Moroccan Division (France)


The Moroccan Division or the 1st Moroccan Division of 1914, initially the Marching Division of Morocco was an infantry division of France's Army of Africa which participated in World War I.
During the major engagements of the Division, the composition of the latter consisted of, half of Maghrebi soldiers and the other half made of "European" soldiers, the Moroccan Division illustrated capability in the First Battle of the Marne in September and the Second Battle of Artois of May 1915 where for the first time, a French division pierced the front.
The Moroccan Division was one of the most decorated units of the French Army and all its regiments were cited at the orders of the armed forces at the end of the conflict. The Moroccan Division was the only division of all French regimental colours to be decorated with the légion d’honneur throughout the course of World War I.
The four principal units which composed formation of the Moroccan Division between 1914 and 1918 were the Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion RMLE, the 4th Marching Tirailleurs Regiment 4e RTT, the 7th Marching Tirailleurs Regiment 7e RTA and 8th Marching Zouaves Regiment 8e RZ, all awarded the French fourragere with colours of the légion d’honneur at the end of the conflict.

Creation and different nominations

On the eve of mobilisation on August 2, 1914, the troops which were at the disposition of the French Army in Morocco constituted:
While at disposition, these part forces were made immediately available to Général Hubert Lyautey who created since mobilisation in Morocco, the Marching Division of Morocco , with mainly 3 battalions regrouped at Bled-el-Makhzen which formed the Colonial Infantry Marching Regiment of Morocco of the 1st Marching Brigade of Morocco belonging to this division.
Under orders of Général Georges Humbert, the units constituting the Marching Division of the Morocco were regrouped at Bordeaux and positioned themselves in the region of Tournes on August 18, and that to join the Colonial Army Troop Corps of the IVth Army in the battle of.
On August 20, 1914, the Marching Division of Morocco was renamed the Moroccan Division formed by principle of two Marching brigades of Morocco.
The Colonial Infantry Marching Regiment of Morocco was subsequently designated as 1st Colonial Infantry Marching Regiment of Morocco with regimental commander Lieutenant-Colonel Pernot leading 3 battalions:
The regiment was attached to the 1st Marching Brigade of Morocco of général Blondlat, along with the 1st Zouaves Regiment of Lieutenant-Colonel Leveque leading also 3 battalions of Commandants Lagure, Randier and Burkart.
The 2nd Marching Brigade of Morocco of Colonel Cros regrouped:
The 1st Moroccan Division was supported by:
During the battle of Bataille des Ardennes on August 23, 1914, the 1st Moroccan Division was integrated in the 9th Army Corps of the IVth Army under the orders of général Dubois. This army corps had for mission to cover the unfolding of the later while maintaining positions on the designated line Signy-l'Abbaye / La-Fosse-à-l'Eau, on which this corps had to counter a massive advancement.

World War I

Order of Battle

August–September 1914

Mobilized in Morocco:

1914

Most Armed/Army Corps are the subdivisions of an Army, which could also be the designation of an Air Army/Force or Naval Army/Force contingent. However and throughout the courses of the World Wars, France centralized the vast majority of front combat theatre battles, led almost entirely by regiments of the French Army, hence the designation of "Army". During World War I, the Moroccan Division being organically assigned part of the French Army included the following land "Army" attachments which included various Army Corps detachments and Army Corps ):

Division Decorations

Division Commanders

A Monument was inaugurated in June 1925 at Givenchy-en-Gohelle on the plateau de Vimy, in front of the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, and renders homage to the Moroccan Division and the hundreds of thousands of Foreign soldiers engaged for France during the War.

Moroccan Division - Gallery

Bibliographies