At the beginning of the First World War, it was mobilised in the 5th Military Region and formed part of the 5th Army Corps from August 1914 to November 1918.

On 10 May 1940 the 10th DI, under the orders of General Sisteron, was attached to the reserve of the French General Headquarters, then on 16 May to the 23rd Army Corps and on 16 June 1940 to the 2nd Army, with which it capitulated on 25 June and was subsequently disbanded.

After the Normandy landings, the division was reconstituted, mainly of troops of Parisian FFI/Francs-Tireurs and Partisans (French Communists) origin, on 1 October 1944, in the Nevers region under the command of General Pierre Billotte.

The division took part in the final liberation of the Colmar Pocket (2 January - 9 February 1945), taking 32 casualties.

In Germany, it was assigned responsibility for the region of Koblenz as part of the French occupation zone.