Blue division (Second Empire)

See also: Blue Division

Created during the Franco-German War of 1870, the Blue Division is the name given to the division of Marines joining together, for the first time in the history of the troops of navy, the Marsouin S (four regiments of walk) and of the Bigor S (a regiment of Artillerie).

Ordered by the general of Vassoigne, it is made up of two brigades:

  • 1st, under the command of the Reboul general, is formed of the ''' 1 {{er}} Régiment of Marines ''' of Cherbourg and of the ''' 4 {{E}} ''' of Toulon;
  • 2nd, under the command of the Martin general of Landing, includes/understands the ''' 2 {{E}} Régiment of Marines ''' of Brest and the ''' 3 {{E}} ''' of Rochefort. The ''' 1 {{er}} Régiment of Marine artillery ''' of Lorient provides 3 batteries.

Bleue division belongs to the 12 {{E}} Corps under the command of the general Lebrun which enters the last the place of Sedan after having carried out a last attempt at return with the general of Wimpffen.

Historical context

  • During the month of August 1870, Is France is occupied by three German armies. Wanting to deliver Bazaine encircled in Metz, Mac-Mahon is charged to constitute an army known as of Châlons of which the 2nd brigade of blue division. Part of Rheims after 6 days of forced march with the army of Châlons, the 2nd brigade of Blue division reached Sedan where Mac-Mahon wants to make put back its army and to supply it for then setting out again on Metz. But following the Battle of Beaumont, the army of Châlons is fixed on Sedan.

Combat of Bazeilles

See also: Battle of Bazeilles

  • the 2nd brigade must protect Bazeilles on the side is fortress of Sedan. Dice on August 31st all the army is on Right Bank of the Meuse, however a bridge of railway to Remilly is still intact and will allow the infiltration of elements of before Bavarian guards, which will be pushed back with fallen the night.

  • the superiority of number and in Artillerie of the adversary will give place to fatal confrontations where the losses are numerous; the village is taken again, then kept by the French only on the northern border. The 1st brigade arrived in reinforcement in end-of-day allows the total trade-in of Bazeilles fallen the night.

  • on September 1st, the Bavarian forces reinforced during the night attack the village at daybreak. They believe to find it vacuum, but fall into a counter-attack from 150 porpoises organized by the commander Lambert, assistant manager of staff of division.

Two unexpected reversals are connected then:

  • the first with the replacement of Mac Mahon, wounded, by the general Ducrot who orders to give up the acquired positions;
  • the second, after the evacuation of Bazeilles, with the arrival of the general of Wimpfen, which runs the counter to these provisions and orders the reoccupying of the abandoned positions.

After new combat with against ten, vis-a-vis the 1st Bavarian army corps whose artillery is provided more and more, the general of Vassoigne estimates that " the marines reached the extreme limits of the duty " and sounds the retirement in order to avoid the integral massacre of the troop.

Bleue division lost 2  655 men during this only confrontation, but caused losses of the double at least at a higher enemy in armament and of number. Forty Bazeillais found death during the combat of the August 31st and September 1st. Hundred fifty others died of the continuations of their wounds in the six months which followed the battle. The adversary, for its part, had left on the ground 7  000 killed including more than 200 officers.

This is why this episode was retained by the military history, with in particular the immortalisation by the painter Alphonse de Neuville of the defense of the Bourgerie inn, where one can see the commander Lambert and a handle men to defend the house under particularly difficult conditions, and until the complete exhaustion of the ammunition.

Bazeilles remained since a high-place and a symbol of the troops of marine.

Official account of the combat of Bazeilles

Bazeilles became the symbol of the troops of navy. The birthday of Bazeilles is commemorated each year in all the bodies of troop of France and Overseas and on the same spot of the battle. The account which follows is pronounced on this occasion.

1870: France is in war. Its territory is invaded. To take share with the fight, porpoises and bigors are, for the first time of their history, grouped in the same division, the division of navy which will be called blue division. Ordered by the general of Vassoigne, it is made up of 2 brigades: * 1st, general Reboul, is formed of the 1st Regiment of Marines of Cherbourg and of 4th of Toulon * the 2nd Martin general of Landing, includes/understands the 2nd Regiment of Marines of Brest and 3rd of Rochefort. The 1st Marine artillery Regiment of Lorient provides 3 batteries. blue Division belongs to the 12th Army corps under the command of the Général Lebrun affected with the army of Mac Mahon. Gathered with the camp of Trawl-nets, this one, in the second fortnight of August, will try the junction with the army of Bazaine locked up in Metz. on August 20th, after six days of steps and harassing counter-walks, one of our army corps being let surprise in Beaumont, the 1st brigade, that of the Reboul general, must intervene, moreover successfully, to release it. the following day August 31st about midday, it is the other brigade which is charged to take again Bazeilles that the enemy has just occupied. the Martin general of Landing removes his troop. The enemy is driven back, but its superiority of number and out of artillery allows him, by multiplying its attacks, to reestablish in the locality. The fray is keen; the losses are severe on the two sides; the Martin general of Landing is wounded and the village on fire. Around 4 hours of the afternoon, ours hold nothing any more but the edges north of the village. At this point in time the Reboul brigade, preserved until there in reserve, is engaged and, before fallen from the night, Bazeilles is entirely taken again once again. Always at the price of fierce combats. One is organized for the night. Only large-guards, placed at the orders of the commander Lambert, assistant manager of staff of Division, will hold the locality. The commander Lambert, understanding that the enemy, strongly reinforced during the night, will return in force, tightens a trap to him. When, on September 1st at daybreak, the Bavarian ones start to penetrate in the village, they believe this one abandoned. A vigorous counter-attack, carried out by 150 porpoises, surprises them and puts them in escape. We are again, and for the third time, Masters of Bazeilles. At this time occurs a dramatic turn of events. The Ducrot general, who has just replaced Mac Mahon wounded, wants to gather the army and the order is given to give up Bazeilles. What the enemy did not make a success of, the discipline obtains it: Bazeilles is evacuated. But the general of Wimpffen, carrying a notification of command, asserts the command and, taking the opposite course to the provisions of his predecessor, orders whom are re-occupied the abandoned positions. It is thus necessary to take again Bazeilles which the Bavarian ones did not fail to seize meanwhile. De Vassoigne does not hesitate and its division, in only one column, seizes the village for the fourth time, in spite of the keen defense of the adversary. the 1st Army corps Bavarian, reinforced of an additional division, and supported by an increasingly many artillery, takes again its attacks which it combines with encircling movements, while in the village the fires multiply. Fighting with against ten, the porpoises, in spite of the shells which crush them and the fires which burn them and suffocate them, defend step by step each street, each house and each section of wall. They only yield the ground very slowly inflicting to the enemy severe losses. Alas, those that they undergo it are not less and, which is very serious, the ammunition start to miss. the general of Vassoigne, always very calm, estimates that its mission is now achieved, that " the marines reached the extreme limits of the devoir" and that it should not make massacre such a troop, likely to still render services. About midday, it makes sound the retirement. Cependant the general of Wimpfen wants to still try an opening towards the east. For this purpose, around 4 p.m., it calls upon the general of Vassoigne and is put with him, sword in hand with the head of the remains it has. Bazeilles is mainly taken again, when on the order of the emperor, it makes put the weapons low. blue Division lost 2.655 as of his including 100 officers.

See too

External bonds

  • Site of the troops of navy
  • Museum of the troops of marine of Frejus

Random links:Beam of Flechsig | Children of the Sabbath | Shabeellaha Hoose | Étainhus | Vidin (oblast) | Bratmilovce | Ville_de_Cubitt