2nd Army (France)
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The Second Army (French: IIe Armée) was a field army of the French Army during World War I and World War II. The Army became famous for fighting the Battle of Verdun in 1916 under Generals Philippe Pétain and Robert Nivelle.
Commanders
World War I
- General de Curières de Castelnau (Mobilization – 21 June 1915)
- General Pétain (21 June 1915 – 1 May 1916)
- General Nivelle (1 May 1916 – 15 December 1916)
- General Guillaumat (15 December 1916 – 11 December 1917)
- General Auguste Edouard Hirschauer (11 December 1917 – 22 December 1918)
- General Antoine Baucheron de Boissoudy (22 December 1918 – 11 February 1919)
World War II
- General Charles Huntziger (2 September 1939 – 5 June 1940)
- General Henry Freydenberg (5 June – 31 July 1940)
History
World War I
On the 25th of September 1918, the American First Army relieved the French Second Army from the sector between Meuse and the Argonne Forest.
World War II
During the Battle of France, the Second Army, commanded by General Charles Huntziger, held the pivot of the French maneuver, centered around the strategic city of Sedan. Its composition on 10 May 1940 included several reserve formations that would bear the brunt of the German Ardennes offensive.
Order of Battle (10 May 1940)
The following composition of the Second Army is based on official records at the start of the German offensive:
- Army Assets (Organiques): Pioneer Regiments: 412th, 422nd, and 444th RP. Tank Units (BCC): 3rd BCC (Renault R35), 4th and 7th BCC (FCM 36). Cavalry: 2e Division Légère de Cavalerie (2e DLC) (Berniquet) – Active unit; 5e RC, 18e RCh, 3e RDP, 2e RAM, 73e RATTT. 5e Division Légère de Cavalerie (5e DLC) (Chanoine) – Formed Feb 1940; 11e RC, 12e RCh, 15e RDP, 5e RAM, 78e RATTT. 1st Cavalry Brigade (1re BC) (Gailliard) – 1er RH, 8e RCh. Army Reserve: 71e Division d'Infanterie (71e DI) (Baudet) – 120e, 205e, 246e RI, 60e GRDI, 38e RAMD. (Category: Reserve B).
- Fortified Sector of Montmédy (Burtaire): Fortress Infantry: 132nd, 136th, 147th, 155th RIF. Artillery: 99e RAMFH, I/169e RAP.
- 10th Army Corps (10e CA) (Grandsard): Corps Troops: 610e RP, 12e GRCA, 110e RALHC. 55e Division d'Infanterie (55e DI) (Lafontaine) – 213e, 295e, 331e RI, 64e GRDI, 45e RAMD. (Category: Reserve B). 3e Division d'Infanterie Nord-Africaine (3e DINA) (Col. Mast) – 12e RZ, 14e, 15e RTA, 93e GRDI, 20e RANA, 220e RALNA. (Category: Active).
- 18th Army Corps (18e CA) (Rochard): Corps Troops: 618e RP, 16e GRCA, 118e RALH. 41e Division d'Infanterie (41e DI) (Bridoux) – 101e, 103e, 104e RI, 36e GRDI, 13e RAD, 213e RALD. (Category: Reserve A). 1re Division d'Infanterie Coloniale (1re DIC) (Roucaud) – 3e RIC, 12e, 14e RTS, 71e GRDI, 1er RAC, 201e RALC. (Category: Active). 3e Division d'Infanterie Colonial (3e DIC) (Falvy) – 1er, 21e, 23e RIC, 73e GRDI, 3e RAC, 203e RALC. (Category: Active).