Cavalry Corps (France)
Encyclopedia
The Cavalry Corps was a French
mechanized
army corps established in 1939 and inactivated in 1940 after the defeat of France
by Germany
. Commanded by General René Prioux
, the Cavalry Corps advanced into Belgium
in May 1940 and imposed significant delay on the advance of the German XVI (motorized) Corps
. Cut off by German forces from the bulk of the French Army
, the corps was evacuated to England
and then shipped back to France in late May and early June 1940. Further combat resulted in significant losses of armored vehicles and a steady deterioration of the corps' combat power. The Cavalry Corps ceased fighting as the Second Armistice at Compiègne took effect, and the corps was demobilized on July 11, 1940.
, the Cavalry Corps did not see action until May 11, 1940 in the vicinity of Tongres. The corps had various units assigned during the period of the Phony War
, but by the time of the German invasion in May 1940, the corps commanded the 2nd and 3rd Light Mechanized Divisions (DLM), as well as some small reconnaissance and artillery units.
into the south of France during mid to late June. The Cavalry Corps in particular was noted for its solid performance during the Battles of Hannut
and Gembloux
during the fighting in Belgium. At the same time that poorly trained French reservists were being defeated at Sedan
, the Cavalry Corps met the German XVI (motorized) Corps of two Panzer
divisions on equal terms at Hannut and in the Gembloux Gap.
From May 31 until June 10, 1940, the men of the corps were evacuated to England
and then returned to France via the ports of Brest
and Cherbourg.
At the end of the retreat of the French forces, the Cavalry Corps was made up of the 1st DLM and 3rd DLM. The 1st DLM regrouped at Ribérac
and the 3rd DLM assembled at Saint-Aquilin
, both in the region of the Dordogne River
. The Cavalry Corps was demobilized on July 11, 1940.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
mechanized
Armoured warfare
Armoured warfare or tank warfare is the use of armoured fighting vehicles in modern warfare. It is a major component of modern methods of war....
army corps established in 1939 and inactivated in 1940 after the defeat of France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
by Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Commanded by General René Prioux
René Prioux
René Jacques Adolphe Prioux was a general of the French Army who served in both world wars. A cavalry officer of great talent, Prioux rapidly rose through the officer ranks and commanded the Cavalry Corps of the First Army during the Battle of Belgium in May 1940. He was captured by the Germans...
, the Cavalry Corps advanced into Belgium
Battle of Belgium
The Battle of Belgium or Belgian Campaign formed part of the greater Battle of France, an offensive campaign by Germany during the Second World War...
in May 1940 and imposed significant delay on the advance of the German XVI (motorized) Corps
XVI Army Corps (Germany)
The XVI Corps was a corps in the German Army during both world wars.The original XVI Army Corps was formed in Metz in 1891 and fought in the First World War on the western front. The XVI Corps ended the war under command of the 3rd Army....
. Cut off by German forces from the bulk of the French Army
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
, the corps was evacuated to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and then shipped back to France in late May and early June 1940. Further combat resulted in significant losses of armored vehicles and a steady deterioration of the corps' combat power. The Cavalry Corps ceased fighting as the Second Armistice at Compiègne took effect, and the corps was demobilized on July 11, 1940.
Formation and Phony War
Formed on August 27, 1939 in Saint QuentinSaint Quentin
Saint Quentin , Quintinus in Latin, also known as Quentin of Amiens, is an early Christian saint. No real details are known of his life.-Martyrdom:...
, the Cavalry Corps did not see action until May 11, 1940 in the vicinity of Tongres. The corps had various units assigned during the period of the Phony War
Phony War
The Phoney War was a phase early in World War II – in the months following Britain and France's declaration of war on Germany in September 1939 and preceding the Battle of France in May 1940 – that was marked by a lack of major military operations by the Western Allies against the German Reich...
, but by the time of the German invasion in May 1940, the corps commanded the 2nd and 3rd Light Mechanized Divisions (DLM), as well as some small reconnaissance and artillery units.
Combat
The Cavalry Corps saw action in three distinct phases of the fighting in 1940. These were the Battle of the Dyle (10 to 18 May), the Battle of the North (19 May to 9 June), and the Retreat of the Left Wing (10 to 25 June). In general, these phases respectively refer to the fighting in Belgium in May, the fighting in northern France in early June, and the long retreat of the French ArmyFrench Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
into the south of France during mid to late June. The Cavalry Corps in particular was noted for its solid performance during the Battles of Hannut
Battle of Hannut
The Battle of Hannut was a Second World War battle fought during the Battle of Belgium which took place between 12 and 14 May 1940 at Hannut, Belgium...
and Gembloux
Battle of Gembloux (1940)
The Battle of Gembloux was a battle fought between French and German forces in May 1940 during the Second World War....
during the fighting in Belgium. At the same time that poorly trained French reservists were being defeated at Sedan
Battle of Sedan (1940)
The Battle of Sedan or Second Battle of Sedan was a Second World War battle fought during the French Campaign. The battle was part of the German Wehrmacht's operational plan codenamed Fall Gelb , to encircle the Allied armies in Belgium and north-eastern France...
, the Cavalry Corps met the German XVI (motorized) Corps of two Panzer
Panzer
A Panzer is a German language word that, when used as a noun, means "tank". When it is used as an adjective, it means either tank or "armoured" .- Etymology :...
divisions on equal terms at Hannut and in the Gembloux Gap.
From May 31 until June 10, 1940, the men of the corps were evacuated to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and then returned to France via the ports of Brest
Brest, France
Brest is a city in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. Located in a sheltered position not far from the western tip of the Breton peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French military port after Toulon...
and Cherbourg.
At the end of the retreat of the French forces, the Cavalry Corps was made up of the 1st DLM and 3rd DLM. The 1st DLM regrouped at Ribérac
Ribérac
Ribérac is a commune in the Dordogne department in Aquitaine in southwestern France. The commune is situated by the Dronne River.-History:In 1793, the commune of Faye joined with Ribérac. In 1851, a part of the commune was dismembered for the creation of the new commune of Saint-Martin-de-Ribérac...
and the 3rd DLM assembled at Saint-Aquilin
Saint-Aquilin
Saint-Aquilin is a commune in the Dordogne department in Aquitaine in southwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
, both in the region of the Dordogne River
Dordogne River
The Dordogne is a river in south-central and southwest France.-Name:Contrary to appearances, the name of the Dordogne is not a recent word resulting from the names of the Dore and the Dogne...
. The Cavalry Corps was demobilized on July 11, 1940.
Commanders
- 09/02/1939 - 05/25/1940 Lieutenant-General Prioux
- 05/25/1940 - 07/11/1940 Major-General Langlois