3rd Armoured Division (France, 1940)

Not to be confused with 3rd Armoured Division (France).

The 3rd Armoured Division (French: 3^e Division Cuirassée, 3^e DCR) is a unit of the French Army formed during World War II that took part in the May–June 1940 Battle of France.

3rd Armoured Division
3e Division Cuirassée
Active	March - May 1940
Country	France
Branch	French Army
Type	Armoured Division
Role	Armoured warfare
Size	200
Motto(s)	Boutez En Avant (Push Forward)
Engagements	World War II Battle of France

History

B1 bis tank of the 41st Tank Battalion, lost near Ouvrage La Ferté in May 1940

Formed 20 March 1940 at Reims. Campaigns: Battle of the Meuse, Meuse Front, Battle of the Aisne and Retreat of the center. Final command post at Montbard northwest of Dijon. Division captured 17–18 June. Subordination: XXI Corps of 2nd Army until 23 May, then various including 4th Army and XVIII Corps of 2nd Army.^[1]

Composition

In May 1940:^[2][3][4]

• 41st Tank Battalion (B1 bis tanks)
• 49th Tank Battalion (B1 bis tanks)
• 42nd Tank Battalion (H39 tanks)
• 45th Tank Battalion (H39 tanks)
• 16th Motorized Rifle Battalion (bataillon de chasseurs portés)
• 319th Artillery Regiment

References

1. GUF, Vol. 3, pp. 497-506.
2. Vauvillier, François (October 2007). "La division cuirassée en France en 1940 et ses perspectives : 1 - Les chars et les chasseurs portés". Histoire de Guerre, Blindés et Matériel (in French). No. 79. Histoire & Collections. pp. 38–49.
3. Vauvillier, François (January 2008). "La division cuirassée en France en 1940 et ses perspectives : 2 - l'artillerie d'accompagnement, l'artillerie antichars et la défense contre avions". Histoire de Guerre, Blindés et Matériel (in French). No. 80. Histoire & Collections. pp. 40–49.
4. Bonal, Capitaine (2 November 2016). "Les divisions cuirassées". defense.gouv.fr (in French).

Bibliography

• (GUF) Service Historique de l'Armée de Terre. Guerre 1939–1945 Les Grandes Unités Françaises. Paris: Imprimerie Nationale, 1967.