User:Reader of Information/sandbox/Translation Draft for 4th Army (France)

4th Army
4e armée
Founded	August 2, 1914
Country	France
Branch	Army
Type	Army
Engagements	First World War 1914 - Battle of the Ardennes 1914 - Battle of the Meuse 1914 - Battle of the Marne (Battle of Vitry) 1914 - Battle of Champagne 1915 - Second Battle of Champagne 1917 - Battle of the Champagne Mountains 1918 - Fourth Battle of Champagne 1918 - Meuse-Argonne Offensive 1918 - Battle of Chesne and Buzancy Second World War

The Fourth Army (French: IVe Armée), nicknamed the "Army of Fontainebleau", was a unit of the French Army, which fought during World War I and World War II.

It was one of five armies created and placed on a war footing by the Grand Quartier Général when Plan XVII was launched in response to the German attack of August 1914.

Command

World War I

Commanders

Tribute to the Fourth Army which liberated Sommepy-Tahure.

• General Fernand de Langle de Cary (2 August 1914 - 11 December 1915)
• General Henri Gouraud (11 December 1915 - 19 December 1916)
• General Émile Fayolle (19 December 1916 - 31 December 1916)
• General Pierre Roques (31 December 1916 - 23 March 1917)
• General François Anthoine (23 March 1917 - 15 June 1917)
• General Henri Gouraud (15 June 1917 – 8 October 1919)

Chief of Staff

• General Paul Maistre (2 August - 12 September 1914)
• Colonel Alphonse Nudant (12 September - 21 November 1914)
• Colonel Gabriel Alexandre Paquette (21 November 1914 - 28 January 1916)
• Colonel Jean Degoutte (28 January - 3 August 1916)
• Colonel Vidalon (3 August 1916 - 7 January 1917)
• Lieutenant-Colonel Broussaud (7 January - 26 May 1917)
• Colonel Spire (26 May 1917 - 8 January 1918)
• Lieutenant-Colonel André-Gaston Prételat (8 January 1918 - ???)

World War II

Commanders

• General Édouard Réquin (2 September 1939 – 6 July 1940)

First World War

Composition at mobilization

Further information (in French): French mobilization of 1914

On mobilization in August 1914, the 4th Army of the French Army was commanded by General de Langle de Cary. It comprised the 12th and 17th Corps, the Colonial Army Corps and a cavalry division.

Chief of Staff: General Paul Maistre (replaced on 12 September 1914 by Colonel Alphonse Nudant, then on 21 November 1914 by Colonel Gabriel Alexandre Paquette);

Deputy Chief: Lieutenant-Colonel Dessens;

Head of 3rd Office: Commandant de La Fontaine ;

Head of Aviation Services: Commandant Barès;

Head of Stages and Services: General Sentis.

The 1st echelon of staff from Paris arrived at Saint-Dizier on August 5 at 8:15 a.m.; the 2nd echelon on August 6 at 9 p.m. from Fontainebleau.

12th Army Corps (Limoges)

• 23rd Infantry Division (France) (Haute-Vienne, Charente, Creuse)
• 24th Infantry Division (France) (Dordogne, Corrèze)
• Infantry regiments (attached to the 12th Army Corps):
  • 300th Infantry Regiment (Tulle)
  • 326th Infantry Regiment (Brive)
• Cavalry (attached to the 12th Army Corps):
  • 21st Light Horse Regiment (4 squadrons) (Limoges)
• Artillery (attached to the 12th Army Corps):
  • 52nd Field Artillery Regiment (4 groups) (Angoulême)
  • 21st Field Artillery Regiment (3 groups of 75) (Angoulême)
• Engineers (attached to the 12th Army Corps):
  • 6th Engineer Regiment (companies 12/3,12/4,12/16,12/21) (Angers)
• Others (attached to the 12th Army Corps):
  • 12th Squadron of the Military Crew Train
  • 12th section of staff and recruitment secretaries
  • 12th section of military nurses
  • 12th section of military administrative clerks and workers

17th Army Corps (Toulouse)

• 33rd Infantry Division
• 34th Infantry Division
• Infantry regiments (attached to the 17th Army Corps) :
  • 207th Infantry Regiment
  • 209th Infantry Regiment
• Cavalry (attached to the 17th Army Corps):
  • 9th Chasseur Regiment (4 squadrons)
• Artillery (attached to the 17th Army Corps):
  • 57th Field Artillery Regiment (4 groups)
• Engineers (attached to the 17th Army Corps):
  • 2nd Engineer Regiment (companies 17/3,17/4,17/16,17/21)
• Others (attached to 17th Army Corps):
  • 17th Squadron of the Military Crew Train
  • 17th Section of Staff Secretaries and Recruitment
  • 17th Military Nurses Section
  • 17th section of military administrative clerks and workers

Colonial Army Corps

The Colonial Army Corps (CAC, formed in Paris) was commanded by General Jules Lefèvre (replaced on January 22, 1915 by General Henri Gouraud).

Chief of Staff : Colonel Puypéroux ;

Deputy Chief of Staff: Lieutenant-Colonel Piquemal;

Artillery Commander: General Gautheron;

Engineer Commander: Colonel Dehoey.

9th Calvary Divison

The [[9th cavalry division (France)|Template:9th de cavalerie]] (from Tours) was formed from the Template:9th, Template:10th and Template:11th regions, and was commanded by general Jean de l'Espée.

• 1st Brigade of Cuirassiers (Tours), Colonel de Mitry

5th Cuirassier Regiment (Tours)

8th Cuirassiers Regiment (Tours)

• 9th Dragoon Brigade (Nantes), General de Sailly

1st Dragoon Regiment (Luçon)

1st Dragoon Regiment (Nantes)

• 16th Dragoon Brigade, General Gombaud de Séréville.

24th Dragoon Regiment (Rennes)

25th Dragoon Regiment (Angers)

Army elements

Artillery

• [[2nd artillery regiment (France)|Template:2e d'artillerie légère]]
• 1 group of 155 CTR

Engineering

• Pontoon Company 24/1 of the 7th Engineer Regiment
• Telegraph Sapper Company No.4
• Radio Detachment F

Aeronautical squadrons

• Voisin: V 14, V 21

Changes during the war

With the arrival of the Americans in the conflict, troops served under French command and for the Fourth Army:

• 2nd Infantry Division,
• 36th Infantry Division,
• 42nd Infantry Division,
• 93rd Infantry Division.

History

1914

• 2 - August 14: concentration in the south and west of the Argonne. From 8 August, coverage by the 2nd Army Corps and the [[9th Cavalry Division (France)|{9th|Cavalry Division}}] from Mangiennes (Template:3rd) to Mouzon (Template:5th).
• 14 - Template:August date-: movement northeast to the line: Jametz (Template:3rd), Montmédy, Revin (Template:5th). On August 21, offensive in the general direction of Neufchâteau.
• 22 - August 23: bataille des Ardennes: advance to the Robelmont line (Template:3rd), Tintigny, Jamoigne, Chiny, Bertrix, Houdremont, Revin (Template:5th). Heavy fighting, then withdrawal to the right bank of the Chiers.
• 24 - August 26: withdrawal to the Meuse from Sassey-sur-Meuse (Template:3rd) to Mézières.
• 27 - 28 August: Battle of the Meuse counter-attack on the Beaumont front, Signy-l'Abbaye to prevent German troops from crossing the Meuse.
• August 29 - September 6: successive withdrawals: on the Buzancy line Attigny on August 31; on the Arnes on Template:September 1; on the Marne and as far as the front: Sermaize-les-Bains (Template:3rd), Pargny-sur-Saulx, Écriennes, Courdemanges, Le Meix-Tiercelin (Détachement d'armée Foch constitué le 29 août entre la Template:5e et la Template:4e ; devient Template:9e le 5 septembre).
• 6 - Template:September 10th: engaged in the bataille de la Marne, (Battle of Vitry). Resisted the German thrust; fierce fighting on the above-mentioned front, particularly on the left wing (south of Sompuis) at the junction with the Template:9th.
• 10 - Template:September 15th: pursuit of retreating German troops, up to the Varennes-en-Argonne line (Template:3rd), Ville-sur-Tourbe, bois sabot (Template:9th).
• 15 - Template:September 22: attempts to break the German front, then stabilization and organization of the positions reached.
• 22 - September 23: loss of Varennes-en-Argonne.
• 26 - September 29: violent German attacks in the Argonne. On September 29th, right limit in liaison with the {3rd Army}} at Le Four de Paris.
• October 7: extension of the front to the left as far as ferme des Marquises (Template:5th) following the suppression of the Template:9th.
• October-November: numerous German attacks in Argonne on Grurie wood, Bagatelle, Saint-Hubert and Four de Paris.
• November 20: right limit (Template:3rd) brought to the Aire river.
• december 1914 - March 1915: First Battle of Champagne, French offensives followed by German counter-attacks in the Perthes-lès-Hurlus region, Beauséjour farm, Souain; capture of Perthes-lès-Hurlus and Beauséjour fort.

1915

• January 8: sector reduced to the right as far as Aisne (Template:3rd).
• May 31: front reduced to the right as far as Massiges (Template:3rd).
• August 10: front reduced to the right as far as Sabot Wood (Template:2nd introduced on the front).
• September 25: engaged in the bataille de Champagne, capture of Navarin farm; then organization and defense of conquered positions.

1916

• January 5: as a result of the Template:2nd's withdrawal from the front, right limit (Template:3rd) extended to the Aisne.
• January 9th: German attacks on Mont Têtu.
• February 12: German attack in the Navarin farm area.
• February 25: French attack in the Navarin farm area.
• February 27: German counter-attack in the same area.
• March 15: French attack in the same area.
• May 16: German coup de main at Mont Têtu.
• 26 June : following the withdrawal of the Template:3rd, right limit brought to Le Four de Paris (Template:2nd).

1917

• March 22 : right limit reduced to Ville-sur-Tourbe, (Template:2e).
• April 17 - July 16: Battle of the Champagne Mountains, offensive on the Aubérive front. [Prosnes]]; capture of Aubérive, Mont Sans Nom, Mont Blond, Téton, Casque, Mont Haut and Mont Cornillet. Organization and defense of conquered positions.

May 10: right limit brought to Le Four de Paris (Template:2nd).

• Late July and August: German attacks in the Monts region.

1918

• February 6: right boundary brought back to Beaurain wood (Template:2nd).
• March 29 : left limit brought up to the Courcy cavalrymen (withdrawal of the Template:5th).
• 26 - 27 May: following the withdrawal of the Template:6th, some elements of the left of the Template:4th fall back slightly to the south in the area northwest of Reims.
• May 29: left limit (Template:5th) brought back to the Prunay area (introduction of the Template:5th) and on May 31 brought to fort de la Pompelle.
• July 4: left boundary (Template:5th), moved to Prunay; right boundary Template:2nd, moved to the Houyette ravine.
• 15 - 18 July: quatrième bataille de Champagne, German offensive towards the Main de Massiges at Prunay, halted in front of the French resistance position, after voluntary abandonment of the front lines (battle of Prosnes-Massiges).

July 16: right limit (Template:2nd) brought back to Beaurain wood.

• 18 juillet - end of July: during the Second Battle of the Marne, French counter-attacks and advances north of Souain, Prosnes and Beaumont-sur-Vesle. From the end of July, the reconquered positions are organized.

• August 21: right limit (Template:2e) shifted to the northeast of Vienne-le-Château.
• September 22: the American army replaces the French Template:2nd on the right of the Template:4th.
• September 26 - October 16: engaged in the Meuse-Argonne offensive, initially the Somme-Py battle (September 26 - October 4), then in the exploitation of this battle. Progress to the Aisne, then organization on the Termes front (American army), Vouziers, Rethel region (Template:5th).

Défilé de la Template:IVe armée française Place de la République Strasbourg le 22 novembre 1918, le général Gouraud devant la tribune.

• 16 - October 21: French offensive, heavy fighting in the Olizy, Vouziers region; on October 18, crossing of the Aisne towards Vouziers, creation of a bridgehead north of the Aisne.
• October 21st: strong German attack towards Terron-sur-Aisne.
• Template:1st - November 6: battle of Le Chesne and Buzancy, offensive in conjunction with the American army towards Châtillon-sur-Bar and Le Chesne: crossing of the Ardennes canal, then organization of positions on the line: Le Chesne (American army), Semuy, Rilly-aux-Oies.
• 6 - November 11: thrust towards the Meuse, progression via Tourteron and Omont towards the Meuse. Front reached at armistice: Noyers-Pont-Maugis (American army), Sedan, course of the Meuse, Mézières (liaison with the Template:5th).

World War II

It was initially attached to army group no. 2 (east), then in June 1940 joined army group no. 4.

Composition

• [[9th Army Corps (France)|Template:9th Army Corps]] ·
  • [[47th Infantry Division (France)|Template:47th Infantry Division]]
    • [[5th machine-gun battalion|Template:5e de mitrailleurs]]
  • [[11th infantry division (France)|Template:11th infantry division]]
  • 11th corps reconnaissance group
  • [[121st artillery regiment|Template:121st regiment d'artillerie lourde hippomobile]]
  • Faulquemont fortified sector
• [[20th army corps (France)|Template:20th army corps]] ·
  • {82nd}} Infantry Division of Africa
  • [[52nd infantry division (France)|Template:52nd infantry division]]
  • Sarre fortified sector
  • [[58th machine gun battalion|Template:58th motorized machine gun battalion]]
• 504 tank battalion group
  • [[10th alpine battle tank battalion|Template:10th battle tank battalion]]
  • [[11th battle tank battalion|Template:11th battle tank battalion]]
• battle tank battalion group 502
  • [[20th battle tank battalion|Template:20th battle tank battalion]]
  • [[24th battle tank battalion|Template:24th battle tank battalion]]
• [[45th infantry division (France)|Template:45th infantry division]]
• [[1st Infantry Division (Poland)|Template:1st Polish Infantry Division]]
• [[23rd infantry division (France)|Template:23rd infantry division]] : withdrawn early 1940

Further reading

• Les armées françaises dans la Grande guerre. Vol X, p. 203–263. (online)

See also

• List of French armies in WWI

Sources/Links

Sources and bibliography

• Service historique de l'état-major des armées (1922–1934). Les Armées françaises dans la Grande guerre. Paris: Impr. nationale. BNF: 41052951h. {{cite book}}: |format= requires |url= (help)CS1 maint: date format (link) :
  • [[:Template:Abréviation]]. Vol. 1. 1923. {{cite book}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help); Unknown parameter |pages totales= ignored (help).

External link

• Site dedicated to the French army during the period from May 10 to June 25, 1940