25th Motorized Division (France)

The French 25th Motorized Division was a French Army division active during World War II.

25th Infantry Division (1873-1935)

In 1873, 25th Infantry Division was created, which participated in World War I.
In 1935, this division was transformed into the 25th Motorized Division.

World War 2

Battle Of France

During the Battle of France in May 1940 the division contained the following units:

• 38th Infantry Regiment
• 92nd Infantry Regiment
• 121st Infantry Regiment
• 5th Reconnaissance Battalion
• 16th Artillery Regiment
• 216th Artillery Regiment

The division was an active division which had existed during peacetime. It was a fully motorized Infantry Division. Led in May 1940 by General Jean-Baptiste Molinié, it was part of the defenders of the Lille Pocket from 26 to 31 May during the Battle of France, after which it surrendered.

1945

Towards the end of the Second World War, the French Forces of the Interior (FFI) from west-central France (notably those of the Charles Martel brigade, Indre-et-Loire, and Loire-Inférieure), were incorporated into the newly formed 25th Infantry Division, deployed in April 1945 in the Saint-Nazaire region. Equipped mainly with capture weapons, it was engaged against the German Saint-Nazaire pocket. Its commander was Raymond Chomel.