The Moroccan Division () or the 1st Moroccan Division of 1914, initially the Marching Division of Morocco () was an infantry division of France's Army of Africa () which participated in World War I.
During the major engagements of the Division, the composition of the latter consisted of, half of Maghrebi soldiers (Algerian and Tunisian Tirailleurs) and the other half made of "European" soldiers (Marsouins ex-Infantry Colonial Troops, Zouaves and Legionnaires), the Moroccan Division illustrated capability in the First Battle of the Marne in September and the Second Battle of Artois of May 1915 where for the first time, a French division pierced the front.
The Moroccan Division was one of the most decorated units of the French Army and all its regiments were cited at the orders of the armed forces at the end of the conflict. The Moroccan Division was the only division of all French regimental colours to be decorated with the légion d’honneur throughout the course of World War I.
The four principal units which composed formation of the Moroccan Division between 1914 and 1918 were the Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion RMLE, the 4th Marching Tirailleurs Regiment 4e RTT, the 7th Marching Tirailleurs Regiment 7e RTA and 8th Marching Zouaves Regiment 8e RZ, all awarded the French fourragere with colours of the légion d’honneur at the end of the conflict.
Creation and different nominations
On the eve of mobilisation on August 2, 1914, the troops which were at the disposition of the French Army in Morocco constituted: 1st Colonial Infantry Battalion () of Morocco at Fez 6 Mixed Colonial Infantry Regiments of Morocco composed each of 1 colonial battalion () and 2 Senegalese Tirailleurs () at Rabat, La-Chaouïa, Meknés, Fez et Marrakech. 2 Mixed Artillery Colonial Groups (one group of 3 () and the other of 4 () 6 companies of Senegalese scouts 13 battalions of Algerian Tirailleurs 9 battalions of Tunisian Tirailleurs 9 battalions of Zouaves 5 battalions of Moroccan Trailleurs 1 squadron of Senegalese Spahi
While at disposition, these part forces were made immediately available to Général Hubert Lyautey who created since mobilisation in Morocco, the Marching Division of Morocco () (future Moroccan Division, « Division Marocaine » ), with mainly 3 battalions (6th, 7th, 9th Colonial Infantry Battalions of Morocco) regrouped at Bled-el-Makhzen which formed the Colonial Infantry Marching Regiment of Morocco ( future « R.I.C.M » in 1956) of the 1st Marching Brigade of Morocco () belonging to this division.
Under orders of Général Georges Humbert, the units constituting the Marching Division of the Morocco () were regrouped at Bordeaux and positioned themselves in the region of Tournes (French Ardennes) on August 18, and that to join the Colonial Army Troop Corps () of the IVth Army () in the battle of ().
On August 20, 1914, the Marching Division of Morocco () was renamed the Moroccan Division () (another Moroccan Division « 2e Division du Maroc » was enacted on August 4, 1918) formed by principle of two Marching brigades of Morocco ().
The Colonial Infantry Marching Regiment of Morocco () was subsequently designated as 1st Colonial Infantry Marching Regiment of Morocco () with regimental commander Lieutenant-Colonel Pernot leading 3 battalions: 6th Battalion of Commandant Vincent – the 7th Battalion of Commandant Coup – and 9th Battalion of Commandant Garrely.
The regiment was attached to the 1st Marching Brigade of Morocco () of général Blondlat, along with the 1st Zouaves Regiment () of Lieutenant-Colonel Leveque leading also 3 battalions of Commandants Lagure, Randier and Burkart.
The 2nd Marching Brigade of Morocco () of Colonel Cros regrouped: 1 Regiment of Moroccan Tirailleurs constituted of 3 battalions formed based on Tirailleurs Regiments of Occidental Morocco. (1st Battalion of 5th Tirailleurs of Commandant Britsch - 4th Battalion of 7th Tirailleurs of Commandant De-Ligny - and the 5th Battalion of 4th Tirailleurs of Commandant Tisseye). 1 Mixed Regiment, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Fellert, constituted of 3 battalions formed based on Tirailleurs Regiments of Oriental Morocco. (1st Battalion of 2nd Tirailleurs of Commandant Mignerot - 4th Battalion of 2nd Tirailleurs of Commandant Sauvageot - and the 3rd Battalion of 6th Tirailleurs of Commandant Clerc), one of the battalions, also formed based on the 2nd Zouaves Regiment () (3rd Battalion of Commandant Modelon).