page_title: List of French divisions in World War II
section_title: Colonial Forces 1940
hierarchical_section_title: List of French divisions in World War II / Infantry and mountain divisions / Colonial Forces 1940
caption_attribution_description: English: French troops setting barricades in Paris in case of an upcoming Nazi German invasion (May 1940). Screenhot taken from the 1943 United States Army propaganda film Divide and Conquer (Why We Fight #3) directed by Frank Capra and partially based on, news archives, animations, restaged scenes and captured propaganda material from both sides.
context_page_description: This is a listing of French divisions that served between 1939 and 1945.
context_section_description: Division types included Moroccan divisions (DM), north African divisions (DINA and DLINA), African divisions (DIA) and colonial divisions (DIC).
  1st Moroccan Division. An active division at the start of the war, mobilized 2 September 1939 in Meknes, Algeria. Transported via rail and sea to Marseille and reequipped as a Type Northeast division by 8 November. Campaigns: Battle of the Dyle and Battle of the North. Evacuated from Dunkirk on 1 June and returned to France by 6 June, where the remnants of the division reorganized and became part of the 1st DLINA on 12 June. Final command post at Almenêches-Saint-Pierre. Subordination: Numerous, including the Colonial Corps IV Corps, V Corps, Cavalry Corps and XVI Corps.
  2nd Moroccan Division. Inactivated 10 September 1939 in Morocco.
  3rd Moroccan Division. In Morocco during 1940 campaign. Elements later assigned to the Fez and Casablanca divisions in the Army of Transition. Another 3rd Moroccan Division existed between 1 March and 1 June 1943, which became the 4th DMM in the Army of Liberation.
  1st North African Infantry Division. An active division at the start of the war, mobilized 23 August 1939 in Lyon as a Type Northeast division. Campaigns: Battle of the Meuse and Battle of the North. Division had numerous elements captured during the Battle of the North and remnants were evacuated via Dunkirk from 28 May to 2 June, with some sent back to France and eventually merged into the 1st DLINA. Subordination: XI Corps of the 9th Army, Cavalry Corps of the 1st Army, as well as 1st Army.
  1st North African Light Infantry Division. Formed 9 June 1940 in Bernay de l'Eure from remnants of the 1st DM and the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th DINA, all evacuated from Dunkirk and shipped back to France. Division was weak with four infantry and two artillery battalions. Campaigns: Retreat of the Left Wing. Most of division captured by 18 June. Final command post in the Forêt des Andaines (near Quiberon). Subordination: XVI Corps of the 10th Army.
  2nd North African Infantry Division. An active division at the start of the war, mobilized on 22 August 1939 in Mangiennes as a Type Northeast division. Campaigns: Battle of the Dyle and Battle of the North. Division captured in large part at Haubourdin on 28 May. Some elements shipped out from Dunkirk and were merged into the 1st DLINA. Final command post at Malo Terminus, near Dunkirk. Subordination: III and V Corps of the 1st Army.
  3rd North African Infantry Division. An active division at the start of the war, the division was mobilized on 23 August 1939 in Beaumont-en-Argonne as a Type Northeast division. Campaigns: Battle of the Meuse, Meuse Front and Retreat of the Right Wing. Division captured on 23 June 1940. Final command post at Praye. Subordination: X Corps, XVIII Corps and the Colonial Army Corps, all of the 2nd Army.
  4th North African Infantry Division. An active division at the start of the war, the division was mobilized on 23 August 1939 in Grostenquin as a Type Northeast division. On 10 May 1940, the division was still missing 20% of its personnel and a similar percentage of its transport. Campaigns: Battle of the Meuse and Battle of the North. Division captured on 20 May 1940. North African survivors were merged into the 1st DLINA. Final command post at La Capelle. Subordination: XI Corps of the 9th Army.
  5th North African Infantry Division. Formation-A-class reserve division mobilized 2 September 1939 as a Type Northeast division in Valence; missing 30% of its 25-mm antitank guns. Campaigns: Battle of the Dyle and Battle of the North. Division captured in large part at Haubourdin on 31 May and 1 June 1940. Those evading capture were evacuated from Dunkirk to England and then shipped back to Brest where they were merged into the 1st DLINA. Final command post at Malo Terminus, near Dunkirk. Subordination: V Corps of the 1st Army.
  6th North African Infantry Division. New division formed on 1 November 1939 at Chaumont-Porcien as a Type Northeast division. Campaigns: Lorraine Front, Meuse Front and Retreat of the Right Wing. Division captured b
caption: French troops in Paris, 1940
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