2nd Armored Division (France)

2nd Armored Division
2e Division Blindée
Original badge of the 2nd Armored Division. The divisional badge features the Cross of Lorraine
Active	24 August 1943 – 31 March 1946 1977–1999
Country	France
Branch	French Army, ex-Free French
Type	Armored division, later 2nd Armored Brigade
Engagements	Invasion of Normandy Liberation of Paris Battle of Dompaire Liberation of Strasbourg Colmar Pocket Royan Western Allied invasion of Germany
Commanders
Notable commanders	Philippe Leclerc

The French 2nd Armored Division (French: 2e Division Blindée, 2e DB), commanded by General Philippe Leclerc, fought during the final phases of World War II in the Western Front for the liberation of France. The division was formed around a core of units that had fought in the North African campaign, and re-organized into a light armored division in 1943. The division embarked in April 1944 and shipped to various ports in Britain. On 29 July 1944, bound for France, the division embarked at Southampton. During combat in 1944, the division liberated Paris, defeated a Panzer brigade during the armored clashes in Lorraine, forced the Saverne Gap and liberated Strasbourg. After taking part in the Battle of the Colmar Pocket, the division was moved west and assaulted the German-held Atlantic port of Royan, before recrossing France in April 1945 and participating in the final fighting in southern Germany, even going first into Hitler's "Eagle's Nest" (Americans captured the town below). Deactivated after the war, the 2nd Division was again activated in the 1970s and served through 1999, when it was downsized to the now 2nd Armored Brigade.