3rd Armored Division
3e Division Blindée
Insignia of the 3e DIV.
ActiveApril 15, 1943 - April 15, 1946
1951 - July 1991
June 20, 2016 - present
Country France
Branch French Army
Size~ 29,000 total personnel
  • 25,000 active
  • 4,000 reserves
Garrison/HQMarseille
Motto(s)« Un seul but, la Victoire », meaning One goal, Victory.
EngagementsWorld War II
Commanders
Current
commander
General Hubert Cotterau

The 3rd Armoured Division (French: 3e Division Blindée, 3e DB) is a unit of the French Army.[1] The Division is the heir of the 3rd Algerian Infantry Division (3e DIA) formed in 1943 and dissolved in 1946, which contributed in the liberation of Marseille during the Second World War.

The 3rd Armoured Division was created in 1951 then dissolved in 1991. The 3rd Mechanised Brigade (3e BM), created in 1999, inherited the traditions of the division.[2]

The 3rd Division (3e DIV) was recreated on June 20, 2016 as part of a reorganisation of the French Army.[3]

Creation and different nominations

  • The 3rd Algerian Infantry Division (3e DIA) was created on April 15, 1943;
  • Dissolution on April 15, 1946;
  • The 3rd Armored Division (3e DB), heir of the 3rd Algerian Infantry Division, was created in 1951;
  • The 3rd Armored Division was dissolved on July 1991;
  • The 3rd Mechanised Brigade (3e BM), created on July 1999 inherited traditions of the division. The brigade became designated as 3rd Light Armored Brigade (3e BLB) in 2014;
  • The 3rd Division was recreated on June 20, 2016 part of the Scorpion Force alongside the 1st Division.

Heraldry

It was under the signs of Latin traditions that général de Monsabert wanted to place the 3rd Algerian Infantry Division 3e DIA during creation on May 1, 1943.

The insignia of "Victory" (French: La Victoire) of Cirta (province of Numidia, today Constantine (provence in Algeria)) is supported by three crescents representing the Muslims, which composed the majority of the division, Allied to the metropolitans (blue white red).Origin of the insignia, La Victoire de Cirta

The "Victory" (French: La Victoire) was a Roman goddess protector of the Emperors that the Legio III Augusta de Cirta particularly venerated. The winged statuette was found during a search of an old garrison in Constantine in the 19th century.

The motto of the 3rd Light Armoured Brigade was  : « Plus d'honneur que d'honneurs » in French which translates literally to « More honor than the honors ». The motto of the 3rd Division currently is : « Un seul but : La victoire », which translates to «One goal, Victory».

History

1943 to 1946

The 3rd Algerian Infantry Division (3e DIA), formed on April 15, 1943, fought in the Italy and France during World War II under general Joseph de Goislard de Monsabert and Augustin Guillaume. The division was dissolved on April 15, 1946.

1951 to 1991

The 3rd Division was reconstituted in 1951 at the corps of the French Forces in Germany (French: Forces françaises en Allemagne, FFA). This was a grand unit of almost 15000 men covering the Western part of Germany and comprising three brigades:

the division became the 3rd Armoured Division in 1978. Three infantry regiments, two tank regiments, two artillery regiments, one engineer regiment, and one command and support regiment. During the transformation of the FFA into FFECSA (French: forces françaises et élément civil stationnés en Allemagne) (French Forces and Civilian Element), the division was redimensioned and dissolved in 1991.

Organigram in 1991

Two tank regiments, three infantry regiments, two artillery regiments, one engineer regiment, one command and support regiment:

Based in Fribourg-en-Brisgau.

Support:

Other support :

1999 to 2015

The 3rd Mechanised Brigade (3e BM) created in 1999 retook traditions. The headquarter staff was based in Limoges. In 2011, the headquarter staff of the 3e BM garrisoned at Clermont-Ferrand.

On March 18, 2014, the 3rd Mechanised Brigade became designated as the 3rd Light Armoured Brigade (3e BLB).

Since 2016

The 3rd Division (3e DIV) was recreated during a ceremony on June 20, 2016. Interarm, the division is formed of three brigades part of the Scorpion Force alongside the 1st Division, units stationed in outre-mer and overseas. Headquarter staff is garrisoned in Marseille.

Composition

Organization of the 3rd Division.

The 3rd Division is based in Marseille and is subordinated to the Commandement des Forces Terrestres (CFT). Effectifs form 25000 men and 4000 reservists in:

Badge of the 2nd Armored Brigade
Badge of the 11th Parachute Brigade

Notes

  1. "3e Division". www.defense.gouv.fr. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
  2. "History". www.defense.gouv.fr. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
  3. "3e Division - Armée française". www.defense.gouv.fr. Retrieved 2022-01-28.

References

  • David Isby and Charles Kamps Jr., Armies of NATO's Central Front, Jane's Publishing Company, 1985. ISBN 0-7106-0341-X
  • Ian Sumner and Charles Vauvillier, The French Army 1939-45 (2), Osprey, 1998. ISBN 1-85532-707-4
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