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38th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the French Army active during the First World War.

The 38th Division was formed in August 1914 from personnel from North Africa within the 19th Military Region; The division consisted primarily of tirailleurs and Zouaves (both types of light infantry).

Commanders

• 2 August - 11 November 1914 : Général Muteau
• 12 November 1914 - 13 January 1915 : Général de Bazelaire
• 13 January - 21 May 1915 : Général Hély d'Oissel
• 21 May 1915 - 22 April 1916 : Général Rouquerol
• 22 April 1916 - 16 October 1918 : Général Arthur Guyot de Salins
• 16 October 1918 - 12 April 1919 : Général Dufieux

Chain of Command

Source:

Composition

1914

August 1914

• 75e brigade

1er régiment de marche de zouaves

1er Régiment de Marche de Tirailleurs

• 76e brigade

4e régiment de marche de zouaves

4e régiment de marche de tirailleurs tunisiens

8e régiment de marche de tirailleurs tunisiens

1915

End of July 1915

• 75e brigade - has transferred out to the 25th Division
• Brigade de Fusiliers Marins- replaced the 75e, with the Division until its disbandment

• 76e brigade

1er régiment de marche de zouaves, no change

4e régiment de marche de zouaves, no change

8e régiment de marche de tirailleurs tunisiens, no change

1916

As of 1 January 1916

• 76e brigade

4e régiment de marche de zouaves, no change

8e régiment de marche de tirailleurs tunisiens, no change

• 4e brigade marocaine - attached since November 1915

4e régiment mixte de zouaves et tirailleurs

Régiment d'infanterie coloniale du Maroc (RICM)

1918

End of September 1918

• 4e régiment de marche de zouaves, no change
• 4e régiment mixte de zouaves et tirailleurs, no change
• 10e groupe, comprising 49e, 65e & 69e bataillons de chasseurs à pied, to replace the 8e RMTZ
• RICM transferred out to the newly-formed 2nd Moroccan Division in August 1918, no replacement formation to take their place.

Chronology

1914

2 August, 1914 : mobilized partly in Algeria, partly in France. 4 – 18 August : transported by sea and then by rail; all units were concentrated in the Chimay region. 18 – 24 August : moved, via Froidchapelle and Walcourt, towards the Sambre. 22 August 22 : engaged in the Battle of Charleroi  : fighting towards Châtelet and Somzée. 24 August – 6 September : retreated, via Sains-Richaumont, towards the Chevresis-Monceau region. 29 August : engaged in the Battle of Guise : fighting, towards Ribemont and Villers-le-Sec, Meuse. From 30 August, retreated, via Chavonne, Trélou-sur-Marne and Montmirail, Marne, to the north of Provins. 6 – 14 September : engaged in the First Battle of the Marne. 6 – 19 September : Battle of the Two Morins (in the 2nd line from the 6th to the 8th, then in the 1st line on the 9th). From 10 September, continued via Château-Thierry and Fismes, up to the Chemin des Dames, north of Paissy. 14 September – 26 October : engaged in the First Battle of the Aisne (in liaison with the British army): fighting towards the Hurtebise and Creute farms; stabilization of the front and occupied a sector towards the Hurtebise farm and the road from Paissy to Ailles. 12 October : French attacks towards the Creute farm.

26 – 29 October : withdrew from the front line; transported by rail, from the Fismes region to that of Calais, then transported by trucks to that of Furnes, Belgium. 29 October – 9 December : moved to the front line. Engaged in the Battle of the Yser: repeated violent fighting towards Luyghem, Poesele, Bikschote and the Passeur house; then stabilisation of the front, and occupied of a sector on the Yser, towards the Knokke bridge and the Passeur house. From 4 December, French attacks on the Passeur's house. 9 – 25 December : moved (in parallel with the front - fr:Rocade (militaire)) and occupied a new sector towards Verbranden-Molen and the castle 1 km west of Hollebeke. 14 December : French attacks.

1915

25 December 1914 – 2 February 1915 : withdrew from the front line and moved in stages to the Cassel, Nord region. 31 December : transported by rail to the southwest of Montdidier, Somme: rest and refresher training. 17 January : transported by rail to Dunkirk region; rest in the Hondschoote region. 31 January : moved to Coxyde (Koksijde). 2 February 1915 – 20 April 1916 : moved to the front line and occupied a sector towards Nieuwpoort, Belgium. 23 April - 6 May : elements engaged towards Steenstrate and Lizerne . 9 May : German attack at Nieuwpoort.

1916

20 April – 30 May : withdrew from the front line to Bergues; rest and refresher training. 10 May : transported by truck to the training camp at Crèvecœur-le-Grand;refresher training. 25 May : transported by rail to Laheycourt, then moved to Vaubecourt: rest. 30 May – 22 June : moved towards the front line. 12 June : engaged in the Battle of Verdun, towards Hill 304 and the eastern edge of the Avocourt woods. 22 June – 12 July : withdrew from the front line; rest in the Fleury-sur-Aire, Jubécourt region. 12 – 27 July : moved to the front line, engaged again in the Battle of Verdun; occupied a sector towards Hill 304 and the eastern edge of the Avocourt wood. 27 July – 3 August : withdrew from the front line to Revigny; rest. 3 – 21 August : moved to the front line, occupied a sector towards the Thiaumont fortification and the Vaux wood: fighting from the 17th to the 21st August (Battle of Verdun). 21 August – 21 October : withdrew from the front line; rest and refresher training at the Tannois camp . 21 – 31 October : transported by trucks to Verdun . From the 23rd, occupied a sector towards the Haudromont woods and the Thiaumont fortification. 24 October : engaged in the 1st Verdun Offensive : capture of Fort Douaumont, then occupation and organisation of the captured positions towards the Bois d'Haudromont and Fort Douaumont. 31 October – 10 December : withdrew from the front; rest in the Tannois, Stainville region. 10 – 20 December : transported by trucks to Verdun. 14 December : occupied a sector towards the Haudromont woods and the village of Douaumont (excluded) 15 December : engaged again in the 1st Verdun Offensive: capture of Louvemont; on the 18th, capture of the Chambrettes farm; then occupation and organisation of the captured positions. 20 December 1916 – 16 January 1917 : withdrew from the front line to the Ligny-en-Barrois, Gondrecourt-le-Château region; rest and refresher training.

1917

16 January – 15 April : moved, via Mailly-le-Camp and Montmirail, Marne, to Nogent-l'Artaud; rest and refresher training. 27 March : moved in stages towards Château-Thierry, then Coulonges and Bazoches. 2 - 14 April : elements in the sector towards the Chemin des Dames . 15 – 29 April : took up a position north of the Aisne (river), towards Jumigny. From 16 April : engaged in the Second Battle of the Aisne: capture of enemy positions south of Chermizy-Ailles; then organisation of the captured terrain towards the Hurtebise farm (near Craonne) and the road from Paissy to Ailles. 25 April : violent German attack and French counter-attack. 29 April – 7 July : withdrew from the front line to Fismes (elements in sector at Chemin des Dames); rest and refresher training. 7 July – 20 August : grouping in the Belleau, Aisne region and from 29 July, transported by truck to the Lassigny camp; rest and refresher training. 20 August – 18 September : transported by trucks to Vailly-sur-Aisne; then occupied a sector towards the Pantheon and the north of the Colombe farm. 18 September – 20 October : withdrew from the front line to Ecury; rest and refresher training. 20 – 31 October  : occupied a sector between the north of the Colombe farm and the west of the Pantheon. From 23 October, engaged in the Battle of La Malmaison: attack and capture of the fort of Malmaison, then organisation of the captured positions towards Pargny-Filain and Chavignon. 31 October – 12 December : withdrew from the front line; transported by trucks to Crézancy, then moved in stages to Avize and Vertus; rest and refresher training. 12 December 1917 – 1 February 1918 : moved towards Tours-sur-Marne and Mourmelon-le-Grand; employed on working parties.

1918

1 February – 25 March : moved to the Vertus region; rest and refresher training (elements maintained at 2nd position on working parties until 9 February). 25 February - 25 March : moved to the Damery, Marne region; rest and refresher training. 25 March –April 3 : moved to Mareuil-le-Port; on the 26th, transported by truck to Ressons-sur-Matz. From 27 March : engaged in the 2nd battle of Picardy during Operation Michael. 28, 29 and 31 March : resistance to the German offensive towards Orvillers-Sorel. 3 April – 8 May : withdrew from the front line to Gournay-sur-Aronde; rest and working parties. 10 April : grouping between Pont-Sainte-Maxence and Estrées-Saint-Denis. 12 April : transported by truck to Tours-sur-Marne and Aÿ; rest and refresher training. 1 May : moved in stages towards Tracy-le-Mont and Offémont. 8 May – June 11 : occupied a sector towards Sempigny and Varesnes. Engaged in the Third Battle of the Aisne, retreated to Mont de Choisy, situated to the north east of Caisnes. 30 May and 5 June : violent German attacks towards Mont de Choisy. 11 June – 14 July : withdrew, then occupied and defended a sector towards Tracy-le-Val and Bailly. 14 – 23 July : ring road moved, and, from the 15th, occupied a sector towards the Chavigny farm and Saint-Pierre-Aigle. From 18 July, engaged, towards Longpont and the Chavigny farm, in the Second Battle of the Marne (Battle of Soissons (1918)): combats of Longpont and Tigny, progression to Hartennes. Undertook the attacks on 18 and 19 July in concert with the 2nd Infantry Division (United States). 23 July – 4 August : withdrew from the front line, its positions were relieved by the 34th Division (United Kingdom). Regrouped at Vez, Oise, then moved towards Cuise-la-Motte and Trosly-Breuil; rest. 4 August – 6 September : occupied a sector towards Bailly, Oise and the Saint-Mard woods. 19 - 29 August : engaged in the Carlepont region to the north of the Oise river, between Noyon and Pontoise-lès-Noyon. 29 August - 6 September : organisation of the positions conquered in this region. 6 – 15 September : withdrew from the front line, moved to Chevrières, Oise; rest and refresher training.

15 September – 2 November : transported by rail to Montbéliard. From 22 September, occupied a sector in Oberelsaß (Haut Alsace), between Fulleren and Burnhaupt-le-Bas, moved to the right, 12 October, between Fulleren and the Swiss border. 2 – 11 November : moved to Héricourt, Haute-Saône, then, from the 5th, to Épinal, via Ronchamp, Luxeuil-les-Bains, Plombières-les-Bains, Remiremont and Arches, Vosges.

References

Notes

1. ^ Détachement d'armée de Belgique
2. ^ Groupe Provisoire du Nord
3. Groupe d'armées du Nord
4. 'In August 1914, the 19th région militaire sent three infantry divisions to France - the 37th, the 38th and the 45th'

Citations

1. ^ Pompé 1924, pp. 305.
2. Pompé 1924, pp. 308–312.
3. ^ Pompé 1924, pp. 306–307.
4. "North-African soldiers. 1914-1918". Chemins de Mémoire. Ministry of Armed Forces (France). Retrieved 17 January 2025.
5. Carré 1925, pp. 32, 40.
6. Carré 1925, pp. 69–71.
7. Carré 1925, p. 91.
8. Besson 1931, pp. 213–214.
9. Besson 1931, p. 250.
10. Besson 1931, p. 289.
11. Besson 1931, p. 291.
12. ^ Pompé 1924, pp. 308–309.
13. Moreigne 1933, p. 539.
14. Moreigne 1933, p. 341.
15. Moreigne 1933, p. 350.
16. Herlaut 1931, p. 257.
17. Herlaut 1931, p. 676.
18. Pompé 1924, p. 309.
19. Altairac 1935, pp. 396.
20. Ferreira, Sylvain (24 October 2016). "24 octobre 1916, 11h40 l'infanterie française attaque". Société des Amis du Musée de la Grande Guerre (SAM2G) (in French). Retrieved 18 January 2025.
21. Altairac 1935, pp. 452.
22. Altairac 1935, pp. 480.
23. Lodier, Didier (17 April 2004). "Verdun: Le second semestre de 1916". Chimiste - mon site consacré aux parcours de régiments en 1914-18 (in French). Retrieved 18 January 2025.
24. Pompé 1924, pp. 309–310.
25. Beaugier 1931, p. 635.
26. Beaugier 1931, pp. 677–678.
27. "La 38e division d'infanterie: La bataille de l'Aisne (avril - juin 1917)". CRID - Collectif de Recherche International et de Débat sur la guerre de 1914-1918 (in French). Retrieved 17 January 2025.
28. Beaugier 1937, p. 1042.
29. Beaugier 1937, pp. 1044–1045, 1099.
30. Pompé 1924, pp. 310–311.
31. Tournés 1931, p. 318.
32. Tournés 1931, p. 319.
33. Tournés 1931, p. 358, 368, 378-379.
34. Berthemet & Lefévre 1934, pp. 242–243.
35. Berthemet & Lefévre 1934, pp. 286, 318.
36. Berthemet & Lefévre 1934, pp. 477–478.
37. "2d Division Summary of Operations in The [First] World War [Jun to Nov 1918]". American Battle Monuments Commission. 1944. Retrieved 17 January 2025 – via The 2nd Division, (Regular) AEF. WWI, 1917-1919, created 2002.
38. "THE ROLE OF THE 34th BRITISH DIVISION IN THE BATTLE OF THE MARNE". Deuxième Bataille de la Marne (mai-août 1918). Retrieved 17 January 2025.
39. Laure 1923, p. 262.
40. ^ Pompé 1924, pp. 311–312.

Bibliography

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• Besson, Chef d'Escadron d'artillerie; et al., eds. (1931). La guerre de mouvement (opérations antérieures au 14 novembre 1914). Tome I. Troisième Volume. La bataille de la Marne. [1,3]. Les armées françaises dans la Grande guerre. Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Ministère De la Guerre, Etat-Major de l'Armée – Service Historique (in French). Paris: Imprimerie Nationale.
• Moreigne, Charles Félix Raymond; et al., eds. (1933). La bataille de l'Aisne, la Course à la mer, la Bataille des Flandres (14 septembre-14 novembre 1914) Tome I. Quatrième Volume. [1,4]. Les armées françaises dans la Grande Guerre. Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Ministère De la Guerre, Etat-Major de l'Armée – Service Historique (in French). Imprimerie nationale.
• Herlaut, Auguste Philippe; et al., eds. (1931). La stabilisation du front - Les attaques locales (14 novembre 1914 - 1er mai 1915) Tome II. [2]. Les armées françaises dans la Grande guerre. Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Ministère De la Guerre, Etat-Major de l'Armée – Service Historique (in French). Paris: Imprimerie Nationale.
• Altairac, Lieutenant-Colonel; et al., eds. (1935). Bataille de la Somme (fin). Offensives françaises à Verdun. Tome IV. Troisième Volume. (3 septembre - fin décembre 1916) [4,3]. Les armées françaises dans la Grande guerre. Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Ministère De la Guerre, Etat-Major de l'Armée – Service Historique (in French). Paris: Imprimerie Nationale.
• Beaugier, Fernand Auguste; et al., eds. (1931). Les opérations à objectifs limités (1er novembre 1916 - 1er novembre 1917) Tome V. Premier Volume. L'offensive d'avril 1917 (1er novembre 1916 - 15 mai 1917) [5,1]. Les armées françaises dans la Grande guerre. Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Ministère De la Guerre, Etat-Major de l'Armée – Service Historique (in French). Paris: Imprimerie Nationale.
• Beaugier, Fernand Auguste; et al., eds. (1937). Les opérations à objectifs limités (1er novembre 1916 - 1er novembre 1917) Tome V. Deux Volume. Les opérations à objectifs limités (15 mai - 1er novembre 1917) [5,2]. Les armées françaises dans la Grande guerre. Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Ministère De la Guerre, Etat-Major de l'Armée – Service Historique (in French). Paris: Imprimerie Nationale.
• Tournés, René; et al., eds. (1931). L'hiver 1917-1918. - L'offensive allemande (1er novembre 1917 - 18 juillet 1918) Tome VI. Premier volume. La préparation de la campagne de 1918. L'offensive allemande de l'Oise à la Mer du Nord (1er novembre 1917 - 30 avril 1918) [6,1]. Les armées françaises dans la Grande guerre. Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Ministère De la Guerre, Etat-Major de l'Armée – Service Historique (in French). Paris: Imprimerie Nationale.
• Berthemet, Capitaine Henry; Lefévre, Chef d'Escadron d'artillerie, eds. (1934). L'hiver 1917-1918. - L'offensive allemande (1er novembre 1917 - 18 juillet 1918) Tome VI. Deuxième volume. L'offensive allemande contre les armées françaises (1er mai - 18 juillet 1918) [6,2]. Les armées françaises dans la Grande guerre. Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Ministère De la Guerre, Etat-Major de l'Armée – Service Historique (in French). Paris: Imprimerie Nationale.
• Laure, Lieutenant-Colonel; et al., eds. (1923). La campagne offensive de 1918 et la marche au Rhin (18 juillet 1918 - 28 juin 1919) Tome VII. Premier volume. Les offensives de dégagement et la préparation des offensives générales (18 juillet 1918 - 25 septembre 1918) [7,1]. Les armées françaises dans la Grande guerre. Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Ministère De la Guerre, Etat-Major de l'Armée – Service Historique (in French). Paris: Imprimerie Nationale.
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• Pompé, Daniel; et al., eds. (1924). Ordres de bataille des grandes unités – Divisions d'Infanterie, Divisions de Cavalerie. Tome X. 2e Volume. [10,2]. Les armées françaises dans la Grande guerre. Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Ministère De la Guerre, Etat-Major de l'Armée – Service Historique (in French) (1st ed.). Paris: Imprimerie Nationale. Retrieved 6 September 2020.

• French World War I divisions
• French Infantry divisions during World War I
• Infantry divisions of France
• Armée d'Afrique
• Military units and formations established in 1914