2nd Light Cavalry Division (France)
| 2nd Light Cavalry Division | |
|---|---|
| Active | February 1940 – June 1940 |
| Country | France |
| Branch | French Army |
| Type | Light Cavalry Division (DLC) |
| Role | Reconnaissance, Counter-reconnaissance |
| Size | Division |
| Part of | Part of the French Second Army (May 1940) |
| Garrison/HQ | MONTMEDY (10 May 1940) |
| Engagements | Battle of France |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Général de Division BERNIQUET |
The French 2nd Light Cavalry Division (2e Division de Cavalerie Légère) was a French Army division active during World War II.
World War II
Battle of France
The 2nd Light Cavalry Division (2e DLC) was part of the French Second Army commanded by Général Charles Huntziger in May 1940. It was tasked with reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance operations in the Ardennes region and was one of the units positioned to meet the initial German armored thrust across the Meuse River.[1] The core units of the division included the 5th Cuirassier Regiment, the 18th Mounted Hunters Regiment, the 3rd Motorised Dragoon Regiment, the 73rd Motorised Artillery Regiment, and the 2nd Armoured Car Regiment.[2]
The division was noted to have a complete and well-trained personnel with new equipment, although it had a slight shortfall in horses. The division headquarters (HQ) was located at Montmédy on 10 May 1940.[3]
Organization (10 May 1940)
The division's organization was as follows:
| Unit | Commander | Composition |
|---|---|---|
| Command | ||
| Commander | Général de Division BERNIQUET | Major-General |
| Chief of Staff | Lieutenant-Colonel LEJAX | - |
| Combat Brigades | ||
| 3rd Cavalry Brigade (3e BC) | Général de Brigade DU BESSAY DE CONTENSON | * 18th Chasseurs Regiment (18e Chasseurs)
|
| 12th Light Motorised Brigade (12e BLM) | Général de Brigade GASTEY | * 2nd Armoured Car Regiment (2e RAM)
|
| Divisional Support and Artillery | ||
| Divisional Cavalry | - | * 2nd Divisional 25mm Anti-Tank Squadron (2e EDAC)
|
| Artillery | Lieutenant-Colonel LAFONT DE LADEBAT | * 73rd Motorised Artillery Regiment (73e RATTT) (1x 75mm gun battalion, 1x 105mm C battalion)
|
| Engineers (Génie) | - | * Engineer Company 48/1 |
| Signals (Transmissions) | - | * Mixed Signals Company 48/84 |
| Air Support (Forces Aériennes) | - | * Army Cooperation Squadron 5/520 (GAO 5/520) |
Attached Units
On 10 May 1940, the following units were temporarily attached to the 2e DLC:[3]
- 16e GRCA (from the XVIII Corps (France))
- 36e GRDI (from the 41e DI)
- 73e GRDI (from the 3e DIC)
- II/1er RIC (from the 3e DIC)
References
- ^ Fall Gelb 1940 (1): Panzer breakthrough in the West. Campaign. Osprey Publishing. p. 28.
- ^ Sumner, Ian; Vauvillier, François (1998). The French Army 1939–45 (1). Men-at-Arms. Osprey Publishing. pp. 8, 28. ISBN 9781855326668.
- ^ a b The OOB data is sourced from: "2e Division Légère de Cavalerie (2e DLC)" in the 2e Armée Order of Battle, based on Les Grandes Unités Françaises de la Guerre 1939–1945, Service Historique de l'Armée de Terre, Vincennes, 1967. Available online: "2e Armée Order of Battle / Ordre de bataille, 10/05/1940". France 1940. Retrieved 15 December 2025..