Originally established as the 180th Reconnaissance Group of the Infantry Division on December 1, 1939, at
Sousse,
Tunisia as part of the French military mobilization at the beginning of
World War II. Formed from elements of the
1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment and the
2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment in addition to elements drawn from the 4th Cavalry Depot of Africa (''4e Dépôt de Cavalerie d'Afrique''). The 180th GRDI was a part of the
180th North African Infantry Division under the command of General Rochas. On January 2, 1940, the 97th GRDI was transferred to
Pont-du-Fahs in northern Tunisia and the unit was again transferred on February 3, 1940, to
Bizerte also in northern Tunisia. On February 3,
Lieutenant Colonel Paul Lacombe de La Tour was placed in command of the 97th Reconnaissance Group. On March 21, 1940, the 97th GRDI arrived at
Marseille and by March 24 the unit was transferred to
Carcassonne where it was attached to the
16th Cavalry Division. The 97th GRDI was sent to
Camp Valdahon in
Doubs on April 23, 1940, but its stay there was interrupted by the German offensive. On May 17, the 97th Reconnaissance Group moved towards
Montdidier by rail and quickly thereafter found itself fighting a
rear guard delaying action from May 19 to May 25. From June 5 to the 10th, the 97th Reconnaissance Group was engaged in combat as part of the French effort to defend their positions along the rivers
Somme and
Avre. On June 9,
Lieutenant Colonel Paul Lacombe de La Tour was killed in action in the fighting around the
woods around Noroy as the 97th GRDI, serving as a rear guard, attacked German panzer forces in an attempt to cover the 7th Division's retreat across the river
Oise. In the assault, the 97th lost half of its fighting vehicles within minutes. The 97th then regrouped and charged again, suffering heavy casualties and losing the remainder of its vehicles to German fire. After de la Tour's death, command of the unit was assumed by
Captain de Guiraud, which he held until the French surrender. From June 11, 1940, to June 22, the 97th GRDI, now fighting largely as infantry, participated in continual delaying actions as part of the
7th North African Infantry Division along a path of retreat running from
Luzarches to
Saint-Jory-de-Chalais. On June 13, the 97th GRDI with the assistance of Moroccan
tirailleurs, was able to prevent German forces from crossing the river
Seine. On June 22, 1940, the
Second Armistice at Compiègne was signed leading to a cessation of hostilities for the French. On September 7 the 97th Reconnaissance Group was repatriated back to Tunisia and by the months end the unit as a whole was disbanded. By the time of its disbandment, only 256 of the original 650 men were alive, the rest having been killed or captured. == See also ==