French Army order of battle (1914)

The order of the battle of the French Army in August 1914 was planned according to the mobilisation and concentration Plan XVII and applied on 2 August 1914, the day before the German Empire declared war.

The organisation changed during August with the assignment of new reserve units and the creation of new armies.

The peacetime army had, in the spring of 1914, a strength of 882,907 men, with 686,993 in metropolitan France, 62,598 in Algeria and Tunisia, 81,750 in Morocco, and 51,566 auxiliaries.

[1] The territory of the French Republic was divided into 21 military regions, 20 in metropolitan France, and one in Algeria (the 19th).

The cavalry had 378 squadrons, organised into 89 regiments (each with four squadrons): 12 cuirassier, 32 dragoon, 21 light horse (French: chasseur à cheval), 14 hussar, 6 African light horse, and 4 Spahis.

The French army began mobilising on August 2, 1914 according to Plan XVII.

Each of 21 military regions provided an army corps of two infantry divisions.

In August 1914 it was concentrated between Hirson and Dun-sur-Meus, with the mission of guarding the border with Belgium.

[4][5] Army troops 52nd Reserve Infantry Division Commander: Hyacinthe Clément Justin Coquet [6]

In August 1914, it was concentrated between Saint-Dizier and Bar-le-Duc, with the mission of being held in reserve in the Argonne Region.

24th Infantry Division Commander: Garreau de la Mèchenie [29]

The Third Army (French: 3re Armée) was commanded by General Pierre Ruffey.

In August 1914 it was concentrated between Saint-Mihiel and Verdun, with the mission of holding the Germans in their defensive positions before Metz.

[36][37] Army troops 7th Cavalry Division Commander: Victor René Boëlle [39] Corps Troops 7th Infantry Division Commander: Edgard de Trentinian [40]

In August 1914 its major role in the campaign plan was to liberate Lorraine and attack into Germany.

[53][54] Army troops 2nd Cavalry Division Commander: Antide Lescot [55]

In August 1914 it constituted the right wing of the French Army, concentrated between Remiremont and Charmes, with the mission of attacking towards Mulhouse and Sarrebourg.

[76][77] Army troops 6th Cavalry Division Commander: Georges Édouard Levillain [78]

8th Cavalry Division Commander: Louis Dominique Achille Aubier [79]

16th Infantry Division Commander: Louis Ernest de Maud'huy [85]

57th Reserve Infantry Division Commander: Bernard [111] 71st Reserve Infantry Division Commander: Joseph Kaufmant [112] 72nd Reserve Infantry Division Commander: Jules Heymann [113] 73rd Reserve Infantry Division Commander: Marie Joseph Châtelain [114] Commander: Albert d'Amade [115] The Army of the Alps was formed from units mobilised in the 14th (Lyon) and 15th (Marseille) military regions to defend the border with Italy, who was a member of the Triple Alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary.