4th Moroccan Mountain Division
The 4th Moroccan Mountain Division was a French Army of Africa infantry division formed in Morocco in 1943 that fought in Corsica, Italy, France, Germany, and Austria during the Second World War.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
The 4th Moroccan Mountain Division, known in French as the 4e Division marocaine de montagne or 4e DMM, was a French infantry division of the Army of Africa during the Second World War. It was created in Morocco after the liberation of French North Africa, initially being formed at Marrakech in March 1943 as the 3rd Moroccan Division. On 1 June 1943, it was redesignated the 4th Moroccan Mountain Division. The formation was primarily composed of Moroccan troops, supported at different times by Algerian and French infantry elements and Moroccan Spahis. During the spring of 1943, the division moved to Algeria for preparation and mountain training in the areas around Tlemcen and Oran. Its first operational contribution came in the liberation of Corsica. On 15 September 1943, it organized the Louchet combat group, which operated alongside a French shock battalion and Moroccan Goumiers. From 22 September to 4 October 1943, these forces participated in the campaign that removed German and Italian forces from the island. The division reached Naples on 18 February 1944 and joined the French Expeditionary Corps in Italy, alongside the 2nd Moroccan Infantry Division and the 3rd Algerian Infantry Division. Its mountain-infantry capabilities were particularly valuable in the difficult terrain of the Apennines. It fought around Monte Cassino and crossed the Aurunci Mountains during the May 1944 offensive, helping open the route toward Rome. In the subsequent advance north, it captured San Gimignano on 13 July, Certaldo on 19 July, and Castelfiorentino on 22 July before regrouping near Sessa Aurunca. The Italian campaign cost the division 74 officers and 1,538 soldiers killed. The 4th DMM did not take part in the initial invasion of southern France. It landed there on 8 September 1944 and was divided between operations in the Thann valley and the Alpine front, where part of the formation relieved the 2nd Moroccan Infantry Division against German mountain troops. By late November, it had moved to Mulhouse and fought in the liberation of the city. During the winter of 1945, it took part in the reduction of the Colmar Pocket, advancing along the Thann-Cernay-Soultz-Rouffach axis from 20 January to 5 February. After Alsace was secured, the division defended the Rhine between Basel and Sélestat. Following a period of rest, the division moved toward Strasbourg and crossed the Rhine on 16 April 1945. It advanced along the eastern edge of the Black Forest, passing through Freudenstadt, Schwenningen, and Donaueschingen, and reached Lake Constance. It entered Austria on 2 May 1945 and ended the war in Vorarlberg. From the landing in Provence onward, its reported losses were 28 officers and 565 soldiers. After several months of occupation duty in Austria, the division returned to France and was dissolved in the Lyon region on 15 January 1946. It was therefore a wartime military formation rather than a commercial brand, and it has no known website, listed status, commercial owner, or current operating activity.
History
The 4th Moroccan Mountain Division was established within the French Army of Africa during the reorganization of Allied French forces following the liberation of French North Africa. Formed at Marrakech in March 1943 under the earlier designation 3rd Moroccan Division, it was renamed the 4th Moroccan Mountain Division on 1 June. Its personnel structure reflected the French colonial military system, with Moroccan Tirailleur regiments, Moroccan Spahis, and later Algerian and French infantry elements serving within the formation. The division spent the spring of 1943 in Algeria, training in mountainous terrain near Tlemcen and Oran. Its first combat contribution was made through the Louchet group, a divisional combat group organized on 15 September 1943. Working with a French shock battalion and Moroccan Goumiers, the group participated in the Allied and French reconquest of Corsica between 22 September and 4 October. On 18 February 1944, the main division landed at Naples and joined General Alphonse Juin's French Expeditionary Corps in the Italian campaign. It operated with the 2nd Moroccan Infantry Division and 3rd Algerian Infantry Division in the challenging Apennine environment. The formation was involved in the fighting around Monte Cassino and crossed the Aurunci Mountains during the May offensive, helping create the route toward Rome. It then pursued retreating German forces northward, capturing San Gimignano on 13 July, Certaldo on 19 July, and Castelfiorentino on 22 July. It subsequently regrouped near Sessa Aurunca. The Italian campaign caused severe losses, including 74 officers and 1,538 soldiers killed. The division did not participate in the initial Allied landings in southern France, but came ashore there on 8 September 1944. Its elements were divided between the Thann valley and the Alpine sector, where part of the formation relieved the 2nd Moroccan Infantry Division while facing German mountain troops. By the end of November, the division had reached Mulhouse and was engaged in hard fighting for the city's liberation. In January and early February 1945, it took part in the reduction of the Colmar Pocket, advancing from the Thann-Cernay-Soultz-Rouffach axis. After the liberation of Alsace, it was assigned to defend the Rhine between Basel and Sélestat. After a period of rest, the formation moved toward Strasbourg and crossed the Rhine on 16 April 1945. Its orders were to bypass the Black Forest along its eastern edge and advance rapidly toward the northern Swiss frontier. It passed through Freudenstadt, Schwenningen, and Donaueschingen, overcame remaining German resistance, and reached Lake Constance. On 2 May it entered Austria, ending the war in Vorarlberg. From the southern French landing onward, its losses were recorded as 28 officers and 565 soldiers. Following several months of occupation service in Austria, the division returned to France and was dissolved in the Lyon region on 15 January 1946. The documented wartime structure included the 1st Regiment of Moroccan Tirailleurs, the 2nd Regiment of Moroccan Tirailleurs, the 6th Regiment of Moroccan Tirailleurs, the 4th Moroccan Spahis Regiment, and changes involving the 1st Regiment of Algerian Tirailleurs and the 27th Infantry Regiment. The division was commanded successively by Generals Henry Martin, François Sevez, André Navereau, and René de Hesdin.
- 1946
Dissolution
[1]The division was dissolved in the Lyon region on 15 January after returning from occupation service in Austria.
- 1945
Colmar Pocket operations
[1]The division participated in the reduction of the Colmar Pocket from 20 January to 5 February.
- 1945
Rhine crossing and entry into Austria
[1]It crossed the Rhine on 16 April, entered Austria on 2 May, and ended the war in Vorarlberg.
- 1944
Arrival in Italy
[1]The division landed at Naples on 18 February and entered the Italian campaign with the French Expeditionary Corps.
- 1944
Tuscany advance
[1]The division captured San Gimignano, Certaldo, and Castelfiorentino during its northward advance.
- 1944
Deployment to southern France
[1]The division landed in southern France on 8 September and subsequently fought in the Alps and Alsace.
- 1943
Formation at Marrakech
[1]The formation was created in March at Marrakech as the 3rd Moroccan Division.
- 1943
Redesignation as 4th Moroccan Mountain Division
[1]The division adopted its definitive wartime designation on 1 June.
- 1943
Corsican operations
[1]The Louchet group participated in the liberation of Corsica from 22 September to 4 October.
Products and positioning
A wartime French mountain-infantry formation designed for operations in difficult Mediterranean, Alpine, Apennine, and Central European terrain.
subordinate infantry regiment
1st Regiment of Moroccan Tirailleurs
A Moroccan Tirailleur regiment listed among the division's principal constituent formations during its wartime existence.
subordinate infantry regiment
2nd Regiment of Moroccan Tirailleurs
A Moroccan Tirailleur regiment that formed part of the division's original structure and was later replaced by the 1st Regiment of Algerian Tirailleurs in August 1944.
subordinate infantry regiment
6th Regiment of Moroccan Tirailleurs
A Moroccan Tirailleur regiment included in the division's documented order of battle.
subordinate cavalry regiment
4th Moroccan Spahis Regiment
The Moroccan Spahis regiment identified as part of the division's wartime composition.
subordinate infantry regiment · 1945
27th Infantry Regiment
An infantry regiment that replaced the 1st Regiment of Algerian Tirailleurs in February 1945.
Marketing campaigns
- 1945Advance into Germany and Austria
Germany · Austria
The division crossed the Rhine, advanced along the eastern edge of the Black Forest, reached Lake Constance, and entered Austria.
Outcome. It ended the war in Vorarlberg and subsequently performed occupation duty in Austria.
- 1944Italian campaign
Italy
The division fought with the French Expeditionary Corps around Monte Cassino, across the Aurunci Mountains, and during the advance toward and through Tuscany.
Outcome. It helped open the route toward Rome and captured several Tuscan towns before regrouping near Sessa Aurunca.
- 1944Liberation of France
Southern France · Alsace · French Alps
After landing in southern France on 8 September, the division operated in the Thann valley, the Alps, Mulhouse, and the Colmar region.
Outcome. The division participated in the liberation of Mulhouse and Alsace and was later assigned Rhine-defense duties.
- 1943Liberation of Corsica
Corsica
The Louchet combat group operated with a French shock battalion and Moroccan Goumiers during the campaign to retake Corsica from 22 September to 4 October 1943.
Outcome. The campaign contributed to the reconquest of Corsica.
Recent events
- 1946
Dissolution after occupation service[1]
Other
After several months of occupation duty in Austria, the formation returned to France and was dissolved in the Lyon region on 15 January 1946.
- 1945
Reduction of the Colmar Pocket[1]
Other
From 20 January to 5 February 1945, the division advanced on the Thann-Cernay-Soultz-Rouffach axis during the reduction of the Colmar Pocket.
- 1945
Rhine crossing and advance into Germany[1]
Other
The division crossed the Rhine on 16 April 1945 and advanced along the eastern edge of the Black Forest toward Lake Constance.
- 1945
Entry into Austria[1]
Other
The division entered Austria on 2 May 1945 and ended the war in Vorarlberg.
- 1944
Deployment to the Italian campaign[1]
Other
The division landed at Naples on 18 February 1944 and joined the French Expeditionary Corps for operations in Italy.
- 1944
Advance through the Apennines and Tuscany[1]
Other
The division fought around Monte Cassino and the Aurunci Mountains before advancing through Tuscany and capturing San Gimignano, Certaldo, and Castelfiorentino.
- 1944
Landing in southern France and operations in Alsace[1]
Other
After landing in southern France on 8 September, the division fought in the Thann valley, the Alps, Mulhouse, and the wider Alsace campaign.
- 1943
Formation as the 3rd Moroccan Division[1]
Other
The division was formed at Marrakech in March 1943 as the 3rd Moroccan Division after the liberation of French North Africa.
- 1943
Redesignation as the 4th Moroccan Mountain Division[1]
Other
On 1 June 1943, the formation received the designation 4th Moroccan Mountain Division.
- 1943
Participation in the liberation of Corsica[1]
Other
The Louchet combat group, formed from divisional personnel, took part in operations in Corsica from 22 September to 4 October 1943.
Sources1 sources
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