53rd Infantry Division (France)


The 53rd Infantry Division was a French Army formation during World War I and World War II.

World War 1

During World War I, the division comprised:
It was part of the French 1st, 2nd, 5th, 9th, 11th, 13th, 20th, 33rd, 35th and 40th Corps, during which it participated in the Battle of Charleroi, the Battle of Guise, the First Battle of the Marne, the First Battle of the Aisne, the Second Battle of Artois, the Second Battle of Champagne, the Battle of the Somme, the Battle of the Lys, the Battle of Matz, and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.
At various times, it was part of the French First Army, French Second Army, French Third Army, French Fourth Army, French Fifth Army, French Sixth Army, French Seventh Army and French Tenth Army.

World War 2

During the Battle of France in May 1940, the division contained the following units:
It was a Series B Reserve division containing older reservists.