The 21st Infantry Division (French: 21e Division d'Infanterie, 21e DI) was a French Army formation during World War I and World War II.
During World War I, the division was composed of the 64th, 93rd and 137th Infantry Regiments, the 97th Territorial Infantry Regiment, and the 65th Infantry Regiment (until November 1917). It was originally part of the French 11th Corps (CA).
The division fought in the following battles: the Battle of the Ardennes, the Battle of Meuse, the First Battle of the Marne, the First Battle of the Aisne, the Second Battle of Champagne, the Battle of Verdun, the Second Battle of the Aisne, the Third Battle of the Aisne and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.
At various times, it was part of the French Second Army, French Third Army, French Fourth Army, French Fifth Army, French Sixth Army, French Seventh Army, French Ninth Army and French Tenth Army.
During the Battle of France in May 1940, the division contained the following units:
- 48 Infantry Regiment
- 65 Infantry Regiment
- 137 Infantry Regiment
- 27 Reconnaissance Battalion
- 35 Artillery Regiment
- 255 Artillery Regiment
The division was an active division which had existed during peacetime.
Famous quotes containing the word division:
“For in the division of the nations of the whole earth he set a ruler over every people; but Israel is the Lord’s portion: whom, being his firstborn, he nourisheth with discipline, and giving him the light of his love doth not forsake him. Therefore all their works are as the sun before him, and his eyes are continually upon their ways.”
—Apocrypha. Ecclesiasticus 17:17-9.