[citation needed] Created on May 1, 1943, in Constantine, Algeria and placed under orders of General Goislard de Monsabert, the 3e DIA disembarked in Italy in December 1943.

As part of the French Expeditionary Corps, commanded by the future Marshal Juin, the 3e DIA captured Monte du Belvédère on January 25.

While attracting the German forces attention, the division contributed to the success of the landing at Anzio, and for the American advance on the heights of Cassino.

In May 1944, the division made way to Monte-Cassino where Allied forces had already been engaged for several months and participated in breaking through the Gustav line by advancing into the mountains from the Garigliano River.

The division, then progressed towards Cornimont, turning back on October 15 at Tête des Cerfs, at the Piquante Pierre, at Rondfaing, at Chapechatte, all German counter-attacks.

In December 1944, the division mounted the first assaults on Colmar, clearing the Col du Bonhomme, capturing Orbey and the highlands of Worhof which remained the capital of the Haut-Rhin, accordingly preparing the departure base, from which the French military liberated Alsace.

[5] During World War II, the total losses (« Morts pour la France ») suffered by the 3e DIA between November 1942 and May 1945 were 3,078 men (2097 Marghrebis and 981 Europeans), almost 20% of the division.

These do not include the 123 Frenchmen killed belonging to the FFI of the Franc Corps Pommiès/49th Infantry Regiment attached temporarily to the division between the end of November 1944 and May 1945: