French World War II Armor Doctrine

French Armor on the Brink: A Doctrine in Evolution, 1940
When German panzers struck in May 1940, French tanks met them under a doctrine refined through interwar experiments—yet still divided between cavalry mobility and infantry support, racing to adapt amid shortages and debates.
This collection translates the pivotal French manuals shaping armored warfare on the eve of battle:

• The 1935 Provisional Instructions on the Employment of Motorized and Mechanized Cavalry Units, defining the dynamic roles of armored cavalry units: distant reconnaissance, breach exploitation, rapid pursuit, and bold counterattacks.
• The 1939 Tank Unit Regulations for infantry tanks, focusing on close infantry accompaniment or mass maneuvers, while reserving them as mobile reserves rather than static defenses.
• The 1938 Provisional Note on the Conditions and Terms of Employment of Large Armored Units, covers the still forming doctrine of the new Armored Divisions, envisioning these tank-heavy units as flexible cores for task-organized groups—integrated with reinforcements for breakthroughs and exploitation.

Enhanced by organizational charts, General Staff notes, Gamelin’s DCR formation letter, and Winter War-inspired tactics, these documents reveal a doctrine in flux, pushing toward maneuver while grappling with real-world limits.
Dive into the original French thinking, now in English with expert notes. Discover the ideas that drove the armored clashes of 1940—and why they mattered.