The Moroccan Division () or the 1st Moroccan Division of 1914, initially the Marching Division of Morocco () was an infantry division of France's Army of Africa () which participated in World War I.
Moroccan Division was a division made up primarily of white French colonial troops who had been sent to police Morocco, rather than soldiers from Morocco. The Moroccan Division illustrated capability in the First Battle of the Marne in September and the Second Battle of Artois of May 1915 where for the first time, a French division pierced the front.« ... Le 9 mai 1915, les régiments de la division marocaine s’élançant à 10 heures des tranchées de Berthonval et brisant de haute lutte la résistance des allemands atteignirent d’un bond la côte 140, leur objectif, rompant pour la première fois le front ennemi »
The Moroccan Division was one of the most decorated units of the French Army and all its regiments were cited at the orders of the armed forces at the end of the conflict.Marc Michel, L'Afrique dans l'engrenage de la Grande Guerre, 1914–1918, Karthala, 2013, p.103 The Moroccan Division was the only division of all French regimental colours to be decorated with the légion d’honneur throughout the course of World War I.4e R.T.T; 7e R.T.A; the R.M.L.E; 8e R.Z; Bulletin des lois de la République française, Imprimerie Royale, 1919, pp.2023–2035
The four principal units which composed formation of the Moroccan Division between 1914 and 1918 were the Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion RMLE, the 4th Marching Tirailleurs Regiment 4e RTT, the 7th Marching Tirailleurs Regiment 7e RTA and 8th Marching Zouaves Regiment 8e RZ, all awarded the French fourragere with colours of the légion d’honneur at the end of the conflict.
Creation and different nominations
On the eve of mobilisation on August 2, 1914, the troops which were at the disposition of the French Army in Morocco constituted: 1st Colonial Infantry Battalion () of Morocco at Fez 6 Mixed Colonial Infantry Regiments of Morocco composed each of 1 colonial battalion () and 2 Senegalese Tirailleurs () at Rabat, La-Chaouïa, Meknés, Fez et Marrakech. 2 Mixed Artillery Colonial Groups (one group of 3 () and the other of 4 () 6 companies of Senegalese scouts 13 battalions of Algerian Tirailleurs 9 battalions of Tunisian Tirailleurs 9 battalions of Zouaves 5 battalions of Moroccan Trailleurs 1 squadron of Senegalese Spahi
While at disposition, these part forces were made immediately available to Général Hubert Lyautey who created since mobilisation in Morocco, the Marching Division of Morocco () (future Moroccan Division, « Division Marocaine » ), with mainly 3 battalions (6th, 7th, 9th Colonial Infantry Battalions of Morocco) regrouped at Bled-el-Makhzen which formed the Colonial Infantry Marching Regiment of Morocco ( future « R.I.C.M » in 1956) of the 1st Marching Brigade of Morocco () belonging to this division.
Under orders of Général Georges Humbert, the units constituting the Marching Division of the Morocco () were regrouped at Bordeaux and positioned themselves in the region of Tournes (French Ardennes) on August 18, and that to join the Colonial Troops Army Corps () of the IVth Army () in the battle of ().
On August 20, 1914, the Marching Division of Morocco () was renamed the Moroccan Division () (another Moroccan Division « 2e Division du Maroc » was enacted on August 4, 1918) formed by principle of two Marching brigades of Morocco ().
The Colonial Infantry Marching Regiment of Morocco () was subsequently designated as 1st Colonial Infantry Marching Regiment of Morocco () with regimental commander Lieutenant-Colonel Pernot leading 3 battalions: 6th Battalion of Commandant Vincent – the 7th Battalion of Commandant Coup – and 9th Battalion of Commandant Garrely.
The regiment was attached to the 1st Marching Brigade of Morocco () of général Blondlat, along with the 1st Zouaves Regiment () of Lieutenant-Colonel Leveque leading also 3 battalions of Commandants Lagure, Randier and Burkart.
The 2nd Marching Brigade of Morocco () of Colonel Cros regrouped: 1 Regiment of Moroccan Tirailleurs constituted of 3 battalions formed based on Tirailleurs Regiments of Occidental Morocco. (1st Battalion of 5th Tirailleurs of Commandant Britsch - 4th Battalion of 7th Tirailleurs of Commandant De-Ligny - and the 5th Battalion of 4th Tirailleurs of Commandant Tisseye). 1 Mixed Regiment, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Fellert, constituted of 3 battalions formed based on Tirailleurs Regiments of Oriental Morocco. (1st Battalion of 2nd Tirailleurs of Commandant Mignerot - 4th Battalion of 2nd Tirailleurs of Commandant Sauvageot - and the 3rd Battalion of 6th Tirailleurs of Commandant Clerc), one of the battalions, also formed based on the 2nd Zouaves Regiment () (3rd Battalion of Commandant Modelon).
The 1st Moroccan Division () was supported by: 1 Artillery unit commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Ducros compromised on one marching group under the orders of Commandant Turpin (1st and 2nd batteries of the 4th artillery group of African campaigns as well as the 2nd battery of the 8th artillery group of African campaigns – ()) and one group of 2 artillery batteries of the 3rd Colonial Artillery Regiment 3e RAC () under the orders of Commandant Martin. 1 Engineering Divisionary Company of () of Morocco under the orders of Captain Quinson.
During the battle of Bataille des Ardennes on August 23, 1914, the 1st Moroccan Division () was integrated in the 9th Army Corps () of the IVth Army () under the orders of général Dubois. This army corps had for mission to cover the unfolding of the later while maintaining positions on the designated line Signy-l'Abbaye / La-Fosse-à-l'Eau, on which this corps had to counter a massive advancement.
World War I
Order of Battle
1st Moroccan Brigade Formation 2nd Mixed Colonial Regiment () – 3 battalions from August till October 1, 1914. Marching Zouaves Regiment () – 3 battalions from August till October 1, 1914. 4th Marching Tirailleurs Regiment () hailing from the French 38th Infantry Division () – October 1, 1914 till June 30, 1918 (rejoined the 2nd Moroccan Division ()). 2nd Marching Regiment of the 1st Foreign Regiment () – October 17, 1914 to November 11, 1915. 2nd Marching Regiment of the 2nd Foreign Regiment () – July 10 to November 11, 1915. Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion (), by merger of the two foreign regiments – November 11, 1915 to November 11, 1918. 12e Bataillon de Tirailleurs malgaches – July 7 till November 11, 1918. Russian Legion Battalion () / Honorary Russian Legion () – beginning of 1918 till November 11, 1918. 2nd Moroccan Brigade Formation 1st Mixed Zouaves and Trailleurs Regiment () until September 5, 1914; Zouave by designation, no Zouave Battalion was ever found in the 1st Mixed Zouaves and Tirailleurs Regiment. 2nd Mixed Zouaves and Trailleurs Regiment () until September 5, 1914. Marching Tirailleurs Regiment of Occidental Morocco () – 3 battalions from September 5 till October 1, 1914. 1st Battalion of 5th Algerian Tirailleurs (). 4th Battalion of 7th Algerian Tirailleurs (). 5th Battalion of 4th Tunisian Tirailleurs (). Marching Tirailleurs Regiment of Oriental Morocco () – 4 battalions from September 5 till October 1, 1914. 1st Battalion of the 2nd Algerian Tirailleurs (). 4th Battalion of the 2nd Algerian Tirailleurs (). 3rd Battalion of the 6th Algerian Tirailleurs (). 3rd Battalion of 2nd Zouaves (). 7th Marching Tirailleurs Regiment (), formed by merger of the Marching Tirailleurs Regiment of Occidental Morocco () and Marching Tirailleurs Regiment of Oriental Morocco () – October 1, 1914 till November 11, 1918. 8th Marching Zouaves Regiment () by changing designation of 8th Marching Zouave Regiment – October 1914 till November 11, 1918.
Composition formations
August–September 1914 1st Moroccan Brigade – 1914 Colonial Marching Regiment Marching Zouave Regiment 2nd Moroccan Brigade – 1914 Marching Tirailleurs Regiment of Oriental Morocco Marching Tirailleurs Regiment of Occidental Morocco
October 1914 – June 1918 1st Moroccan Brigade (1914–1918) Régiment de Marche de la Légion Étrangère, by merger of the 2nd Marching Regiment of the 1st Foreign Regiment () with the 2nd Marching Regiment of the 2nd Foreign Regiment () on November 11, 1915. 4th Marching Tirailleurs Regiment, hailing from the French 38th Infantry Division. 2nd Moroccan Brigade – (1914–1918) 7th Algerian Tirailleurs Regiment/Marching Tirailleurs Regiment, formed by merger of the Tirailluers Marching Regiments of Morocco. 8th Zouave Regiment/ Marching Zouave Regiment, by name change designation of 8th Marching Zouave Regiment.
July–November 1918 1st Moroccan Brigade (1918) Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion, R.M.L.E () Russian Legion Battalion () / Honorary Russian Legion (), from the beginning of 1918 to November 1918. 12th Malagasy Tirailleurs Battalion 2nd Moroccan Brigade (1918) 7th Algerian Tirailleurs Regiment/Marching Tirailleurs Regiment 8th Zouave Regiment/ Marching Zouave Regiment
Engagements Mobilized in Morocco:
1914 August 6–18: Constitution, then embarked, transported and disembarked at Bordeaux and Sète. August 18–23: transported by V.F west of Charleville-Mézières in the department of Ardennes. August 23 – 6 September: movement by Mézières towards the north-east, then unfolded by Mézières and Witry-lès-Reims, towards the region of Fère-Champenoise. August 28: combat of Dommery and Battle of la Fosse-à-l'Eau (Meuse Battle). August 30: combat at Bertoncourt. September 1: combat of Neuflize and Alincourt. September 6–14: engaged in the first Battle of the Marne: from September 6 to 10, Battle of Marais de Saint-Gond. Combat around the castle de Mondement-Montgivroux. Since September 10, pursuit by Tours-sur-Marne and de Beaumont-sur-Vesle until Prunay and the ferme des Marquises. September 14 – April 23, 1915: combat in the region (Bataille de l'Aisne (1914)), the stabilisation and occupation of a sector towards the ferme des Marquises and the north of Sillery, extended left on October 7 until the Fort de la Pompelle (Battle of Mines). September 23–28: participation to the French attacks in direction of Berru. October 12, 13 – December 22: local attack. October 22: combat in the forest by the Zouaves. October 26, 1914 – February 8, 1915: the 2nd Brigade was transferred to the north. Engaged November 11 in the first Battle of Ypres, lifting of the bois triangulaire (north of Ypres and the Grand Dune (Nieuport-Bain)).
1915 April 23–27: retrieved from the front, starting April 25, transport by V.F to the region of Épernay, in Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise. April 27–29: movement towards the region Aubigny-en-Artois, then since April 29, occupation of a sector towards the farm de Berthonval and Targette. May 9–12: engaged in the seconde bataille de l'Artois, attack on cote 140. May 12–26: retrieved from the front. Rest towards Mont-Saint-Éloi, then Tincques. May 26 – June 24: movement towards the front and occupation of a sector towards cote 123 of the wooden forest of Carency, reduced to the left, on June 3 made way the red cabaret. June 16–22: French attacks in direction of Givenchy-en-Gohelle. June 24 – September 14: retrieved from the front and rested towards Wail. As of July 4, transported by V.F. in to the region of Montbéliard, since July 15, movement towards Giromagny; instruction and pause. September 14 – October 18: transported by V.F. into the region of Lure, in Suippes. As of September 25, engaged towards the wooden forest of Sabot in the seconde bataille de Champagne. September 25–28: attack towards Trou Bricot and the butte of Souain-Perthes-lès-Hurlus. As of September 30, movement of rocade and occupation of a sector south-east of Sainte-Marie-à-Py.