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4th Armored Division
4e division cuirassée
Insignia of the division
Active	10 May 1940 – 26 June 1940
Country	France
Type	Armored
Engagements	Second World War Battle of Montcornet Battle of Abbeville
Commanders
Notable commanders	Charles De Gaulle Pierre Jules de la Font

The4th Armored Division (French:4e Division cuirassée (4e DCr)) was a short-lived armoured unit of theFrench Army. Formed on 10 May 1940 on the battlefield, it comprised mainly tank battalions. It fought without interruption for forty days and was initially commanded byCharles de Gaulle.

The division was formed under ColonelDe Gaulle on 10 May 1940.

The 4DCr launched an attack on 17 May at theBattle of Montcornet, where it successfully threw back the German defenses but had to retreat on its starting positions for lack of support and air cover. It then moved south ofAbbeville to attack German bridgeheads across the Aisne river, fighting theBattle of Abbeville on 28/29 May with the aim of breaking through to the encircled Allied units trapped inDunkirk.

On 1 June, the 4e DCr was relieved by the51st (Highland) Infantry Division and regrouped atMarseille-en-Beauvaisis to attach itself to the armoured group under GeneralCharles Delestraint. On 6 June, De Gaulle was relieved of his command to rejoin his new commission as State under-secretary for War in the government. De Gaulle was replaced by Colonel Chaudesolle for one day. GeneralPierre Jules de la Font took command of the division on 7 June.

On 10 June, the armoured group was attached to the Paris Army, and on 12 June, the division was assigned to the10th Army Corps. From then on, it took part in rear-guard fights during the retreat, notably on the Loire river from 12 to 19 June, and until the cease-fire on 26 June.

The division was composed of the following units:

• 46^e bataillon de chars de combat
• 19^e bataillon de chars de combat
• 4^e bataillon de chasseurs portés
• 24^e bataillon de chars de combat
• 303^e régiment d'artillerie tractée
• 4^e groupe autonome d'artillerie
• 322^e RATTT /1^er groupe (from 17 May)
• 322^e RATTT /2^e groupe (from 17 May)
• 10^e régiment de cuirassiers - One squadron equipped with thePanhard 178 (from 18 May)
• 3^e cuirassiers /1^er groupe d'escadron - One squadron equipped withSOMUA S35 tanks (from 18 May)
• 10/80^e BDAC (from 20 May)
• 11/86^e BDAC (from 20 May)
• 47^e bataillon de chars de combat (from 21 May)
• 44^e bataillon de chars de combat (from 21 May)
• 1020^e batterie, 404^e DCA (from 23 May)
• 305^e RATTT /1^er groupe (105) (from 23 May)
• 2^e bataillon du7^e régiment de dragons portés (from 24 May)
• 3^e cuirassiers /2^e groupe d'escadron - One squadron equipped withHotchkiss H35 tanks (from 25 May)
• 665^e batterie divisionnaire antichar (from 25 May)
• 51^e batterie antichar autonome (from 25 May)
• 661^e batterie divisionnaire antichar (from 28 May)

The division was equipped with the following vehicles:

• 58Char B1bis heavy tanks
• 44Char D2 medium tanks
• 135SOMUA S35 medium tanks
• 40Hotchkiss H39 light tanks
• 48Panhard 178 armoured cars

• Lormier, Dominique (2008).Comme des lions - mai juin 1940 - Le sacrifice héroïque de l'armée française (in French). Calmann-Lévy.ISBN 978-2-7021-3445-0.
• Vauvillier, François (2007–2008).La division cuirassée en 1940 et ses perspectives. Histoire de guerre, blindés et matériels (in French).

• French World War II divisions
• Armored divisions of France
• Military units and formations established in 1940
• Military units and formations disestablished in 1940
• Charles de Gaulle in World War II

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