineer unit of the French Army forming the engineerin ...

, in

Montauban Montauban (, ; ) is a commune in the southern French department of Tarn-et-Garonne. It is the capital of the department and lies north of Toulouse. Montauban is the most populated town in Tarn-et-Garonne, and the sixth most populated of Oc ...

** 1 Régiment du Train Parachutiste (1 RTP) - 1st Parachute Supply Regiment, in

Toulouse Toulouse (, ; ; ) is a city in southern France, the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Haute-Garonne department and of the Occitania (administrative region), Occitania region. The city is on the banks of the Garonne, River Garonne, from ...

** École des Troupes Aéroportées (ETAP) - Airborne Troops School, in Pau ** Centre de Formation Initiale des Militaires du rang 11 Brigade Parachutiste / 6^e Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine (CFIM 11^e BP - 6^e RPIMa) - 11th Parachute Brigade Troops Initial Formation Centre /

6th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment The 6th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment () is an airborne infantry unit of the French Army. Outline history since 1951 * May 16, 1948: creation at Quimper of the 6th Colonial Parachute Commando Battalion (6e BCCP). * October 1, 1950: becam ...

, in Caylus

Notes

References

*David Isby and Charles Kamps Jr., ''Armies of NATO's Central Front'', Jane's Publishing Company, 1985. *Ian Sumner and Charles Vauvillier, ''The French Army 1939-45 (2)'', Osprey, 1998. {{DEFAULTSORT:3rd Armored Division (France) Armored Division, 3rd Armored divisions of France Military units and formations established in 1951 Military units and formations disestablished in 1991 Military units and formations established in 2016