the 4th Moroccan division of mountain

The the 4th division Moroccan of mountain ( 4th DM ) is a historical unit of the French Army.

History

Whereas in 1943 the Campagne of Tunisia is not completed yet, of new French divisions are formed already within the framework of the plan of rearmament of the French Army, in collaboration with American. At the beginning of this year the 3 {{E}} D.I.M. is setting-up at Marrakech which will become on June 1st 1943 the the 4th Moroccan division of mountain .

At that time it has the same firepower that other divisions but it is equipped with US vehicles and French mule crews.

Campaigns of Africa and Corsica

Starting from the February 15th 1943 the 4th DM passes in Algérie and is involved in mountainous area close to Tlemcem and Oran. The September 15th 1943 it sets up a group of combat, the Louchet grouping, which takes part, at the sides of the battalion of shock and the Tabor S Morrocans with the combat of reconquest of the island of the Corsica of the September 22nd to the October 4th 1943.

Countryside of Italy

Starting from the February 18th 1944, the 4th DM unloads with Naples and joined the 2 {{E}} DIM and 3 {{E}} DIA.

After having taken position in the south-west of Cassino it forms, with Tabors Morrocans, the " body of montagne" who crosses the Monts Arrunci in May. It opens the way of Rome in which it ravels the June 15th 1944. By continuing the Germans, it removes San Gimignano the July 13rd, Certaldo the 19 and Castelfiorentino the 22. It gathers then around Sessa Aurunca.

Division loses 74 officers and 1538 warrant officers and troops during this program. Following heavy losses, the 2 {{E}} RTM east dissolves and replaced by the 1 {{er}} RTA.

Countryside of France

Starting from the September 8th 1944, the 4th DM unloads in Alsace. It is integrated in the First French Army of the Général of Lattre. One of these groupings slips by then towards the valley of Thann while the remainder of division comes to raise the 2nd DIM in the the Alps vis-a-vis the Gebirgsjäger .

At the end of November, the 4th DM goes on Mulhouse, in Alsace. In the forest of the Hardt the fight is burning. The 1st regiment of riflemen supports long series of fatal combat to stop all the enemy actions aiming at passing by again the channel of Huningue and to take again Mulhouse which supports a true seat. In most extremely of the winter, it takes part in the reduction of the Poche of Colmar while progressing on the axis Thann - Cernay - Soultz - Rouffach of the January 20th to the February 5th 1945. Once the Alsace entirely released, division is seen entrusting the defense of the the Rhine between Basle and Sélestat.

Countryside of Germany

After directbeing directed towards Strasbourg, the 4th DM crosses the the Rhine and penetrates in Germany the April 16th 1945. Its mission is then to circumvent the Black Forest by its edge Is and as fast as possible to gain the Northern border of the Suisse. Hustling last resistances of the Wehrmacht, it reaches the Lac of Constancy after being last by Freudenstadt, Schwennigen and Donaueschingen. It enters then in Austria the May 2nd 1945 and finishes the war in the Vorarlberg. During the 3 weeks of this countryside it only captures with it: 22000 enemy soldiers.

Since the unloading in Provence its losses rose with 28 officers and 565 warrant officers and soldiers.

After a few months of occupation of the Austria, division returns in France until its dissolution the January 15th 1946 in the area Lyon is born.

Chiefs of the 4th DM

the general Henri Martin, June 1st 1943 - September 4th 1943
the general François Sevez, September 4th 1943 - 1944
the general De Hesdin, 1945 - January 15th 1946

Composition

''' 1 {{er}} Regiment of Moroccan Riflemen '''
''' 2 {{E}} Regiment of Moroccan Riflemen '''
''' 6 {{E}} Regiment of Moroccan Riflemen '''
''' 1 {{er}} Regiment of Algerian Riflemen '''
''' 27 {{E}} Regiment of Infantry '''
''' 64 {{E}} Regiment of Artillery of Africa '''
''' 69 {{E}} Regiment of artillery of Mountain '''
''' 33 {{E}} Group of FTA '''
''' 4 {{E}} Regiment of Spahis Morrocans '''
Company of transmissions 88/84
''' 82 {{E}} Battalion of the Genius '''
''' 8 {{E}} Medical Battalion '''
''' 88 {{E}} Company of General headquarter '''

See too

Armed Anger (France, Second world war)

External bonds

Portraits of Goumiers photographs carried out in 1944 with the Valley of Ajol in the Vosges.

Sources

With the 4th Moroccan Division of Mountain , Braun & Co, 1945.

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