Camp Coëtquidan (Camp de Coëtquidan) is a French military educational facility located in the Morbihan department of Brittany in France. It forms a part of the commune of Guer and covers an area of approximately 64 km2.
It comprises:
- École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr (ESM)
- École militaire interarmes (EMIA) (combined arms school)
- École militaire des aspirants de Coëtquidan (EMAC)
World War I
editBeginning in June–July 1917 the camp was temporarily transferred to the American Expeditionary Forces for use as an artillery training center.[1] Field artillery brigades trained there included the 3rd (3rd Division), 51st (26th Division), 55th (30th Division), 56th (31st Division), 57th (32nd Division), 60th (35th Division), 61st (36th Division), 64th (39th Division), 67th (42nd Division), 158th (83rd Division), and the 160th (85th Division).[2]
World War II
editDuring the war, Coëtquidan was the main army camp used by the Polish Army formed on French soil in September 1939.[3] It furnished the Polish Independent Highland Rifle Brigade[4] that operated in Norway and then briefly in Brittany under General Bohusz-Szyszko in April–June 1940.[5] It also furnished the 1st Grenadier Division that operated on the Lorraine front under General Duch in May–June 1940.[6] In addition it began the training of armoured units that would be sent to the Bollène area in the south of France before being used to form the 10th Armoured Cavalry Brigade that operated in the Marne–Côte-d’Or area under General Maczek in June 1940.[7]
See also
edit
References
editCitations
edit- ^ United States Army 1948, p. 7.
- ^ Historical Section, Army War College 1931, pp. 49, 119, 165, 175, 181, 215, 225, 251, 275, 363, 379.
- ^ Barbarski, Krzysztof, Polish Armour 1939–45 (Osprey, London, 1982), p. 11
- ^ Komisja Historyczna Polskiego Sztabu Głownego w Londynie, Polskie Siły Zbrojne w Drugiej Wojnie Światowej, vol. 2, part 1 (Instytut Historyczny im. Gen. Sikorskiego, London, 1959), p. 45
- ^ Zaloga, Steven J., The Polish Army 1939–45 (Osprey, London, 1982), p. 14
- ^ Ministère des Armées, État-Major de l’Armée de Terre, Service Historique, Guerre 1939–1945: Les Grandes Unités Françaises: Historiques Succincts (Paris, 1967), vol. 3, p. 293–300
- ^ Barbarski, Op. cit., p.11, 13–14
Bibliography
edit- Historical Section, Army War College (1931). Order of Battle of the United States Land Forces in the World War; American Expeditionary Forces; Divisions (PDF) (Reprint, 1988 ed.). Washington: Government Printing Office.
- United States Army (1948). Reports of the Commander-in-Chief, Staff Sections and Services (PDF). United States Army in the World War, 1917–1919. Vol. 14 (Reprint, 1988 ed.). Washington: Government Printing Office.