Cavalry Corps (France)

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Corps de Cavalerie
Active	27 August 1939 - 11 July 1940
Country	France
Type	Army Corps
Role	Mechanized warfare
Motto(s)	Premier et dernier au feu (First and last under fire)
Engagements	World War II - Battle of Hannut - Battle of Gembloux
Commanders
Notable commanders	René Prioux

The Cavalry Corps (French: Corps de Cavalerie) was a French mechanized army corps established in 1939 and inactivated in 1940 after the defeat of France by Germany. Commanded by General René Prioux, the Cavalry Corps advanced into Belgium in May 1940 and imposed significant delay on the advance of the German XVI (motorized) Corps. Cut off by German forces from the bulk of the French Army, the corps was evacuated to England and then shipped back to France in late May and early June 1940. Further combat resulted in significant losses of armored vehicles and a steady deterioration of the corps' combat power. The Cavalry Corps ceased fighting as the Second Armistice at Compiègne took effect, and the corps was demobilized on July 11, 1940.