| 10th Parachute Division | |
|---|---|
| 10e Division Parachutiste | |
 10e DP Shoulder Arm Insignia | |
| Active | 1956–1961 |
| Country |  France |
| Branch | French Army |
| Type | Airborne forces |
| Size | Division |
| Anniversaries | Saint Michael, September 29 |
| Engagements | Suez Crisis Algerian War |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Jacques Massu (1956–1959) Jean Gracieux (1959–1960) Bernard Saint-Hillier (1960–1961) |
| Insignia | |
| Identification symbol |   |
| Abbreviation | 10e D.P |
The10th Parachute Division (French:10e Division Parachutiste,10e D.P) was an airborne forces division of theFrench Army. It consisted predominantly of infantry troops, and specialized in air assault and airborne operations, artillery observer, close-quarters battle, combined arms, counter-battery fire, counterinsurgency in desert warfare, maneuver warfare, military logistics, raiding with small unit tactics, and reconnaissance.
Established in 1956, it fought primarily in theSuez Crisis and theAlgerian War. It was dissolved immediately after theAlgiers putsch of 1961.
On July 1, 1956, the 10e D.P. was created with the following units:
On the 1 December 1958, the "Colonial Troops" was renamed "Troupes de marine".
Barely created, the 10e D.P. took part in theSuez Crisis inEgypt, in an operation named "Operation Musketeer". The 10e D.P was reinforced for this purpose with:
On 5 November 1956, elements of the 10e D.P. were dropped onPort Fuad andPort Said, completed the next morning by amphibious assaults on both towns. Although the battle was a military success, allied troops had to withdraw due to pressure from theUnited States.
In Algiers, theNational Liberation Front (FLN) was carrying out a wave of terrorist attacks an urban guerilla which made many casualties, mostly Muslim civilians.[1] In January 1957,Robert Lacoste, Minister Resident in Algeria, reacted by giving full powers to General Massu over the Algiers area. Massu sent the 10e D.P. to search out, arrest and question FLN members. The battle of Algiers proved to be a clear success for the French military, with most prominent FLN leaders killed or arrested and terrorist attacks effectively stopped.[2] However, the use oftorture against some FLN members led to an increasing opposition to war in France and internationally.
In 1956, the newly independentRepublic of Tunisia was helping the FLN by smuggling weapons and men through its territory. The electrified fence known as theMorice Line was built up to prevent Algerian FLN guerrillas from entering the French colony of Algeria from Tunisia. The 10e D.P. was assigned to the surveillance of a portion of the electrified border, in order to intercept rebel bands that have managed to cross it. The Morice Line had a significant impact of the reduction of guerrillas activities by forces that originated from Tunisia. However, generalMassu, the commanding officer of the 10e D.P. was relieved of his command as he criticized PresidentCharles de Gaulle's actions.
FrenchPrime MinisterMichel Debré's government started secret negotiations with the anti-colonialist FLN in order to grant independence to Algeria. French settlers and soldiers were stunned by this decision and a putsch was organized in Algiers. With the exception of the3e RPIMa, the rest of the 10e D.P. supported the coup. When the putsch failed the25e D.P. along with the 10e D.P. were dissolved. However, the1st Foreign Parachute Regiment was the only regiment disbanded.
