1st Colonial Infantry Division (France)

The 1st Colonial Infantry Division (French: 1e Division d'Infanterie Coloniale, 1e DIC) was a French Army formation prior to World War I and during World War II.

Prior to the start of World War I, the division was composed of:^[1]

• 5th Colonial Infantry Regiment
• 6th Colonial Infantry Regiment
• 21st Colonial Infantry Regiment
• 23rd Colonial Infantry Regiment

However, in the re-organisation immediately prior to World War I, the division was disbanded, with the 5th and 6th Colonial Infantry Regiments going to the , and the 21st and 23rd Colonial Infantry Regiments going to the .^[2]

During the Battle of France in May 1940 the division was made up of the following units:

• 3rd Colonial Infantry Regiment
• 12th Senegalese Tirailleurs Regiment
• 14th Senegalese Tirailleurs Regiment
• 71st Reconnaissance Battalion
• 1st Colonial Divisionary Artillery Regiment
• 201st Colonial Artillery Regiment

It was an active division which existed during peacetime. The Senegalese Tirailleurs Regiments contained troops from French West Africa. The Colonial Infantry and Artillery Regiments were made up of French troops who had volunteered to serve overseas if needed.

References[]

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