The 87th African Infantry Division (French: 87e division d'infanterie d'Afrique, 87e DIA) was a formation of the French Army in the Second World War. It was formed in French Algeria on 2 September 1939, the day after the start of the war. The division was transferred to Metropolitan France by the end of the year. The 87th African Infantry Division deployed to the Sarre front as part of the 24th Corps of the 7th Army. The 87th African Infantry Division defended the Ailette Canal during the Battle of the Ailette [fr] before withdrawing southwards. It remained in good order and fought until the armistice of 22 June 1940, after which it was withdrawn to North Africa where it disbanded.
After the armistice the 87th African Infantry Division moved southwards via Châtillon-sur-Indre, Ardentes, Étrechet and Neuvy-Pailloux where it regrouped. The division was afterwards shipped to Algiers and disbanded.[1] The archaeologist André Berthier [fr] served in the division in the Battle of France and returned to North Africa in August 1940.[6]