This is a listing of French divisions that served between 1939 and 1945.

Cavalry, mechanized and armoured divisions

Light cavalry divisions (DLC, Division Légère de Cavalerie) Part horse and part motorized; were part of the cavalry arm in 1940. The cavalry divisions (DC) were renamed light divisions (DL) in February 1940 and then light cavalry divisions (DLC) in March 1940. They were supplied with Renault AMR 33s more so than 35s and Hotchkiss H35s. +№Final command post atSubordination1stActive as the 1st Cavalry Division at the start of the war and mobilized on 22 August 1939 in various towns in France with the first command post at Marle. Division became the 1st Light Division on 10 February 1940 and then the 1st Light Cavalry Division on 3 March. Campaigns: Battle of the Meuse and Battle of the North. Division had large elements captured by 19 May. Survivors were reorganized as the 4th DLM from 10 June.Rues-des-Vignes (Vinchy)9th Army2ndActive as the 2nd Cavalry Division at the start of the war and mobilized on 22 August 1939 in Lunéville. Division became the 2nd Light Division on 10 February 1940 and then the 2nd Light Cavalry Division from 5 March. Campaigns: Battle of the Meuse, Meuse Front, Somme Front and Battle of the Somme. Division captured on 12 June.Saint-Valery-en-CauxXXI Corps, 10th Army, IX Corps of the 10th Army.3rdActive as the 3rd Cavalry Division at the start of the war and mobilized on 20 August 1939 in Paris and Sedan. Division became the 3rd Light Division on 10 February 1940 and then the 3rd Light Cavalry Division from 5 March. Campaigns: Battle of the Meuse, Somme Front, Battle of the Somme and Retreat of the Left Wing. Division disbanded on 11 July 1940.Le Fleix3rd Army, 6th Army, 7th Army, 10th Army, IX Corps III Corps4thFormed as the 4th Light Division on 16 February 1940 at Saint Rémy de Bouzement. Division became the 4th Light Cavalry Division on 3 March. Campaigns: Battle of the Meuse and Retreat of the center. Division became the 7th DLM on 5 June.Clairefontaine9th Army and II and XI Corps of the 9th Army5thFormed as the 5th Light Division on 15 February 1940 at La Neuville-au-Pont. Division became the 5th Light Cavalry Division from 3 March. Campaigns: Battle of the Meuse, Aisne and Somme Front, Somme Front and Battle of the Somme. Bulk of division captured by 12 June.Fontaine-le-DunVarious corps of the 2nd and 10th Armies6thFormed 1 March 1940 in Tunisia. Some elements later part of the FSEA in the Tunisian Campaign.GUF, Vol. 4, p. 385.

Light mechanized divisions (DLM, Divisions Légères Mécaniques) Division légère mécaniques were part of the cavalry arm in 1940. Entirely armoured and motorized. Supplied with Renault AMR 35s and Somua S35s. 1st Light Mechanized Division (former 4th Cavalry Division). Active division at the start of the war; alerted on 22 August 1939 in Reims. Campaigns: Combat at the mouths of the Escaut, Battle of the North and Retreat of the Left Wing. Division disbanded 11 July 1940. Final command post vicinity Saint-Aquilin (Château de Moncey). Subordination: 7th Army, 9th Army, Cavalry Corps of the 1st Army. 2nd Light Mechanized Division (former 5th Cavalry Division). Active division at the start of the war; alerted 23 August 1939 in Melun. Campaigns: Battle of the Dyle, Battle of the North and Retreat of the Left Wing. Division disbanded on 16 July 1940. Final command post at Jumilhac-le-Grand. Subordination: Cavalry Corps II British Corps and X Corps of the Army of Paris. 3rd Light Mechanized Division. New division created on 1 February 1940 in Paris. Campaigns: Battle of the Dyle, Battle of the North and Retreat of the Left Wing. Division disbanded on 11 July 1940. Final command post at Ribérac. Subordination: Cavalry Corps and III Corps. 4th Light Mechanized Division. Formed 10 June 1940 from remnants of the 1st DLC at Le Perray-en-Yvelines; division was of battle-group strength. Campaigns: Retreat of the center. Division disbanded post-armistice. Final command post at La Souterraine. Subordination: 7th and 6th Armies.GUF, Vol. 2, pp 441-448. 7th Light Mechanized Division. Formed 5 June 1940 in reduced strength from remnants of the 4th DLC vicinity Limours. Campaigns: Battle of the Aisne and Retreat of the center. Division became the 7th Cavalry Brigade in the army of Vichy France. Final command post at Moriat. Subordination: Primarily 4th Army, although under 2nd Army and VIII Corps 17–18 June.

Armoured divisions (DCr, Divisions Cuirassées) Part of the infantry arm in 1940. Entirely armoured and motorized, equipped with 2 battalions of Char B1 bis and 2 battalions of Hotchkiss H39 tanks designed to support infantry operations. +Armoured divisionsFormation nameDate createdLocation createdDate formation ceased to existDivisional insigniaSubordinated toNotable campaignsFinal command post atNotesSource(s)1st Armoured DivisionChâlons-sur-MarneXI Army Corps, Ninth Army (Jan. 16 to May 17), Sixth Army (June 1–25)Battle of the Meuse, Battle of the North, Battle of the Somme and Retreat of the CenterLe Dognon, northeast of Limoges.Missing half of its motorcycles and artillery caissons on 10 May 1940. Division took serious losses by May 17. Reformed from 18 May until 1 June.2nd Armoured DivisionHaute MoivreI Corps, Seventh Army until 29 May. Then, various, including Tenth Army, VII, IX and X Corps, British 51st (Highland) Division and Groupement Cuirassée.Battle of the Meuse, Fronts of the Aisne and the Somme, Somme Front, Battle of the Somme and Retreat of the CenterSaint-Pierre Cherignat, northeast of Limoges. Division subsequently disbanded.3rd Armoured DivisionReimsXXI Corps, Second Army until 23 May. Then, various, including Fourth Army and XVIII Corps of 2nd Army.Battle of the Meuse, Meuse Front, Battle of the Aisne and Retreat of the CenterMontbard, northwest of Dijon.Division captured 17–18 June.4th Armoured DivisionLe VésinetAisne Front, Somme Front, Battle of the Somme, Retreat of the Left WingCussac, southwest of Limoges.Initial commander was Charles de Gaulle. Tanks included B1 bis, D2 and R35s.

Infantry and mountain divisions Infantry divisions in the French Army fell into three "series"— active, A and B. Series A included higher-quality reserve units. Most of active units had 2/3 of their authorized strength in peace time. At mobilization, all active units were to be brought up to full strength with designated reserve units. Series A units would be created from both active and reserve personals while series B units would only have a limited active component, around 20%.

The divisions were also designated by "type", of which there were Northeast, Overseas and Mountain. The type designation determined numbers and kinds of equipment and weapons allocation.

North African Forces 1940

Division types included Moroccan divisions (DM), north African divisions (DINA and DLINA) and African divisions (DIA).

+Moroccan divisionsFormation nameDate createdDate formation ceased to existSubordinated toNotable campaignsFinal command post atNotesSource(s)1st Moroccan DivisionNumerous, including the Colonial Corps, IV Corps, V Corps, Cavalry Corps and XVI Corps.Battle of the Dyle and Battle of the NorthAlmenêches-Saint-PierreActive division at the start of the war, mobilized 2 September 1939 in Meknes, Morocco. Transported via rail and sea to Marseille and re-equipped as Type Northeast division by 8 November. Evacuated from Dunkirk on 1 June and returned to France by 6 June, where the division's remnants reorganized and became part of the 1st DLINA on 12 June. 2nd Moroccan DivisionInactivated in Morocco.In Morocco during 1940 campaign. Elements later assigned to the Fez and Casablanca divisions in the Army of Transition. . An active division at the start of the war, mobilized 23 August 1939 in Lyon as a Type Northeast division. Campaigns: Battle of the Meuse and Battle of the North. Division had numerous elements captured during the Battle of the North and remnants were evacuated via Dunkirk from 28 May to 2 June, with some sent back to France and eventually merged into the 1st DLINA. Subordination: XI Corps of the 9th Army, Cavalry Corps of the 1st Army, as well as 1st Army. 1st North African Light Infantry Division. Formed 9 June 1940 in Bernay de l'Eure from remnants of the 1st DM and the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th DINA, all evacuated from Dunkirk and shipped back to France. Division was weak with four infantry and two artillery battalions. Campaigns: Retreat of the Left Wing. Most of division captured by 18 June. Final command post in the Forêt des Andaines (near Quiberon). Subordination: XVI Corps of the 10th Army. 2nd North African Infantry Division. An active division at the start of the war, mobilized on 22 August 1939 in Mangiennes as a Type Northeast division. Campaigns: Battle of the Dyle and Battle of the North. Division captured in large part at Haubourdin on 28 May. Some elements shipped out from Dunkirk and were merged into the 1st DLINA. Final command post at Malo Terminus, near Dunkirk. Subordination: III and V Corps of the 1st Army. 3rd North African Infantry Division. An active division at the start of the war, the division was mobilized on 23 August 1939 in Beaumont-en-Argonne as a Type Northeast division. Campaigns: Battle of the Meuse, Meuse Front and Retreat of the Right Wing. Division captured on 23 June 1940. Final command post at Praye. Subordination: X Corps, XVIII Corps and the Colonial Army Corps, all of the 2nd Army. 4th North African Infantry Division. An active division at the start of the war, the division was mobilized on 23 August 1939 in Grostenquin as a Type Northeast division. On 10 May 1940, the division was still missing 20% of its personnel and a similar percentage of its transport. Campaigns: Battle of the Meuse and Battle of the North. Division captured on 20 May 1940. North African survivors were merged into the 1st DLINA. Final command post at La Capelle. Subordination: XI Corps of the 9th Army. 5th North African Infantry Division. Formation-A-class reserve division mobilized 2 September 1939 as a Type Northeast division in Valence; missing 30% of its 25-mm antitank guns. Campaigns: Battle of the Dyle and Battle of the North. Division captured in large part at Haubourdin on 31 May and 1 June 1940. Those evading capture were evacuated from Dunkirk to England and then shipped back to Brest where they were merged into the 1st DLINA. Final command post at Malo Terminus, near Dunkirk. Subordination: V Corps of the 1st Army. . New division formed on 1 November 1939 at Chaumont-Porcien as a Type Northeast division. Campaigns: Lorraine Front, Meuse Front and Retreat of the Right Wing. Division captured by 23 June 1940. Final command post at Ochey. Subordination: XVIII and XXI Corps of the 2nd Army. 7th North African Infantry Division. New division formed on 16 March 1940 at Brignais as a Type Northeast division. Campaigns: Somme Front, Battle of the Somme and Retreat of the Left Wing. Division disbanded on 10 July. Final command post at Saint-Jory-de-Chalais. Subordination: I Corps of the 7th Army. . 1940 in Tunisia, elements later part of the Algiers Territorial Division in the Army of Transition. . Category 2 active division at the start of the war. Mobilized on 2 September 1939 in Oran, Algeria as a Type Overseas division; converted to a Type Northeast division in October 1939. Upon mobilization, the division lacked many of its antitank weapons and its motor vehicles were in a poor state of repair. Division shipped to Marseille in the latter part of September 1939. Campaigns: Lorraine Front, Battle of the Aisne and Retreat of the center. Division dispersed by 15 June 1940. Remnants disbanded in south-central France on 25 July. Final command post at Courcemain. Subordination: XX and XXIII Corps. . 1940 in Tunisia, elements later part of the Constantine Territorial Division in the Army of Transition.