Our next "First" is the 1 DLC (1re Division Legere de Cavalrie). Its origin was similar to that of many armies of the time. The cavalry was influential, prestigious, and deeply resented being converted en masse into a bunch of dirty mechanics. Therefore the French War Ministry, while insisting that some units be converted to tanks (hence the DLM), graciously allowed many cavalry regiments to keep their beloved steeds and pretty uniforms. As a result there were in September 1939 three strong cavalry divisions (they are 6-8 divisions in FoF), as well as separate brigades. Two of these are the 2-8 Spahi Brigades (Spahi was the name for North African "native" cavalry).

As an example, the 1 DC (1re Division de Cavalrie) had, when it mobilized at Orleans, four cavalry regiments in two brigades, the 1st Hussars and 8th Chasseurs in one, the 1st Chasseurs and 19th Dragoons in the other. It also contained a large MG battalion, a motorized infantry battalion, and a strong AT detachment. The artillery was mainly horsedrawn, yet the division also contained its own detachment of observation aircraft. (So, by the way, did the DLMs - the French Army at its best was very advanced.) All in all, more than just cavalry, hence the 6-8 rating of the 1 DC.

After the Polish Campaign the most blinkered cavalry off icer had to recognize that cavalry, even the 1st Hussars, had little chance against Panzers, so some changes were made. In effect these increased the motorized infantry element in the division at the expense of the horsed cavalry. The result was the DLC (Division Legere de Cavalrie).

Our example, the 1st DLC, was converted in March 1940. It retained two cavalry units, the 1st Chasseurs; and 19th Dragoons, but the motorized infantry was expanded from a battalion to a full regiment, the 5th Dragoons. At the same time its 75mm artillery converted from horsedrawn to tracked vehicles. It now shows as a 5-8 cavalry XX.

The Spahis, by the way, were left mounted; presumably the French thought they could not handle vehicles. The 1 DLC did not have a very "good" war. Used as a screen for the 9th Army it was quickly pushed back (like similarly equipped Belgian units in the Ardennes) by the Panzer corps, while its horsed units suffered heavily from air attacks. The combination of a horsed brigade with a motorized brigade simply did not work. At least in FoF French players have the option of breaking 1 DLC down into a 2-8 Cavalry (useless), and a 2-10 Motorized (a nice unit). After 1940 the Germans, being no fools were quite happy to let Vichy France maintain cavalry units!

These "First" Divisions have no equivalent in the German Army. Naturally, since they are "Empire" troops and Germany was stripped of all of its overseas possessions in 1919.

First Divisions 1940 France

Introduction
1 DIM (1re Division d'Infanterie Motorisee)
1 DLM (1re Division Legere Mecanique)
1 DLC (1re Division Legere de Cavalrie)
1st Divisions: Tirailleurs
1 DIC (1re Division D'Infanterie Coloniale)
1 DCR (1re Division Cuirassee)