618:
31:
759:
58:
330:
484:
585:
of the
Belgian Army in late 1939 this division comprised 35,000 men, and a second division of three more regiments was created. The 1st Division was commanded at the outbreak of war by General Victor Descamps; the 2nd Division by General François Ley.
1125:
999:
269:. Considered a high-value élite unit, it was formed largely of volunteers from the region and was allocated more modern equipment than other units of the Belgian Army. After Belgium's return to neutrality in 1936, the role of the
288:
proved more successful in combat than many other units and fought a number of successful small-scale actions against the German Army before the capitulation of the
Belgian Army. After the war, the military traditions of the
400:, for diluting the strength of the Belgian Army across the entire length of the country's eastern frontier and therefore making it impossible to concentrating the army's strength effectively in any one place.
1359:
893:
have, since their inception, worn a distinctive light green Basque-style beret. This is larger than the berets subsequently adopted by other units of the
Belgian Land Component in the post-war period. The
738:(24–28 May 1940) before the ultimate capitulation of the Belgian Army on 28 May 1940. The success of their resistance at Deinze and Vinkt provoked reprisal attacks against local civilians by the German
1339:
661:) to aide the main ground offensive. As a result of this, lines of communications between the Belgian command with the local headquarters at Neufchâteau were disrupted and a number of
790:
had been recruited into the 1st
Battalion of the newly founded 4th "Steenstraete" Infantry Brigade which returned to Belgium in November 1945 and was later deployed as part of the
1151:
1256:
557:
were briefly threatened with disbandment. Their new role in the event of a German invasion was to launch delaying actions whilst withdrawing to the other side of the
348:
along the south-eastern border with
Germany and Luxembourg created as part of the policy for the "integral defense of the territory" before its abandonment in 1936.
810:, assuming the traditions of the earlier 1st Regiment. The green beret was reinstated in February 1947. Five further battalions were later also re-established.
384:
with France. Similar ideas about the importance of frontier defence had circulated for several decades previously. The idea was partly inspired by the France's
750:
were "about the last to have maintained their cohesion and "fighting spirit" and performed significantly better than other
Belgian infantry units in combat.
445:
on 10 March 1933. The new unit would be composed largely of volunteers rather than conscripts. Although the idea of a distinctive uniform was rejected, the
1344:
702:
As the
Belgian Army withdrew across the Meuse river on 10-11 May 1940, it proved impossible to establish a viable defensive position. The 1st
645:
began in the early morning on 10 May 1940. Attacking with the benefit of surprise, the initial phase of the attack included the deployment of
1185:
665:
units posted at the frontier did not receive the order to withdraw. An individual company of the 1st ChA resisted the main attacks from the
1310:
1287:
505:
underwent a significant period of organisational change and expansion. The original regiment was replaced by three separate battalions of
739:
525:) as well as supporting artillery formations. These latter units were absorbed into the new Artillery Group of the Chasseurs Ardennais (
1245:
642:
281:
228:
685:
666:
420:
256:
598:
495:
617:
573:-status between March and July 1937. The artillery group, in turn, was expanded and became the Regiment of Artillery of the
361:
266:
1334:
1306:
1283:
381:
795:
357:
262:
1354:
1349:
1029:
529:) in September 1934. The three mixed groups and the artillery group were, in turn, merged into a single "Corps of
791:
782:
in 1944, the
Belgian Army was gradually reformed and a number of newly-recruited units were sent for training in
594:
294:
735:
236:
93:
457:. At the time, they were the only unit in the Belgian Army to wear a beret. At the same time, a series of 375
606:
929:
684:
throughout much of the first day of the invasion. Another company from the 3rd ChA similarly resisted the
518:
442:
353:
30:
779:
565:
remained largely unchanged and continued to expand. The "mixed groups" were renamed "regiments" and the
477:
415:
251:
220:
758:
376:
to protect the frontier in the region as part of his plan for the "integral defence of the territory" (
404:
767:
550:
658:
798:. As part of the reorganisation of Belgian unit traditions, this battalion became the Battalion of
602:
570:
274:
232:
216:
466:
334:
458:
646:
329:
1302:
1279:
689:
1241:
1224:
1207:
1181:
834:
634:
103:
670:
976:
915:
783:
386:
365:
841:, the regiment was reduced to battalion-strength in 2011. It consisted of 415 men in 2015.
707:
593:
received an unusually large portion in receiving modern equipment. These included the new
409:
714:
suffering several hundred casualties. The two divisions were ordered to withdraw to the
706:
Division regrouped north of Namur and suffered heavy losses to German aerial attacks at
509:
in August 1934 which were intended to form part of three "mixed groups" based at Arlon,
1257:"La défense de la Belgique à la frontière. L'avis d'une population directement menacée"
972:
826:
743:
491:
397:
369:
247:
471:
368:, Liberal Minister of Defence from 1932 to 1936, demanded the creation of a new élite
339:
1328:
822:
818:
352:
Belgian military planners had long been aware of the particular vulnerability of the
356:
in the south-east which was situated in a relatively undefended region south of the
830:
582:
483:
450:
373:
309:
212:
170:
166:
73:
273:
shifted and the formation expanded significantly. It eventually consisted of two
626:
558:
715:
654:
1228:
203:, or more figuratively, 'Ardennes Light Infantry', officially abbreviated as
1211:
899:
895:
553:, the idea of frontier defence was abandoned as militarily impractical. The
313:
36:
694:
297:
and subsequently participated in a range of international peacekeeping and
549:
After the end of
Belgium's alliance with France in 1936 and its return to
1178:
Belgium's
Dilemma: The Formation of the Belgian Defense Policy, 1932-1940
1037:
951:
878:
838:
771:
711:
514:
510:
224:
208:
83:
396:. Devèze's policy was criticised by some at the time, including General
1129:
786:
in the final months of the conflict. A number of former members of the
675:
63:
1221:
1940 La Guerre du Sanglier: de côteaux frontaliers aux rives de la Lys
727:
723:
517:, where they would be supported by recently formed and highly mobile
392:
757:
731:
681:
650:
630:
616:
566:
538:
482:
430:
345:
328:
298:
219:. Originally formed in 1933 to ensure the defense of Belgium's
621:
Monument commemorating the resistance by the 5th Regiment of
301:
missions. It was reduced to its current strength in 2011.
1360:
Military units and formations of Belgium in World War II
494:, wearing the units' distinctive green berets, carrying
1105:
1103:
1101:
1099:
1097:
1095:
1070:
1068:
1066:
293:
were revived in 1946. The formation formed part of the
806:) in March 1946 and subsequently the 1st Battalion of
837:. As part of the cuts to defense spending after the
476:. As a replacement for the 10th Line Regiment, the
162:
152:
139:
109:
99:
89:
79:
69:
51:
43:
20:
1340:Military units and formations established in 1933
849:The unit's flag carries the following citations:
1000:"Les Chasseurs ardennais résistent et mordent!"
261:to defend the largely rural region south of the
1261:Belgisch Tijdschrift voor Nieuwste Geschiedenis
1126:"Les Chasseurs ardennais résistent et mordent!"
227:and particularly noted for its role during the
1204:Le bataillon de Chasseurs Ardennais, 1946-1949
910:The Chasseurs Ardennais Battalion comprises:
461:were built along the Belgian frontier for the
1152:"Les Chasseurs ardennais fêtent saint Hubert"
746:. As the historian Alain Colignon notes, the
579:Régiment d'Artillerie des Chasseurs ardennais
8:
537:) in November 1934 based in Arlon and later
956:
545:Belgian neutrality and expansion, 1936–1940
527:Groupe d’Artillerie des Chasseurs ardennais
333:A modern view of a concrete shelter in the
188:
119:
1223:. Braine-l'Alleud: Éditions J.-M. Collet.
277:complete with artillery and mobile units.
1120:
1118:
902:which are found in the Ardennes region.
403:On the initiative of Devèze and General
1109:
1086:
1074:
1057:
1023:
1021:
1019:
1017:
1015:
1013:
1011:
1009:
991:
942:
1290:from the original on 26 September 2007
1238:Sur les traces des Chasseurs ardennais
1154:(in French). L'Avenir. 29 October 2011
17:
722:units successfully held the front at
325:Creation and early history, 1933–1936
7:
223:including the natural region of the
1313:from the original on 15 August 2007
581:) in September 1938. Following the
465:to defend as part of the so-called
35:Cap badge depicting the head of a
14:
1303:"Régiment de Chasseurs Ardennais"
1280:"Régiment de Chasseurs Ardennais"
971:) has been widely used to denote
881:is the patron saint of the unit.
804:Bataillon des Chasseurs Ardennais
231:, the unit currently serves as a
1202:Arntz, H.; Bertrand, O.E. (nd).
762:A detachment of the Regiment of
601:. By 1938, each regiment had 16
308:has adopted a distinctive green
235:formation and forms part of the
184:Bataillon de Chasseurs Ardennais
56:
29:
439:Régiment de Chasseurs ardennais
378:défense intégrale du territoire
250:unit in 1933 from the existing
1345:1933 establishments in Belgium
157:Marche des Chasseurs ardennais
1:
1176:Epstein, Jonathan A. (2014).
754:Postwar history, 1945–present
669:with considerable success at
535:Corps des Chasseurs ardennais
198:Battalion of Ardennes Hunters
796:Allied occupation of Germany
449:adopted a distinctive green
433:was renamed the Regiment of
263:Fortified Positions of Namur
817:units were deployed to the
480:was created in June 1934.
362:Fortified Position of Liège
358:Fortified Position of Namur
1376:
829:. It also participated in
792:Belgian Army of Occupation
770:parade on 21 July 1989 in
643:German invasion of Belgium
523:Unités cyclistes frontière
501:After its foundation, the
282:German invasion of Belgium
1219:Champion, Lucien (1990).
599:FN Model 1930 machine gun
441:, abbreviated to ChA) by
382:ongoing military alliance
312:and insignia depicting a
304:After its inception, the
295:Belgian Forces in Germany
28:
1240:. Neufchâteau: Weyrich.
589:From its inception, the
380:) in the context of the
1236:Wenkin, Hugues (2021).
766:mustering ahead of the
740:225th Infantry Division
625:at the bridge over the
519:Frontier Cyclists Units
246:were first formed as a
229:German invasion of 1940
1255:Wegnez, A.-M. (1972).
898:depicts the head of a
794:to participate in the
775:
638:
613:Second World War, 1940
498:
496:Hotchkiss machine guns
354:Province of Luxembourg
349:
1030:"Chasseurs ardennais"
813:In subsequent years,
780:Liberation of Belgium
761:
620:
486:
332:
1335:Regiments of Belgium
885:Uniform and insignia
768:Belgian National Day
637:) on 10-12 May 1940
603:T-13 tank destroyers
453:in the style of the
427:10 Régiment de Ligne
217:Belgian Armed Forces
1002:. 23 December 2015.
891:Chasseurs ardennais
815:Chasseurs ardennais
808:Chasseurs ardennais
800:Chasseurs Ardennais
788:Chasseurs ardennais
764:Chasseurs Ardennais
748:Chasseurs ardennais
734:during the ensuing
720:Chasseurs ardennais
704:Chasseurs Ardennais
686:7th Panzer Division
667:1st Panzer Division
663:Chasseurs ardennais
623:Chasseurs ardennais
591:Chasseurs ardennais
575:Chasseurs Ardennais
563:Chasseurs ardennais
555:Chasseurs ardennais
531:Chasseurs ardennais
507:Chasseurs ardennais
503:Chasseurs ardennais
488:Chasseurs ardennais
463:Chasseurs ardennais
435:Chasseurs ardennais
306:Chasseurs ardennais
291:Chasseurs ardennais
286:Chasseurs ardennais
280:At the time of the
271:Chasseurs ardennais
244:Chasseurs ardennais
233:mechanized infantry
221:Luxembourg Province
23:Chasseurs Ardennais
1132:. 23 December 2015
833:operations in the
776:
639:
499:
478:14th Line Regiment
451:Basque-style beret
416:10th Line Regiment
350:
310:basque-style beret
252:10th Line Regiment
1355:Boars in heraldry
1350:Marche-en-Famenne
1187:978-90-04-25467-1
1180:. Leiden: Brill.
1028:Colignon, Alain.
835:former Yugoslavia
736:Battle of the Lys
635:Province of Namur
595:Mauser Model 1935
561:. Otherwise, the
284:in May 1940, the
237:Motorized Brigade
211:formation in the
176:
175:
135:
114:Résiste et Mords!
104:Marche-en-Famenne
94:Motorized Brigade
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1004:
1003:
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980:
977:mounted infantry
970:
967:
964:
961:
958:
949:The French term
947:
784:Northern Ireland
716:Leie (Lys) river
698:
679:
607:T-15 light tanks
490:pictured in the
475:
455:Chasseurs alpins
424:
413:
405:Albert Hellebaut
387:Chasseurs alpins
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129:Resist and bite!
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1196:Further reading
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825:at the time of
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657:in Luxembourg (
647:parachute units
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418:
414:, the existing
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1273:External links
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1315:. Retrieved
1292:. Retrieved
1282:(in Dutch).
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1260:
1237:
1220:
1203:
1177:
1170:Bibliography
1158:25 September
1156:. Retrieved
1146:
1136:25 September
1134:. Retrieved
1110:Epstein 2014
1087:Epstein 2014
1082:
1075:Epstein 2014
1058:Epstein 2014
1053:
1043:25 September
1041:. Retrieved
1034:Belgium-WWII
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906:Organisation
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831:peacekeeping
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569:upgraded to
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467:Ligne Devèze
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390:and Italy's
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374:Belgian Army
372:unit in the
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167:World War II
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90:Part of
22:
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979:formations.
926:3rd company
923:2nd company
920:1st company
693: [
682:Sauer river
674: [
627:Meuse river
559:Meuse river
470: [
429:) based at
419: [
408: [
398:Émile Galet
338: [
255: [
163:Engagements
100:Garrison/HQ
1329:Categories
1317:2007-09-03
1294:2007-09-03
937:References
778:After the
605:and three
597:rifle and
551:neutrality
1229:165407420
987:Citations
900:wild boar
896:cap badge
865:Kortemark
690:Chabrehez
459:pillboxes
447:Chasseurs
314:wild boar
37:wild boar
1311:Archived
1288:Archived
1212:71728654
1038:Cegesoma
952:chasseur
868:Ardennes
856:Termonde
839:Cold War
772:Brussels
712:Temploux
708:Belgrade
571:division
515:Bastogne
511:Vielsalm
360:and the
265:and the
225:Ardennes
209:infantry
207:) is an
110:Motto(s)
84:Infantry
1130:Le Soir
960:
932:company
930:service
742:in the
680:on the
671:Bodange
655:Léglise
320:History
215:of the
192:
123:
64:Belgium
52:Country
1244:
1227:
1210:
1206:. np.
1184:
966:hunter
728:Deinze
724:Gottem
513:, and
393:Alpini
147:
144:
140:Colors
70:Branch
61:
44:Active
973:light
916:staff
874:Vinkt
853:Namur
732:Vinkt
697:]
678:]
651:Nives
631:Yvoir
567:corps
539:Namur
474:]
431:Arlon
423:]
412:]
346:Arlon
344:near
342:]
267:Liège
259:]
153:March
1267:(4).
1242:ISBN
1225:OCLC
1208:OCLC
1182:ISBN
1160:2022
1138:2022
1045:2022
957:lit.
889:The
862:Esen
859:Yser
821:and
730:and
710:and
653:and
641:The
299:NATO
242:The
189:lit.
181:The
120:lit.
80:Type
975:or
914:HQ
699:.
688:at
649:at
629:at
541:.
533:" (
239:.
205:ChA
1331::
1309:.
1286:.
1263:.
1259:.
1128:.
1117:^
1094:^
1065:^
1032:.
1008:^
726:,
695:fr
676:fr
609:.
472:fr
421:fr
410:fr
364:.
340:fr
316:.
257:fr
1320:.
1297:.
1265:3
1250:.
1231:.
1214:.
1190:.
1162:.
1140:.
1047:.
969:'
963:'
955:(
802:(
774:.
633:(
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521:(
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425:(
201:'
195:'
187:(
134:)
132:'
126:'
118:(
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