It remained in good order and fought until the armistice of 22 June 1940, after which it was withdrawn to North Africa where it disbanded.

The division formed on 2 September, the day after the start of the Second World War, and the troops were brought together in French Tunisia.

From 14 to 22 May the unit fought actions while withdrawing through Reims, Laon, La Fère, Coucy-la-Ville, Soissons, Villers-Cotterêts, Lévignen, Neuilly-en-Thelle, Sandricourt near Méru, Compiegne and Morsan.

[1] After the armistice the 87th African Infantry Division moved southwards via Châtillon-sur-Indre, Ardentes, Étrechet and Neuvy-Pailloux where it regrouped.

[1] The archaeologist André Berthier [fr] served in the division in the Battle of France and returned to North Africa in August 1940.