// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did the 8th Army say? "We're in eighth place, but we're army-ing on.
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| Eighth Army | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1914–1915, 1917–1919, 1939–1940 |
| Country | France |
| Branch | French Army |
| Size | Army |
| Part of | Army Group 3 (1940) |
| Engagements | First World War Occupation of the Rhineland Second World War |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Marcel Garchery (1939–1940) |
| Notable commanders | Victor d'Urbal Marcel Garchery |
The Eighth Army (French: VIIIe Armée) was a Field army of the French Army during World War I and World War II.
During World War I, there were two 8th armies. The first was in existence under the command of General Victor d'Urbal until April 1915 when 9th Army Corps and 20th Army Corps were joined to 10th Army, which d'Urbal assumed command of for the Second Battle of Artois. The remainder of 8th Army was then renamed as the Détachement d'armée de Belgique.[1]
The 8th Army was reformed from the former Détachement d'armée de Lorraine (Army Detachment of Lorraine) and operated on the Western Front between 2 January 1917 and 11 November 1918. After the armistice at the end of World War I, it was part of the occupation of the Rhineland. On 21 October 1919 it was combined with the Tenth Army to form the French Army of the Rhine.
During World War II and the Battle of France, it was part of Army Group 3 along the Maginot Line under the command of General Marcel Garchery.
Order of Battle (May 1940)
[edit]At the start of the German offensive, the Eighth Army, commanded by General Marcel Garchery, was organized as follows:
Army Assets (Organiques d'Armée)
[edit]| Army Assets & Reserve (Click "show" to expand) | |
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13th Army Corps (13e Corps d'Armée)
[edit]| 13th Army Corps (Click "show" to expand) | |
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44th Fortress Army Corps (44e Corps d'Armée de Forteresse)
[edit]| 44th Fortress Army Corps (Click "show" to expand) | |
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7th Army Corps (7e Corps d'Armée)
[edit]| 7th Army Corps (Click "show" to expand) | |
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References
[edit]- ↑ Krause, Jonathan (29 April 2016). Early Trench Tactics in the French Army: The Second Battle of Artois, May-June 1915. Routledge. pp. 58–59. ISBN 978-1-317-14668-1.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Service Historique de l'Armée de Terre (1967). Les Grandes Unités Françaises de la Guerre 1939-1945, Historiques Succincts. Vincennes: SHAT.
| High Command of the French Army (May 1940) | |
|---|---|
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Commander-in-Chief: Maurice Gamelin (until 19 May) • Maxime Weygand | |
| Army Groups | Army Group 1 (Billotte) • Army Group 2 (Prételat) • Army Group 3 (Besson) • Army of the Alps (Olry) |
| Field Armies | 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th • 7th • 8th • 9th • 10th |
| Army Group 3 – Structure by Corps (May 1940) | |
|---|---|
| Third Army | VI Corps • XXIV Corps • 42nd Fortress Corps |
| Fourth Army | IX Corps • XX Corps |
| Fifth Army | VIII Corps • XII Corps • XVII Corps • 43rd Fortress Corps |
| Eighth Army | VII Corps • 13th Corps • 44th Fortress Corps |
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Source: Les Grandes Unités Françaises (SHAT), 1967 | |