97th Reconnaissance Group of the Infantry Division The 97th Reconnaissance Group of the Infantry Division ( ) was a motorized cavalry unit composed of members of the French Foreign Legion which existed briefly at the beginning of the Second World War . The unit was involved in the Battle of France until France ' s surrender to Germany ; the 97th GRDI remained intact for a few months after the surrender until it was disbanded on September 30 , 1940 . History . Originally established as the 180th Reconnaissance Group of the Infantry Division on December 1 , 1939 at Sousse , Tunisia as part of the French military mobilization at the beginning of World War II . Formed from elements of the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment and the 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment in addition to elements drawn from the 4th Cavalry Depot of Africa ( " 4e Dépôt de Cavalerie d ' Afrique " ) . The 180th GRDI was a part of the 180th North African Infantry Division under the command of General Rochas . On January 2 , 1940 , the 97th GRDI was transferred to Pont - du - Fahs in northern Tunisia and the unit was again transferred on February 3 , 1940 to Bizerte also in northern Tunisia . On February 3 , Lieutenant Colonel Paul Lacombe de La Tour was placed in command of the 97th Reconnaissance Group . On March 21 , 1940 the 97th GRDI arrived at Marseilles and by March 24 the unit was transferred to Carcassonne where it was attached to the 16th Cavalry Division . The 97th GRDI was sent to Camp Valdahon in Doubs on April 23 , 1940 , but its stay there was interrupted by the German offensive . On May 17 , the 97th Reconnaissance Group moved towards Montdidier by rail and quickly thereafter found itself fighting a rear guard delaying action from May 19 to May 25 . From June 5 to the 10th , the 97th Reconnaissance Group was engaged in combat as part of the French effort to defend their positions along the Somme and the Arve rivers . On June 9 , Lieutenant Colonel Paul Lacombe de La Tour was killed in action in the fighting around the woods around Noroy as the 97th GRDI , serving as a rear guard , attacked German panzer forces in an attempt to cover the 7th Division ' s retreat across the Oise River . In the assault , the 97th lost half of its fighting vehicles within minutes . The 97th then regrouped and charged again , suffering heavy casualties and losing the remainder of its vehicles to German fire . After de la Tour ' s death , command of the unit was assumed by Captain de Guiraud , which he held until the French surrender . From June 11 , 1940 to June 22 , the 97th GRDI , now fighting largely as infantry , participated in continual delaying actions as part of the 7th North African Infantry Division along a path of retreat running from Luzarches to Saint - Jory - de - Chalais . On June 13 , the 97th GRDI with the assistance of Moroccan " tirailleurs " , was able to prevent German forces from crossing the Seine River . On June 22 , 1940 the Second Armistice at Compiègne was signed leading to a cessation of hostilities for the French . On September 7 the 97th Reconnaissance Group was repatriated back to Tunisia and by the months end the unit as a whole was disbanded . By the time of its disbandment , only 256 of the original 650 men were alive , the rest having been killed or captured . See also . Battle of France