37th Infantry Division (France)

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37th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the French Army active during the First World War.

The 37th Division was formed during 1914 from personnel from Algeria, Morocco, and North Africa in general, within the 19th Military Region; The division consisted primarily of tirailleurs and Zouaves (both types of light infantry).

• 01/07/1914 : Général Louis Comby^[1]
• 09/01/1915 : Général Léon Paul Marie Deshayes de Bonneval^[1]
• 26/02/1916 - 29/10/1916 : Général Niessel^[1]
• 29/10/1916 - 06/06/1918 : Général Garnier-Duplessix^[1]
• 06/06/1918 - 28/03/1919 : Général Simon^[1]

Mobilised in 19th Military Region, at Arles.

• Régiment de Marche du 2e Tirailleurs from August to September 1914, which became 1er Régiment de Marche de Tirailleurs
• Régiment de Marche du 3e Tirailleurs from August to September 1914, which became 2e Régiment de Marche de Tirailleurs
• Régiment de Marche du 5e Tirailleurs from August to September 1914, which became 1er Régiment de Marche de Tirailleurs
• Régiment de Marche du 6e Tirailleurs from August to September 1914, which became 1er Régiment de Marche de Tirailleurs
• Régiment de Marche du 7e Tirailleurs from August to September 1914, which became 2e Régiment de Marche de Tirailleurs
• 1er Régiment de Marche de Tirailleurs from September 1914 to April 1915, which became 2e Régiment de Tirailleurs de Marche
• 2e Régiment de Tirailleurs de Marche from September 1914 to April 1915, which became 3e Régiment de Tirailleurs de Marche
• 3e Régiment de Tirailleurs de Marche from April 1915 to July 1918
• Régiment de Marche du 2e Zouaves from August 1914 to March 1915, which became 2e Régiment de Zouaves de Marche
• Régiment de Marche du 3e Zouaves from August 1914 to March 1915, which became 3e Régiment de Zouaves de Marche
• 2e Régiment de Zouaves de Marche from March 1915 to November 1918
• 3e Régiment de Zouaves de Marche from March 1915 to November 1918
• 38e Régiment d'Infanterie Territoriale from July 1917 to November 1918

73e brigade

• 2e régiment de marche de tirailleurs^[2]
• 2e régiment de marche de zouaves^[2]

74e brigade

• 3e régiment de marche de tirailleurs^[2]
• 3e régiment de marche de zouaves^[2]

3e brigade du Maroc

• Régiment de marche de Zouaves^[2]
• 2e régiment de marche de Zouaves et Tirailleurs^[2]

73e brigade

• 2e régiment de marche de tirailleurs, no change^[2]
• 2e régiment de marche de zouaves, no change^[2]

74e brigade

• 3e régiment de marche de tirailleurs, no change^[2]
• 3e régiment de marche de zouaves, no change^[2]

3e brigade du Maroc - on 17 April 1915, transferred out to the 153rd Division.

• 2e régiment de marche de tirailleurs, no change^[2]
• 2e régiment de marche de zouaves, no change^[2]
• 3e régiment de marche de zouaves, no change^[2]
• 3e régiment de marche de tirailleurs - have transferred out

6 – 13 August : Elements of the division which had mobilised in Algeria landed at Sète and Marseille.^[a] 13–15 August : Transported by rail to the Rocroi region 15–24 August : Moved towards the River Sambre, via Mariembourg and Philippeville. 22 and 23 August: engaged in the Battle of Charleroi: actions at Fosse and Mettet August 24 - 6 September : retreat towards the south, via Florennes, Hirson, Nampcelles-la-Cour and Lugny. August 29 : engaged in the Battle of St. Quentin (1914) (Battle of Guise), then continued the retreat towards the south, via Laon, Fismes and Verneuil.^[b] 6 - 15 September : engaged in the First Battle of the Marne. 6 - 9 September : Battle of the Two Morins  : fighting towards Courgivaux and on the Petit Morin. From 9 September, transported by rail to Louvres, then movement to Verberie. From 12 September, continued through the Compiègne region. 15 September 1914 - 20 June 1915 : engaged in the First Battle of the Aisne.^[c] Fighting at Cuts, Oise, at Pommeraye and at Lombray. 18 September : slight withdrawal to the Bailly, Oise, Tracy-le-Val position. 20 September : German attack on Tracy-le-Val.^[d] Then progressive stabilization of the front line in the Oise region, south of the Quennevières farm. 30 - 31 October : French attacks and capture of the Quennevières farm. 12 November : French attacks on the Tracy-le-Val cemetery. 17 November : violent German counter-attacks on Tracy-le-val and the Saint-Mard woods. 21 and 25 December : French attacks to the north-east of the Saint-Mard woods.^[4]

From March 1915, mine warfare. 6 and 16 June 1915 : elements engaged at the Quennevières farm. June 20 - 9 July : ring road movement,^[e] then, from the 28th, occupation of a sector towards the Quennevières farm and Moulin-sous-Touvent. 9 July - 9 August : withdrawn from the front line and movement towards Pierrefonds, Oise: rest and working parties. 9 -August 30 : transported by rail in the Vadenay region , then, from 17 August, working parties around Saint-Hilaire-le-Grand. 30 August - 2 October : occupation of a sector northeast of Saint-Hilaire-le-Grand. Engaged from September 25 to October 6 in the Second battle of Champagne: Fighting towards the Epine de Vedegrange  ; capture of the 1st German position. 2 October 1915 - 6 January 1916 : withdrawn from the front line and rest towards Vraux. From 9 October, transported by rail, from the Châlons-sur-Marne region, southwest of Bergues; rest and refresher training.^[5]

6 January - 12 February : transported by rail to the Bar-le-Duc region, Saint-Dizier: rest. Then transported by rail to the Mailly camp: refresher training. 12 -26 February : transported by rail in the Bar-le-Duc region, then, by trucks, in that of Verdun. Engaged, from 22 February, in the Battle of Verdun, towards Louvemont, the côte de Talou and the côte du Poivre. 26 February - 13 April : withdrawn from the front line and rest towards Rosnes. 8 March : movement towards Neufchâteau^{[disambiguation needed]}: rest. 26 March : movement towards the Saffais camp , refresher training. From the 10 April, transported by rail, in the Vavincourt region . 13 April - 5 July : moved to Vaubécourt. From 16 April, engaged again in the Battle of Verdun, towards Avocourt and the Bois Carré. 5 - 12 July : withdrawn from the front line (elements left in the sector until 10 July); transported by rail in the Stainville region  : rest. 12 - 29 July : transported by trucks to Verdun. Engaged for the third time, in the Battle of Verdun, towards the fort of Souville  : 15, 16 and 17 July, French attacks on Fleury-devant-Douaumont. 29 July - 12 August 12 : withdrawn from the front line; transported by trucks to Revigny region; rest. 12 August 12- 27 September : transported by rail to Frouard and occupation of a sector between Pont-à-Mousson and Armaucourt. 27 September 27- 30 October : withdrawn from the front line , and, from the 2 October, transported by rail to Bar-le-Duc: rest. 30 October 30- 23 November : movement towards the north; occupation of a sector towards the village and Fort Douaumont. 23 November - 11 December : withdrawn from the front line and rest towards Saint-Dizier. 11 - 20 December : transported by trucks to Verdun. From the 14th, occupied of a sector towards the village and the fort of Douaumont. On 15 December 15, engaged in the 1st Offensive Battle of Verdun: captured the southern edge of the Bois le Chaume and the Bois des Caurières.^[6] Then, occupation and organization of the captured positions, towards the Chambrettes farm and Bezonvaux . 20 December 1916 - 7 January 1917 : withdrew from the front line to Wassy to rest.^[7]

7 - 28 January : moved to Mailly-le-Camp; then refresher training at the camp. 28 January - 14 February : moved on to Plancy, then on to Méry-sur-Seine, Pleurs and Pierry. February 14 - 1 April : occupied a sector towards the Cavaliers de Courcy and the eastern outskirts of Reims,^[f] reduced on the left, the 13 March, up to Bétheny. 1 - 8 ​April : withdrew from the front line: moved to Thillois to rest. 8 - 22 April : occupied a sector towards Neuville and the north of Godat. Engaged, from 16 April, in the Second Battle of the Aisne: from the 16th to the 19th, attack on Mount Spin , progression towards the Bois de Séchamp, then, organization of the captured positions.^[8] 22 April - 14 May : withdrew from the front; moved to Damery^{[disambiguation needed]}. Then, on 29 April, transported by rail from Epernay to Blainville-sur-l'Eau; to Bayon, rest and refresher training. 14 - 22 May : working parties around Saint-Nicolas-de-Port. 22 May - 8 August : occupied a sector in the Moncel^{[disambiguation needed]} region, Sânon. 8 - 14 August : withdrew from the front line: went to Toul, rest and refresher training. 14 August - 4 September : transported by rail, from the Toul region, to that of Epernay and Dormans; then movement towards Damery and refresher training at the Ville-en-Tardenois camp . 4 September - 1 October : transported by truck to Châlons-sur-Marne; rest. 11 September : moved towards Bar-le-Duc; rest. 1 -​ 21 October : occupied a sector towards Damloup and the Caurières woods. 21 October - 21 November : withdrew from the front line; to Combles to rest.^[g] 21 November - 6 December : deployed to the front line and occupied a sector towards hill 344 and the Mormont farm: the 25 November, French attack in this region ( 2nd Offensive Battle of Verdun (battle of Bezonvaux)). 6 - 15 December : withdrew from the front line, transported by rail to Bar-sur-Aube: rest. 15 December 1917 - 28 January 1918 : movement in stages towards Darney  ; rest. From 22 January 1918, movement in stages towards Nancy, then towards Custines.^[9]

28 January - 2 April : occupied a sector on the Seille, towards Chenicourt and Clémery.^[10] 2 - 24 April : withdrew from the front line; moved towards Saint-Nicolas-de-Port and rest. From 11 April, transported by rail to Pont-Sainte-Maxence, then, from 16 April, movement in stages towards Breteuil, Oise and Wailly. 24 April - 2 August : movement towards Bacouel-sur-Selle: in 2nd line, east of Amiens. From 29 April, occupation of a sector towards the Hangard woods (excluded) and Villers-Bretonneux (in connection with the British front), extended to the right, on 30 May, up to Hangard. 2 - 12 August : withdrawal from the front line; rest and refresher training towards Wailly. From 8 August, engaged, towards Hailles and the Sénécat wood, in the third battle of Picardy  : progression to the banks of the Avre (Somme) and Andechy.^[11] 12 - 27 August : withdrawal from the front line: rest towards Contoire, then towards Maignelay-Montigny. Movement towards the Verberie region, then towards that of Mélicocq.^[12] 27 August - 27 September : engaged, towards Noyon, in the pursuit ( last part of the 2nd Battle of Noyon). Then organization of a sector in the Oise region, east of Tergnier. 27 September - 23 October : withdrawal from the front line, movement towards Carlepont. Rest towards Chevrières, then Ognes, Oise and Chauny.^[13][14] 23 October - 4 November : movement towards La Fère , and, from 26 October, offensive to the east of Ribemont (Battle of the Serre). Then organization of the captured positions, towards Le Hérie-la-Viéville. 4 - 11 November : engaged in the 2nd Battle of Guise,^[15] then in the Meuse–Argonne offensive. Reached, during the armistice, the region of Seloignes, Baileux.^[16]

source ^[17]

Notes

Citations

Bibliography

• Carré, Henri; et al., eds. (1925). La guerre de mouvement (opérations antérieures au 14 novembre 1914). Tome I. Deuxième volume. La manoeuvre en retraite et les préliminaires de la bataille de la Marne. [1,2]. Les armées françaises dans la Grande guerre. Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Ministère De la Guerre, Etat-Major de l'Armée – Service Historique (in French). Paris: Imprimerie Nationale.
• Besson, Chef d'Escadron d'artillerie; et al., eds. (1931). La guerre de mouvement (opérations antérieures au 14 novembre 1914). Tome I. Troisième Volume. La bataille de la Marne. [1,3]. Les armées françaises dans la Grande guerre. Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Ministère De la Guerre, Etat-Major de l'Armée – Service Historique (in French). Paris: Imprimerie Nationale.
• Moreigne, Charles Félix Raymond; et al., eds. (1933). La bataille de l'Aisne, la Course à la mer, la Bataille des Flandres (14 septembre-14 novembre 1914) Tome I. Quatrième Volume. [1,4]. Les armées françaises dans la Grande Guerre. Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Ministère De la Guerre, Etat-Major de l'Armée – Service Historique (in French). Imprimerie nationale.
• Herlaut, Auguste Philippe; et al., eds. (1931). La stabilisation du front - Les attaques locales (14 novembre 1914 - 1er mai 1915) Tome II. [2]. Les armées françaises dans la Grande guerre. Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Ministère De la Guerre, Etat-Major de l'Armée – Service Historique (in French). Paris: Imprimerie Nationale.
• Altairac, Lieutenant-Colonel; et al., eds. (1935). Bataille de la Somme (fin). Offensives françaises à Verdun. Tome IV. Troisième Volume. (3 septembre - fin décembre 1916) [4,3]. Les armées françaises dans la Grande guerre. Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Ministère De la Guerre, Etat-Major de l'Armée – Service Historique (in French). Paris: Imprimerie Nationale.
• Beaugier, Fernand Auguste; et al., eds. (1931). Les opérations à objectifs limités (1er novembre 1916 - 1er novembre 1917) Tome V. Premier Volume. L'offensive d'avril 1917 (1er novembre 1916 - 15 mai 1917) [5,1]. Les armées françaises dans la Grande guerre. Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Ministère De la Guerre, Etat-Major de l'Armée – Service Historique (in French). Paris: Imprimerie Nationale.
• Tournés, René; et al., eds. (1931). L'hiver 1917-1918. - L'offensive allemande (1er novembre 1917 - 18 juillet 1918) Tome VI. Premier volume. La préparation de la campagne de 1918. L'offensive allemande de l'Oise à la Mer du Nord (1er novembre 1917 - 30 avril 1918) [6,1]. Les armées françaises dans la Grande guerre. Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Ministère De la Guerre, Etat-Major de l'Armée – Service Historique (in French). Paris: Imprimerie Nationale.
• Berthemet, Capitaine Henry; Lefévre, Chef d'Escadron d'artillerie, eds. (1934). L'hiver 1917-1918. - L'offensive allemande (1er novembre 1917 - 18 juillet 1918) Tome VI. Deuxième volume. L'offensive allemande contre les armées françaises (1er mai - 18 juillet 1918) [6,2]. Les armées françaises dans la Grande guerre. Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Ministère De la Guerre, Etat-Major de l'Armée – Service Historique (in French). Paris: Imprimerie Nationale.
• Laure, Lieutenant-Colonel; et al., eds. (1923). La campagne offensive de 1918 et la marche au Rhin (18 juillet 1918 - 28 juin 1919) Tome VII. Premier volume. Les offensives de dégagement et la préparation des offensives générales (18 juillet 1918 - 25 septembre 1918) [7,1]. Les armées françaises dans la Grande guerre. Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Ministère De la Guerre, Etat-Major de l'Armée – Service Historique (in French). Paris: Imprimerie Nationale.
• De Feriet, René; et al., eds. (1938). La campagne offensive de 1918 et la marche au Rhin (18 juillet 1918 - 28 juin 1919) Tome VII. Deuxième volume. La campagne offensive de 1918 et la marche au Rhin (26 septembre 1918 - 28 juin 1919) [7,2]. Les armées françaises dans la Grande guerre. Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Ministère De la Guerre, Etat-Major de l'Armée – Service Historique (in French). Paris: Imprimerie Nationale.

• Pompé, Daniel; et al., eds. (1924). Ordres de bataille des grandes unités – Divisions d'Infanterie, Divisions de Cavalerie. Tome X. 2e Volume. [10,2]. Les armées françaises dans la Grande guerre. Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Ministère De la Guerre, Etat-Major de l'Armée – Service Historique (in French) (1st ed.). Paris: Imprimerie Nationale. Retrieved 6 September 2020.

• (in French) 37th Infantry Division in the Battle of the Aisne (1917)
• (in French) Journal and letters from a private in 37th Infantry Division