French Military History

THE FRENCH ARMY 1939 - 1940: ORGANISATION : ORDER OF BATTLE : OPERATIONAL HISTORY
by Lee Sharp

The French Army in 1939 was considered to be the most powerful military organisation in Europe. This is a multi volume series in which for the first time accurately details the organisation, formations and units of the French Army of 1939 - 1940. 

Volume 1 - The High Command, Military Districts (Régions Militaire) - including maps. Also Military Governors & Fortress Cities, the Gendarmeries & Garde Republicane Legions. The Army Staff (Étate-Major de l’Armée), Army Council (Conseil Supérieur de la Guerre), Superior Council of National Defence (Conseil Supérieur de la Défense National), General Headquarters (Grand Quartier Général - GQG) and its organisation. North-East Theatre Command (Théâtre d’Operations du Nord-Est). Army Group (Groupe d’Armées), 1, 2, 3 Groupe d’Armées. Army (Armée) Includes Engineer, Signals, Transportation, Quartermaster, Medical, Veterinary organisations. Army Staff, Army Services, Army HQ Troops, Army Rear Staff, Army Rear Directorate Organisation. 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th,5th, 6th,7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, Armies, troops compositions, as well as Army of the Alps (Armee des Alpes).
Army Detachment (Detachment D’Armée) troops, also Ardennes Army Detachment (Detachment d’Armée des Ardennes) (DAA) and Pyrenees Army Detachment (Detachment d’Armée des Pyrenees.
Army Corps (Corps D’Armée) Troops, III, IV, VI, VII, VIII, IX, XI, XII, XIII, XIV, XV, XVI, XVII, XVIII, XX, XXI, XXIII, XXIV, XXV. Colonial Army Corps (Corps d’Armée Colonial), Fortress Army Corps (Corps d’Armée de Fortresses). Additional Corps sized units - Groupement Dubuisson, Groupment Duffor, Groupement Molinie.
Cavalry Corps & Motorised Corps (Corps de Cavalerie et Corps d’Armée Motorisé) Organisation and Corps Troops. 1, 2, 5 Motorised Corps (Corps d’Armée Motorise). Cavalry Corps (Corps de Cavalerie) Troops. Armoured Group (Groupment Cuirassé) Organisation.
French North Africa (L’Afrigue Française du Nord). Military Organisation Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, including map. Commander-in-Chief of the North African Theatre of Operations (Commandent en Chef du Théâtre d’Operations de l’Afrique du Nord) units. Tunisian Fronts (Fronts Tunisiens) Troops, East Saharian Front (Front East Saharien) Troops. Eastern Mediterranean Theatre of Operations (Theatre d’Operations de la Mediterranée Oriental) (T.O.M.O.) Troops and map. Garrison, Occupation Troops, Expeditionary Force. Army Corps “L” /The Levant Mobile Force (Corps d’Armée “L” / Groupement des Forces Mobiles du Levant) Troops.
French Scandinavian Expeditionary Force (Corps Expeditionaire Français en Scandinave) Troops, Divisions & units.
Colonial Troops - China, Indo-China, Togo, Cameroons, Gabon, Madagascar, Reunion, French Somalia, Martinique, etc. Also Indo-China (inc map) Troops & Formations. French West Africa (inc map) Troops and units Air Reconnaissance & Observation units 
210 x 295mm, vi + 148 pages, 22 maps
ISBN 978-0-85420-316-1 Hardback Edition £34.99
ISBN 978-0-85420-321-5 Softback Edition £22.99

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Volume 2 - The Organisation of the Division. Includes alterations, Commanding Generals, Chiefs of Staff, numbers of men, type and allocation of equipment. Motorised Infantry Division (Division d’Infanterie Motorisée )(DIM). Division Organisation. Order of Battle of Division Numbers 1, 3, 5, 9, 12, 15, 25. Infantry Division type “North-East” (Division d’Infanterie type NE). Division Organisation. Order of Battle of Division Numbers 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17(1), 17(2), 18, 21, 22, 23, 24,26, 27, 30, 32, 35, 36, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 60, 61, 62, 63, 66, 67, 68, 70, 71.
Infantry Division type Mountain (Division d’Infanterie type Mountagne) Division Organisation. Order of Battle of Division Numbers 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 64, 65. 
Light Mountain Division (Division Légère de Chasseurs). Division Organisation. Order of Battle of Division Numbers 1, 2, 3, 40. North African Infantry Division (Division d’Infanterie Nord Africain) (DINA). Division Organisation. Order of Battle of Division Numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Colonial Infantry Division (Division d’Infanterie Coloniale) (DIC). Division Organisation. Order of Battle of Division Numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. Infantry Division type Overseas (Division d’Infanterie type Outre-Mer) (Three Categories). Division Organisation. Order of Battle of Division Numbers 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, Infanterie d’Afrique. 1, 2, 3, Division Marocaine. 87/180, 181, 182, 183, d’Afrique. 191, 192 Infanterie. Light Infantry Division (Division Légère d’Infanterie) (DLI). Division Organisation. Orders of Battle Division Numbers 1, 17, 59, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241. Foreign Infantry Divisions : Polish.(Polonaise) Division Organisations. Orders of Battle Division Numbers 1, 2 : Czech(Tchecoslavaque). Division Organisation. Order of Battle of Division Numbers 1 Cavalry Division (Division de Cavalerie)(DC). Division Organisation. Order of Battle Division Numbers 1, 2, 3. Light Cavalry Division (Division Légère de Cavalerie) (DLC). Division Organisation. Order of Battle Divisions Number 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Light Mechanised Division (Division Légère Mecanique) (DLM) Division Organisation. Order of Battle Division Number 1, 2, 3, 4, 7. Reserve Armoured Division (Division Cuiraseé de Reserve) (DCR). Division Organisation. Order of Battle Division Numbers 1, 2, 3, 4. Tables of symbols, Glossary/Abbreviations, Comparative Rank Table &c 
210x295mm, vi + 156 pages
ISBN 978-0-85420-141-9 £34.99 Hardback Edition
ISBN 978-0-85420-190-7 Softback Edition £22.99

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Volume 3 - Commands and Formations of the Maginot Line
Fortified Region, Fortress Army Corps, Fortified Sector and Defensive Sector, Fortress Infantry Division, Southern Tunisian Fortified Region
Infantry
Infantry Brigade. Metropolitan Infantry Regiment type “North-East”, Metropolitan Infantry Regiment type “Overseas” 58, Half-Brigade and Battalions of Chasseurs, Zouave Infantry Regiment. North African Tirailleur Regiments (all types), Infantry Regiment type “Mountain”, Half-Brigade and Battalions of Alpine Chasseurs, Pyrenean Half-Brigade and Battalions, Motorised Infantry Regiment, Mechanised Infantry Battalion, Foreign Legion, Half-Brigade and Battalions of Light Infantry, Half-Brigade and Battalions of Light Infantry in Sourn Tunisia, Fortress Infantry Regiments 106
Alpine Fortress Half-Brigades and Battalions, Machine-Gun Battalion, Coastal Defence Formations. Moroccan Goum. Territorial Formations in Levant Infantry Training Formations, Pioneer Regiment and Independent Pioneer units, Divisional Pioneer Company, Divisional Anti-Tank Company, Independent Anti-Tank Company, Headquarters Guard Company, Infantry Weapons Repair Park, Regulating Station Transit Depot, Wounded Transit Station and Auxiliary Camp Companies, Camp and Billets Company.
Tanks
Tank Command Staffs, Armoured Brigade, Half-Brigade of Tanks, Group of Tank Battalions, Tank Battalion, Type FT 17 Tank Battalion, Type 1935 Tank Battalion, Type D Tank Battalion and type D Independent Company, Type B Tank Battalion, Type 2C Tank Battalion, Independent Tank Companies and FT Tank Platoons, Tank Park, Tank Training Battalion, Tank Transporter Company.
Introduction, Abbreviations/Glossary, Numbering of French Military units, Comparative Table of Ranks, Military Symbols
210 x 295mm,vi + 187 pages
ISBN 978-0-85420-824-1 Hardback Edition £34.99
ISBN 978-0-85420-825-8 Softback Edition £22.99

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Volume 4 - Artillery : General Reserve Artillery, Heavy Railway Artillery, The Heavy Railway Artillery Regiment, The Heavy Railway Artillery Park, Motorised Artillery, Motorised Artillery, Regiments, The Caterpillar Platoons, The Artillery Parks, Horse-Drawn, Static & Trench Artillery and Anti-Tank Batteries. Horse-Drawn Artillery Training Units, Artillery Parks, Artillery Survey Units, Army Corps Artillery, Fortress Artillery, Divisional Artillery, Independent Artillery Regiments, Independent Artillery Groupes, Independent Artillery Batteries, Sections and Detachments. Anti-Tank Formations, Artillery Parks (Army Corps and Divisions) . Appendix 1- Artillery Establishment, Appendix 2 - Worker Companies. Tables of symbols, Glossary/Abbreviations, Comparative Rank Table &c 
210 x 295mm vi + 180 pages
ISBN 978-0-85420-326-0 Hardback Edition £34.99
ISBN 978-0-85420-331-4 Softback Edition £22.99

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VOLUME 5 (revised edition)
Anti-Aircraft formations : Anti-Aircraft commands and staffs, Passive Defence formations, General Reserve Groupings. Anti-Aircraft Batteries type 75CA Mle 32/33, 75CA Mle 15/34 & 105CA Mle 17/34, 75CA Mle 30 29,90CA Mle 39 32. Railway Anti-Aircraft Batteries 36, Emergency Batteries – Naval guns – Foreign guns, Divisional Anti-Aircraft Batteries, Anti-Aircraft Groups and Batteries type Army, Anti-Aircraft formations in French North Africa Anti-Aircraft formations in the Levant 57, The Machine-gun Companies 58, Searchlight formations. Cavalry Formations : Cavalry Brigade, Regiment & units. Spahis Brigade and Regiments, African Cavalry Regiments – Régiments de Chasseurs d’Afrique. Foreign Legion Cavalry. Light Mechanised, Light Motorised & Reserve Motorised Cavalry Brigades, Mechanised Cavalry Regiment of the Light Mechanised Division, Mechanised Cavalry Battalion of the Cavalry Division 95, Mechanised Cavalry Regiment of the Light Cavalry Division, Armoured Car Regiment of the Cavalry Division. Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment of the Light Mechanised Division, Armoured Cavalry Regiment of the Light Mechanised Division, Army Corps and Divisional Reconnaissance Battalions, Army Corps Reconnaissance Battalion, Divisional Reconnaissance Battalion, Independent and Temporary Cavalry units, Irregular Cavalry units, Anti-tank units of the cavalry arm, Divisional Recovery Squadrons, veterinary, remount and other horse units and establishments. Colonial units : Colonial Infantry Regiments type North-East, Colonial Machine-gun formations, Colonial Infantry Regiments type mountain, overseas reduced and mixed, Independent Colonial. The Independent African Infantry Battalions, The Indigenous Colonial Regiments and Battalions in French Indo-China, Colonial Armoured and Cavalry units, Colonial Artillery, Colonial Engineer, Signals, Medical, Quartermaster and Transport formations, Irregular colonial formations and formations mobilised by colonial depots.
vi + 169 pages 295 x 210mm.
ISBN 978-0-85420-913-2 Hardback Edition £34.99
ISBN 978-0-85420-914-9 Softback Edition £22.99

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NEW! VOLUME 6 PART 1
Engineer Units : Command & Staffs; Engineer Battalion & Camouflage Company, Road Repair & Pontoon Bridge Battalions. Inland Waterway, Cable Car, Heavy Bridging, Bridge train, Barracks Erection, Water Service, Camp/Billets Companies. Forestry Engineers formations. Engineer units of Traffic Regulations Stations. Engineer training units/Skilled Worker Companies. Railway Engineer Battalions type normal & type special. Army, Army Corps. Divisional & Fortress Engineers. Signals Service : Radio Direction Finding Sections, GQG Signals, Army Group, Army, Army Detachment, Corps, Divisional, Fortress, Signals. Signal Staffs & establishments. iv + 162 pages, 295 x 210mm.
ISBN 978-0-85420-819-7 Hardback Edition £34.99
ISBN 978-0-85420-820-3 Softback Edition £22.99

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NEW! VOLUME 6 PART 2
Overseas Engineer formations : - French North Africa : - Engineer Battalions, Companies. Battalions - Divisional Engineers Type Overseas. Companies - Road Repair, Water Service, Barracks Erection, Forestry, Park, Railway Engineer, Mixed Engineer-Electromecanical. Levant - Divisional Engineers. Signals Units : [Type Overseas] French North Africa . General Reserve Units, Electricians Company, Telegraph Battalion, Radio Company, Military Telegraph Section, Reduced Signals Park , Signals Formations of Commands & Staffs. Divisional Telegraph, Radio Companies, Radio Company Reinforced. Infantry Division Radio Companies type Overseas. Infantry Division Carrier Pigeon Detachment type Overseas. Levant - Signals Company, Territorial Signals. Engineer units Morocco , Algeria , Tunisia . Radio Jamming sections. Quartermaster Service : Its responsibilities. Titles & Ranks. Formations of the General Reserve. North African, Levant , Indo-China. Unit types - Field, Mobile , Motorised Bakery, Bakeries (CEFS), Meat Resupply Companies. Quartermaster Service of the Regulating Station (see Volume 6 part 3). Quartermaster Detachments. Army, Corps, Division Quartermaster formations, Polish Brigade in Levant . Fortified - Regions, Sectors, Army Corps, Fortress Infantry Divisions. Southern Tunisian Fortified Region. Quartermaster Commands, Staffs & Establishments : Military Districts, Military Regions X & XII. Quartermaster Formations : Région Militaire de Paris : I, II, III. IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, XI, XIII, XIV, XV, XVI, XVII, XVIII, XX, Region Militaire. Colonial Quartermaster Establishments in Metropolitan France . Territorial Quartermaster Formations in North Africa - Morocco , XIX RM. Medical Service : General Reserve Medical formations. Hospitals, Hospital Trains, Ambulance organizations, Decontamination, Laboratories, Ambulance Corps. Divisional Medical Formations, Medical Groups - Infantry, Mountain, Overseas, Cavalry Division. Medical units (Fortified Sectors), Medical Evacuation stations. Hospitals used by the Army in the Paris Military Region also I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, XI, XIII, XIV, XV, XVI, XVII, XVIII, XX.
vi + 156. pages 295 x 210mm.
ISBN 978-0-85420–899-9 Hardback Edition £34.99
ISBN 978-085420- 900-2 Softback Edition £22.99

in preparation

Volume 6 Part 3 - General Reserve Transport: Troop transport groups, light stores transport groups, heavy stores transport groups, coach, truck and lorry companies, motorised ambulance companies, fuel transport companies, tractor companies, machine-gun battalion transport companies, meat transport sections, aviation munitions transports sections, the motorised anti-aircraft company, motor repair centres, motor training and organisation centres, horse-transport companies, mule companies, transport on Corsica, transport units in French North Africa.
The Road Traffic Control Commission : The Railway Communications Regulating Commission. General headquarters, army group, army, army detachment, corps and divisional motorised and horse-drawn transport companies, fortress transport companies and detachments, transport groups and companies in the military districts.
Coastal Artillery
Bibliography and Sources
Volume 7 : Mobilisation of the Army. The Sarre Offensive. Offensive and Defensive Plans.
Volume 8 : Manpower, Horses, Weapons, Vehicles and Equipment
Volume 9 : Changes in Deployment to May 1940. The Campaign in Norway. Detailed Order of Battle May 9th 1940