Organization of an Infantry Division

1914


At the time of mobilization in the summer of 1914, there were 44 active divisions in "metropolitan" France -- 41 infantry divisions (1st-36th, 39th-43rd) and 3 colonial (1st-3rd). An additional three divisions were formed upon mobilization: the 44th DI (composed of 4 regiments reserved solely for the defense of the Alps), and the 37th and 38th DI constituted in North Africa. In the first weeks of the war, the Moroccan Division and the 45th DI are formed in North Africa as well. Therefore, in August of 1914 there were a total of 47 divisions. However, in early September the 44th DI is dissolved permitting the 76th and 77th DI to be formed. At the end of the year then the number of active infantry divisions stands at 49.

The infantry division was composed of 2 brigades of 2 regiments. An artillery regiment from the brigade of the corps artillery, with 9 batteries of 75s, is attached to each infantry division. Each active infantry division was to also have 2 reserve regiments attached to it. However, upon mobilization most of these were grouped into 25 reserve divisions (51st-75th). Additionally, some (but not all) divisions were bolstered by the attachment of 1 or 2 battalions of chasseurs.

Number of Effectives (When at Full Strength)
Division: ~16,000*
Brigade: ~6,000
Regiment: 3,000

*Note: Of this number, over 13,000 (or 85%) were infantrymen.

August 1914

Division (active)

Administration:

  • General-Staff
    • Troops:
  • 2 Brigades of Infantry (2 regiments each)
  • 1 Squandron of Cavalry
  • 1 Regiment of Artillery (3 groups of 75s)
  • 1 Company of Engineers (sapers-miners)
  • 2 Regiments of Reserve
    • Services:
  • 1 Quartermaster Company
  • 1 Medical Section (1 group of divisional stretcher-bearers, 1-2 medical squads)
  • 1 Provost Company
  • 1 Train Squad
  • 1 Treasury and Postal Bureau
  • Military Justice Bureau and War Counsel


    • There were also 25 reserve divisions (51st-75th), 4 of which are assigned to the defense of fortified regions (57th DR at Belfort, 71st DR at Epinal, 72nd DR at Verdun and 73rd DR at Toul). The other 21 reserve divisions were field formations. However, in September 1914, the 54th and 75th DR are dissolved. Thus, by the end of 1914 there are only 23 reserve divisions.

    Reserve divisions were composed of 2 brigades of 3 regiments each. However, the reserve regiment was constituted of only 2 battalions (unlike the active regiments which had 3). Thus, both active and reserve divisions were made up of 12 battalions, although the latter was smaller in size.

    Number of Effectives (When at Full Strength)
    Division: ~14,000
    Brigade: ~6,000
    Regiment: 2,000

    August 1914

    Division (reserve)

    Administration:

  • General-Staff
    • Troops:
  • 2 Brigades of Infantry (3 regiments each)
  • 2 Squandrons of Cavalry
  • 3 Groups of Artillery (3 batteries of 75s each)
  • 5 Munitions Sections (2 infantry sections, 3 artillery sections)
  • 3 Companies of Engineers (1 sapers-miners company, 1 bridge-crew company, 1 park company)
  • 1 Telegraph Detachment
    • Services:
  • 1 Quartermaster Group (1 requisitioning group, 1 administrative convoy)
  • 1 Medical Section (1 group of divisional stretcher-bearers, 3 medical squads, 2 hospitalization sections, 1 sanitary automobile section)

    • 1915


    In 1915, the difference between active and reserve disappeared through the inter-division exchange of active and reserve infantry regiments. Additionally, a second company of sappers-miners, a park company and a telegraph detachment are added to each division, while the engineers are put under the command of the battalion leader. An amalgamation of non-divisioned formations and the incorporation of the class of 1915 allows for the formation of 26 new divisions (of which 4 are colonials), making a total of 98 infantry divisions.



    1916


    By 1916, the process of removing the reserve regiments and the chasseur group from the infantry division was completed and these were formed into their own respective divisions. In the summer, a battery of trench artillery was added along with a divisional depot. Another major reorganization was the dissolving of the infantry brigade. An infantry division was now to be composed of 3 infantry regiments. This reorganization allowed for the creation of 9 new divisions and, by the end of the year, their total number had risen to 107. However, the average number of effectives now rested at 13,000 men.



    1917


    In 1917, 4 divisions were formed from the transformation of territorial divisions into active ones, along with the creation of another 5 new divisions (of which 1 is colonial). The reorganization to a divisional infantry of 3 regiments (9 battalions) a gradual one. Though most had completed the change, by November 1917, 8 divisions had still not done so. At the same time, a further 14 divisions had either 8, 10 or 11 battalions. Divisional artillery was to now have a battery of 155 "TRs" (Rapid Fire) attached and the divisional depot created the year before became the divisional instruction center. This too was gradual and only 4 divisions contained such a unit in 1917 -- the change would be completed by the following spring. At the end of the year, 3 other divisions were dissolved (88th, 130th, 158th DI) and the total number of divisions would reach its maximum at 113.


    1918


    In 1918, a pioneer battalion was added to each division and the services branch was expanded further. In 1918, no new formations were created. The 55th DI was dissolved, while the 65th DI became the 2nd Morocan Division and the 63rd DI became the Polish Division. At the end of the war, there are only 109 infantry divisions.

    Number of Effectives (When at Full Strength)
    Division: ~9,500
    Regiment: 2,500

    Summer 1918

    Division

    Administration:

  • General-Staff
    • Troops:
  • 3 Regiments of Infantry (forming the divisional infantry)
  • 1 Regiment of Artillery (3 groups of 75s)
  • 1 Group of Heavy Artillery (155 "shorts" and "TRs")
  • 1 Battery of Trench Artillery
  • 1 Battalion of Pioneers
  • 1 Engineer Group (2 sapper-miner companies, 1 park company, 1 telegraph detachment, 1 radio section)
  • 1 Light Projector Company
  • 1 Divisional Instruction Center
    • Services:
  • 1 Divisional Artillery Park Group (1 infantry munitions section, 2 horse-drawn artillery munitions sections (75 mm and 155 mm), 1 divisional repair team)
  • 1 Quartermaster Company (1 requisitioning group, 1 administrative convoy, 1 livestock herd, 1 fresh meat resupply section)
  • 1 Medical Group (1 divisional stretcher-bearers group, 1 medical section, 1 hospitalization section, 1 sanitary automobile section)
  • 1 Provost Company
  • 1 Train Squad
  • 1 Automobile Convoy
  • 1 Treasury and Postal Bureau
  • Military Justice Bureau and War Counsel

    • Sources:
    British General Staff, ed. Handbook of the French Army, 1914. Battery Press: Nashville, 2002.
    British General Staff, ed. French Trench Warfare, 1917-1918: A Reference Manual. Battery Press: Nashville, 2002.
    Grand Quartier Général, 3e Bureau. Manuel du Chef de Section d'Infanterie. Jan. 1918 ed. Imprimerie Nationale: Paris, 1918.
    Grand Quartier Général. Manuel d'Infanterie: à l'usage des sous officiers caporaux et élèves caporaux. 1914 ed. Henri-Charles Lavauzelle: Paris, 1914.
    Sheffield, Gary, ed. War on the Western Front: In the Trenches of World War I. Osprey Publishing: Oxford, 2007.
    Sumner, Ian and Gerry Embleton. The French Army 1914-1918. Osprey Publishing: Oxford, 1999.
    Vauvillier, François. Nos Poilus de 1914-1918: L'Infanterie. Histoire & Collections: Paris, 2006.

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