21st Infantry Division (France)

The 21st Infantry Division (French: 21e Division d'Infanterie, 21e DI) was a French Army formation during World War I and World War II.

World War 1

During World War I, the division was composed of the 64th, 93rd and 137th Infantry Regiments, the 97th Territorial Infantry Regiment, and the 65th Infantry Regiment (until November 1917). It was originally part of the French 11th Corps (CA).

The division fought in the following battles: the Battle of the Ardennes, the Battle of Meuse, the First Battle of the Marne, the First Battle of the Aisne, the Second Battle of Champagne, the Battle of Verdun, the Second Battle of the Aisne, the Third Battle of the Aisne and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.

At various times, it was part of the French Second Army, French Third Army, French Fourth Army, French Fifth Army, French Sixth Army, French Seventh Army, French Ninth Army and French Tenth Army.^[1]

World War 2

During the Battle of France in May 1940, the division contained the following units:

• 48th Infantry Regiment
• 65th Infantry Regiment
• 137th Infantry Regiment
• 27th Reconnaissance Battalion
• 35th Artillery Regiment
• 255th Artillery Regiment

The division was an active division which had existed during peacetime.

References