15th Military Division (Vichy France)

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15th Military Division
ActiveDecember 1940 - November 1942
Disbanded27 November 1942
Country Vichy France
BranchVichy French Army
TypeInfantry
RoleMilitary Garrison and Infantry
SizeDivision
Garrison/HQMarseille
EngagementsWorld War II

The 15th Military Division (French: 15e Division Militaire) also known as the 15th Military Region (French: 15e Région Militaire)[1] was an infantry formation of division-size of the Armistice Army that was active during World War II. The division's headquarters was in Marseille.[2][3] This division was subordinated to the 1st Group of Military Divisions.[4]

History[edit]

The 15th Military Division was formed on 12 September 1940.[5] On 8 November 1942 at 15:00, just before Case Anton, the 15th Military Division positioned themselves for battle.[6] Like the rest of the Army of Vichy France, this division, except for the Garde, was demobilized on 27 November 1942.[3]

Commanders[edit]

  1. General de corps d'armée[1] (equivalent to Lieutenant-General) Henri-Fernand Dentz[5] (27 June to 28 December 1940)
  2. MG Maxime-Jean-Vincent Germain [fr][5]
  3. MG Jean-Louis-Auguste Humbert [sl] or MG Jules-Phillipe Octave Decamp [fr][5]

Composition[edit]

See also: Vichy French Military Division order of battle

The 15th Military Division's Order of Battle was such:[2][3][7]

Military Commands[edit]

The following Departemental Military Commands (French: Commandant Militaire du Département) were under the 15th Military Division:[2]

Numerous Military District Commands (French: Commandement du District Militaire) of these places were subordinated to the 15th Military Division:[2]

Training grounds[edit]

The 15th Military Division had two training grounds, namely those at Carpiagne [fr] and Garrigues.[2]

References[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ The term 'group' is used for support units, though equivalent to that of a company.

Footnotes[edit]

  1. ^ a b BnF 1997.
  2. ^ a b c d e Niehorster & Sharp 2014a.
  3. ^ a b c Vauvillier & Sumner 1998, p. 38.
  4. ^ Niehorster & Sharp 2014b.
  5. ^ a b c d Pettibone 2010, p. 494.
  6. ^ Paxton 2004; La 15e division militaire, par exemple, prit son dispositif d'alerte à 15 heures le 8 novembre 1942.
  7. ^ Nafziger 1992.

Sources[edit]

  • BnF (1 July 1997). Dentz, Henri-Fernand (1881-1945) (in French). Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  • Nafziger, George (1992). "Vichy French Forces in France – 1 March 1941" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 January 2017.
  • Niehorster, Leo; Sharp, Lee (31 October 2014). "Vichy France – Order of Battle 15th Military Division – 15 April 1941". Archived from the original on 26 January 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  • Niehorster, Leo; Sharp, Lee (31 October 2014). "Vichy France – Army in Metropolitan France – 15 April 1941". Archived from the original on 20 March 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  • Paxton, Robert O. (2004). L'Armée de Vichy. Le corps des officiers français (in French). Tallandier. ISBN 9791021016774.
  • Pettibone, Charles D. (2010). The Organization and Order of Battles of Militaries in World War II. Vol. VI: Italy and France. Victoria, British Columbia, Canada: Trafford Publishing. ISBN 978-1426946332.
  • Vauvillier, François; Sumner, Ian (1998). The French Army 1939-45. Men-at-Arms. Vol. I. United Kingdom: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 9781855326668.
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