3rd Algerian Infantry Division

The 3rd Algerian Infantry Division (French: 3e Division d'Infanterie Algérienne, 3e DIA) was an infantry division of the Army of Africa (French: Armée d'Afrique) which participated in World War II.

3rd Algerian Infantry Division
3e Division d'Infanterie Algérienne
The insignia of the 3e DIA represents the winged statuette of the Victory of Cirta
Victoire de Cirta with three crescents
Active1 May 1943 - 15 April 1946
Country France
Allegiance French Army
TypeInfantry Division
Size16,840 personnel (1943)
Motto(s)It crescendo
EngagementsItalian Campaign
Southern France
Vosges Mountains
Gambsheim Bridgehead
Bienwald
Baden
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Joseph de Goislard de Monsabert
Augustin Guillaume

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 (French: corps expéditionnaire français) led by the Marshal Alphonse Juin by landing in Provence, liberating Toulon and Marseille, 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.

Creation and composition
  • November 1942 to April 1943: Marching Division of Constantine (French: division de marche de Constantine).
  • April 15, 1943: the 3rd Algerian Infantry Division was established by General of the French Army Henri Giraud under the orders of General Monsabert, with two infantry regiments with red fourragere, the 7e RTA and 4e RTT, one regiment with yellow fourragere, the 3e RTA and 67e RAA, similarly with yellow fourragere, 3 regimental colors decorated with the Légion d'honneur (3e RTA, 4e RTT and 7e RTA).
  • April 15, 1946: the division was disbanded.

It was considered by General Joseph de Goislard de Monsabert and Marshal Alphonse Juin to be a successor of the Roman Legion of North Africa Legio III Augusta.[1] The 3e DIA was also referred to as the Division of the Three Crescents (French: Division des Trois Croissants) representing the 3 Tirailleurs Regiments:

The 3e DIA was awarded four citations at the orders of the armed forces between 1943 and 1945, along with the 1st Free French Division (1re DFL), which also received four citations. The 3e DIA was considered the most decorated division of the Second World War, with all forming regiments having been awarded a French Fourragere.

The 3rd Armored Division is the modern successor of the 3rd Algerian Infantry Division. The 3rd Division was recreated in 2016 with the cadre of the reorganization of the French Army.

Insignia & motto

The division insignia represents a winged statuette of the "Victory of Cirta" (French: une statuette ailée, la "Victoire de Cirta"), discovered in 1855 in Constantine (old Cirta in the province of Numidia), and is the representation of the Roman Goddess protector of the emperors and venerated by the Roman army.

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 and placed under orders of General Goislard de Monsabert, the 3e DIA disembarked in Italy in December 1943.

As part of the French Expeditionary Corps, commanded by the future Marshal Juin, the 3e 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 4e 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)
Further information: Liberation of France

On August 15, 1944, the 3e DIA disembarked in Provence, at Cogolin in the Var, liberated Toulon and Marseille, 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 3e 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, cols 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 3e 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.[2]

Infantry

A North African Tirailleur 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.[3]

Armoured

The two regiments were composed of 900 to 1,000 men with 15% Maghrebis and 85% Europeans.[4]

Artillery

One artillery 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 (3e 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.[5]

Division Commanders

Division Combat Casualties

During World War II, the total losses (« Morts pour la France ») suffered by the 3e 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:

Killed in Action[6]FrenchMaghrebis Total
Tunisia Campaign (1942–43)5072122
Italian Campaign (1943–44)5871,3071,894
Campaign in Southern France (1944–45)292599891
German campaign (1945)52119171
Total (1942–1945)981 (32%)2,097 (68%)3,078

See also

Footnotes
  1. Alphonse Juin, Mémoires, Fayard, 1959, v1, p. 264
  2. Le corps expéditionnaire français en Italie, Histoire et collections, 2003, p.31
  3. Le corps expéditionnaire français en Italie, Histoire et Collections, 2003, p. 33
  4. Le corps expéditionnaire français en Italie, Histoire et Collections, 2003, p. 48-50
  5. Livre d'Or de la 3e Division d'Infanterie Algérienne, Imprimerie Nationale, 1948
  6. Anthony Clayton, France, Soldiers, and Africa, Brassey's Defence Publishers, 1988

Article Sources
  • De Lattre de Tassigny, Histoire de la première armée française, Plon, 1949
  • Grandes Unités Françaises, 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
  • Alphonse Juin, Mémoires, Fayard, 1959
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