Italian campaign Formed in Morocco since May 1943, it embarked in
Bizerte in November 1943 and was the first French division which landed in Italy. It was engaged in the
Monte-Cassino in the
Apennine Mountains in the
Scapoli-Pantano sector and fought in the Battles of San Michele de Pantano (December 12 to 22, 1943), Mainarde (December 23 to 29, 1943), Costa San Pietro and Monacasale (January 12-15, 1944), and Monte-Croce (January 21, 1944). On May 11, 1944 it took a leading part in the
Battle of Garigliano by seizing Monte Majo. The Division pursued the enemy in the direction of Rome from May 23 to June 4, 1944 and marched through Rome on June 15. After this, the Division reached
Siena and the
Florence.
French & German campaign (1944-1945) The division didn't participate in the
Invasion of Southern France, but landed there at the end of August 1944, and was moved to the front in the Alps. There, it liberated
Briançon and
Modane on October 14. Under the orders of General Carpentier, it was positioned opposite the Belfort gap, pierced the German position on November 14, seized
Montbéliard and
Héricourt, and entered
Belfort on November 25. Continuing towards Alsace, it reached the valley of the
Doller on the 29th, then that of the
Thur on the 7th of December. It participated in the elimination of the
Colmar Pocket, and crossed the Rhine on March 31, 1945. It entered
Karlsruhe on April 3,
Pforzheim on April 8, and then reached the Neckar, the Danube and penetrated into Austria. == Composition ==