List of battles involving France in modern history
This is a chronological list of the battles involving France in modern history.

Poilus posing with their war-torn flag in 1917, during World War I (1914–1918).
For earlier conflicts, see List of battles involving France. These lists do not include the battles of the French civil wars (as the Wars of Religion, the Fronde, the War in the Vendée) unless a foreign country is involved; this list includes neither the peacekeeping operations (such as Operation Artemis, Operation Licorne) nor the humanitarian missions supported by the French Armed Forces.
The list gives the name, the date, the present-day location of the battles, the French allies and enemies, and the result of these conflicts following this legend:
- French military victory
- French military defeat
- Indecisive or unclear outcome
- Ongoing conflict
Modern history (1789–present)
National Convention (1792–1795)
Battle | Date | Location | Allies | Enemies | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
War of the First Coalition (1792–1797) | |||||
Battle of Verdun | 20 August 1792 | France | None | ![]() | Defeat |
Siege of Thionville | 24 August – 30 September 1792 | France | None | ![]() ![]() | Victory |
Battle of Valmy | 12 September 1792 | France | None | ![]() ![]() ![]() | Victory |
Siege of Lille | 29 September – 8 October 1792 | France | None | ![]() | Victory |
First Siege of Mayence | 19–21 October 1792 | Germany | None | ![]() | Victory |
Battle of Jemappes | 6 November 1792 | Belgium | None | ![]() | Victory |
Siege of Namur | 19 November – 1 December 1792 | Belgium | None | ![]() | Victory |
Battle of Neerwinden | 18 March 1793 | Belgium | None | ![]() | Defeat |
Siege of Coné | 8 April – 12 July 1793 | France | None | ![]() | Defeat |
Second Siege of Mayence | 10 April – 23 July 1793 | Germany | None | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | Defeat |
Battle of Raismes | 8 May 1793 | France | None | ![]() ![]() ![]() | Defeat |
Battle of Famars | 23 May 1793 | France | None | ![]() ![]() ![]() | Defeat |
Capture of San Pietro and Sant'Antioco | 25 May 1793 | Italy | None | ![]() | Defeat |
First Battle of Arlon | 9 June 1793 | Belgium | None | ![]() | Victory |
Siege of Valenciennes | 13 June – 28 July 1793 | France | None | ![]() ![]() | Defeat |
Action of 31 July 1793 | 31 July 1793 | France | None | ![]() | Indecisive |
Siege of Dunkirk | 24 August – 8 September 1793 | France | None | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | Victory |
Battle of Hondshoote | 8 September 1793 | France | None | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | Victory |
Battle of Avesnes-le-Sec | 12 September 1793 | France | None | ![]() | Defeat |
Battle of Méribel | 13 September 1793 | France | None | ![]() | Victory |
Siege of Toulon | 18 September – 18 December 1793 | France | None | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | Victory |
First Battle of Wissembourg | 13 October 1793 | France | None | ![]() ![]() ![]() | Defeat |
Battle of Wattignies | 16 October 1793 | France | None | ![]() | Victory |
Battle of Kaiserslautern | 28–30 November 1793 | Germany | None | ![]() | Defeat |
Battle of Woerth-Froeschwiller | 22 December 1793 | France | None | ![]() | Victory |
Battle of Geisberg | 26 December 1793 | France | None | ![]() ![]() | Victory |
Second Battle of Wissembourg | 26 – 27 December 1793 | France | None | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | Victory |
Battle of Martinique | 5 February 1794 | Martinique | None | ![]() | Defeat |
Siege of Saint-Florent | 7–18 February 1794 | France | None | ![]() ![]() | Defeat |
Siege of Bastia | 4 April – 19 May 1794 | France | None | ![]() ![]() | Defeat |
Invasion of Guadeloupe | 11 April 1794 – 10 December 1794 | Guadeloupe | None | ![]() | Victory |
Second Battle of Arlon | 17–18 April 1794 | Belgium | None | ![]() | Victory |
Battle of Villers-en-Cauchies | 24 April 1794 | France | None | ![]() ![]() | Defeat |
Battle of Saorgio | 24–28 April 1794 | Italy | None | ![]() ![]() | Victory |
Battle of Beaumont | 26 April 1794 | France | None | ![]() ![]() | Defeat |
Battle of Mouscron | 29 April 1794 | Belgium | None | ![]() ![]() | Victory |
Battle of Tourcoing | 18 May 1794 | France | None | ![]() ![]() ![]() | Victory |
Battle of Tournay | 22 May 1794 | Belgium | None | ![]() ![]() ![]() | Defeat |
Glorious First of June | 1 June 1794 | France | None | ![]() | Indecisive |
Battle of Fleurus | 26 June 1794 | Belgium | None | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | Victory |
Battle of Trippstadt | 13 July 1794 | France | None | ![]() ![]() ![]() | Victory |
Siege of Calvi | July – 10 August 1794 | France | None | ![]() ![]() | Defeat |
Battle of Sprimont | 18 September 1794 | Belgium | None | ![]() | Victory |
Battle of Aldenhoven | 2 October 1794 | Germany | None | ![]() | Victory |
First Battle of Dego | 21 September 1794 | Italy | None | ![]() | Victory |
Siege of Luxembourg | 22 November 1794 – 7 June 1795 | Luxembourg | None | ![]() | Victory |
Action of 8 March 1795 | 8 March 1795 | Mediterranean | None | ![]() | Victory |
Battle of Genoa | 14 March 1795 | Ligurian Sea | None | ![]() ![]() | Defeat |
Battle of Groix | 23 June 1795 | France | None | ![]() | Defeat |
Battle of Quiberon | 23 June – 21 July 1795 | France | None | ![]() ![]() ![]() | Victory |
Battle of Hyères Islands | 13 July 1795 | Mediterranean | None | ![]() ![]() | Defeat |
Battle of Île d'Yeu | 26 August – 1 November 1795 | France | None | ![]() ![]() | Victory |
Battle of Mainz | 29 October 1795 | Germany | None | ![]() | Defeat |
War of the Pyrenees (1793–1795) | |||||
Battle of Céret | 20 April 1793 | France | None | ![]() | Defeat |
Battle of Mas Deu | 19 May 1793 | France | None | ![]() | Defeat |
Siege of Bellegarde | 23 May – 24 June 1793 | France | None | ![]() ![]() | Defeat |
Battle of Peyrestortes | 17 September 1793 | France | None | ![]() | Victory |
Battle of Truillas | 22 September 1793 | France | None | ![]() | Defeat |
Capture of Fort-Dauphin | 28–29 January 1794 | Haiti | None | ![]() | Defeat |
Battle of Boulou | 30 April 1794 | France | None | ![]() ![]() | Victory |
Battle of the Baztan Valley | 24 July 1794 | Spain | None | ![]() | Victory |
Battle of San-Lorenzo de la Muga | 13 August 1794 | Spain | None | ![]() ![]() | Victory |
Battle of Orbaitzeta | 15–17 October 1794 | Spain | None | ![]() ![]() | Victory |
Battle of the Black Mountain | 17–20 November 1794 | Spain | None | ![]() ![]() | Victory |
Siege of Roses | 28 November 1794 – 4 February 1795 | Spain | None | ![]() | Victory |
Battle of the Gulf of Roses | 14 February 1795 | Gulf of Roses | None | ![]() | Victory |
Battle of Pontós | 11 June 1795 | Spain | None | ![]() | Defeat |
Directory (1795–1799)
Consulate (1799–1804)
First Empire (1804–1814/1815)
Bourbon Restoration (1814/1815–1830)
Battle | Date | Location | Allies | Enemies | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spanish civil War (1820–1823) | |||||
Battle of Trocadero | 31 August 1823 | Spain | None | ![]() | Victory |
Greek War of Independence (1821–1830) | |||||
Battle of Navarino | 20 October 1827 | Greece | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() | Victory |
Morea expedition | 1828–1833 | Greece | ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() | Victory |
French colonisation of Africa (1825–1911) | |||||
Franco-Trarzan War | 14 June – 7 July 1830 | Senegal | None | Emirate of Trarza | Victory |
French conquest of Algeria (1830–1847) | |||||
Invasion of Algiers | 14 June – 7 July 1830 | Algeria | None | ![]() | Victory |
July Monarchy (1830–1848)
Battle | Date | Location | Allies | Enemies | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Belgian Revolution (1830) | |||||
Ten days campaign | 2–12 August 1831 | Belgium | ![]() | ![]() | Victory |
Siege of Antwerp | 15 November – 23 December 1832 | Belgium | None | ![]() | Victory |
French conquest of Algeria (1830–1847) | |||||
Battle of Maison Carrée | 23 April 1832 | Algeria | None | BerbersArabs | Victory |
Battle of Macta | 28 June 1835 | Algeria | None | BerbersArabs | Defeat |
Battle of the Sikkak | 6 July 1836 | Algeria | None | BerbersArabs | Victory |
First Siege of Constantine | 21–27 November 1836 | Algeria | None | BerbersArabs | Defeat |
Second Siege of Constantine | 10–13 October 1837 | Algeria | None | BerbersArabs | Victory |
Battle of Mazagran | February 1840 | Algeria | None | BerbersArabs | Victory |
Battle of the Mouzaïa Pass | 12 May 1840 | Algeria | None | BerbersArabs | Victory |
Battle of the Smala | 16 May 1843 | Algeria | None | BerbersArabs | Victory |
Battle of Sidi-Brahim | 22–25 September 1845 | Algeria | None | BerbersArabs | Defeat |
First Carlist War (1833–1839) | |||||
Battle of Terapegui | 26 April 1836 | Spain | ![]() | ![]() | Victory |
Battle of Huesca | 24 March 1837 | Spain | ![]() | ![]() | Victory |
First Franco-Moroccan War (1844) | |||||
Bombardment of Tangiers | 6 August 1844 | Morocco | None | ![]() | Victory |
Bombardment of Mogador | 15–17 August 1844 | Morocco | None | ![]() | Victory |
Battle of Isly | 16 August 1844 | Morocco | None | ![]() | Victory |
Pastry War (1838–1839) | |||||
Bombardment of San Juan de Ulúa | 27 November – 5 December 1838 | Mexico | None | ![]() | Victory |
Uruguayan Civil War (1839–1851) | |||||
Battle of Vuelta de Obligado | 20 November 1845 | Rio de la Plata | ![]() | ![]() | Victory |
Far East Campaigns (1842–1896) | |||||
Blockade of Basilan | 1844–1845 | Philippines | None | Sultanate of Sulu | Victory |
Bombardment of Tourane | 15 April 1847 | Vietnam | None | VietNam | Victory |
French-Tahitian War (1844–1847) | |||||
Battle of Mahaena | 17 April 1844 | Tahiti | None | ![]() | Victory |
Blockade of Raiatea | 1845–1846 | Raiatea | None | ![]() | Defeat |
Battle of Maeva | 17 January 1846 | Huahine | None | ![]() | Defeat |
Battle of Punaruu | May 1846 | Tahiti | None | ![]() | Victory |
Battle of Fautaua | 17 December 1846 | Tahiti | None | ![]() | Victory |
Second Republic (1848–1852)
Battle | Date | Location | Allies | Enemies | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Roman revolution (1849) | |||||
Siege of Rome | 1–3 July 1849 | Italy | None | ![]() | Victory |
Pacification of Algeria (1849) | |||||
Battle of Zaatcha | 16 July – 26 November 1849 | Algeria | None | BerbersArabs | Victory |
French colonisation of Africa (1825–1911) | |||||
Bombardment of Salé | 26–27 November 1851 | Morocco | None | ![]() | Indecisive |
Second Empire (1852–1870)
Third Republic (1870–1940)
World War II (1939–1945)
Battle | Date | Location | Allies | Enemies | Issue |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
World War II (1939–1945) | |||||
Saar Offensive | 7–16 September 1939 | Germany | None | ![]() | Indecisive |
Norwegian Campaign | 9 April – 10 June 1940 | Norway | ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() | Defeat |
Namsos Campaign | April and early May 1940 | Norway | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | Defeat |
Battle of Narvik | 9 April – 8 June 1940 | Norway | ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() | Defeat |
Invasion of Luxembourg | 10 May 1940 | Luxembourg | ![]() | ![]() | Defeat |
Battle of the Netherlands | 10–14 May 1940 | Netherlands | ![]() | ![]() | Defeat |
Battle of Zeeland | 10–18 May 1940 | Netherlands | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | Defeat |
Battle of Belgium | 10–18 May 1940 | Belgium | ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() | Defeat |
Battle of Hannut | 12–14 May 1940 | Belgium | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | Victory |
Battle of Gembloux | 12–14 May 1940 | Belgium | None | ![]() | Indecisive |
Battle of France | 10 May – 22 June 1940 | France | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() | Defeat |
Battle of Sedan | 12–15 May 1940 | France | ![]() | ![]() | Defeat |
Battle of La Horgne | 14–15 May 1940 | France | None | ![]() | Defeat |
Battle of Montcornet | 17 May 1940 | France | None | ![]() | Defeat |
Battle of Arras | 21 May 1940 | France | ![]() | ![]() | Defeat |
Siege of Calais | 22–26 May 1940 | France | ![]() | ![]() | Defeat |
Battle of the Lys | 22–28 May 1940 | Belgium/France | ![]() | ![]() | Defeat |
Siege of Lille | 25–30 May 1940 | France | None | ![]() | Defeat |
Battle of Abbeville | 28 May – 4 June 1940 | France | ![]() | ![]() | Victory |
Battle of Dunkirk | 25 May – 3 June 1940 | France | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | Defeat |
Operation Paula | 3 June 1940 | France | None | ![]() | Victory |
Battle of Pont-de-l'Arche | 9 June 1940 | France | None | ![]() | Defeat |
Italian invasion of France | 10–25 June 1940 | France | None | ![]() | Victory |
Battle of Saumur | 18–20 June 1940 | France | None | ![]() | Defeat |
Attack on Mers-el-Kébir | 3 July 1940 | Algeria | None | ![]() | Defeat |
Invasion of French Indochina | 22–26 September 1940 | South-East Asia | None | ![]() | Defeat |
Franco-Thai War | October 1940 – 9 May 1941 | South-East Asia | None | ![]() | Indecisive |
Operation Compass | 9 December 1940 – 9 February 1941 | Egypt/Libya | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() | Victory |
Battle of Ko Chang | 16–17 January 1941 | Gulf of Thailand | None | ![]() | Victory |
Battle of Kufra | 31 January – 1 March 1941 | Libya | None | ![]() | Victory |
Battle of Keren | 2 February – 1 April 1941 | Eritrea | ![]() | ![]() | Victory |
Siege of Tobruk | 10 April – 27 November 1941 | Libya | ![]() | ![]() | Victory |
Battle of Bir Hakeim | 26 May – 11 June 1942 | Libya | None | ![]() ![]() | Victory |
Dieppe Raid | 19 August 1942 | France | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | Defeat |
Second Battle of El Alamein | 23 October – 3 November 1942 | Egypt | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() | Victory |
Battle of Ksar Ghilane | 10 March 1943 | Tunisia | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | Victory |
Operation Pugilist | 16–27 March 1943 | Tunisia | ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | Victory |
Allied invasion of Sicily | 9 July – 17 August 1943 | Italy | ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | Victory |
Bernhardt Line | 1 December 1943 – 15 January 1943 | Italy | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() | Victory |
Battle of Monte Cassino | 4 January – 19 May 1944 | Italy | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() | Victory |
Battle of Ist | 29 February 1944 | Adriatic sea | None | ![]() | Victory |
Operation Dingson | 5–18 June 1944 | France | None | ![]() | Victory |
Invasion of Normandy | 6 June – 25 August 1944 | France | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() | Victory |
Normandy landings | 6 June 1944 | France | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() | Victory |
Sword Beach | 6 June 1944 | France | ![]() | ![]() | Victory |
Invasion of Elba | 17 June 1944 | Italy | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | Victory |
Operation Dragoon | 15 August 1944 | France | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() | Victory |
Liberation of Paris | 19–25 August 1944 | France | ![]() | ![]() | Victory |
Saint-Nazaire Pocket | 27 August 1944 – 11 May 1945 | France | ![]() | ![]() | Victory |
Allied advance from Paris to the Rhine | 25 August 1944 – March 1945 | France | ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() | Victory |
Liberation of Nice | 28 August 1944 | France | None | ![]() | Victory |
Siege of La Rochelle | 28 August 1944 | France | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | Victory |
Siege of Dunkirk | 15 September 1944 – 8 May 1945 | France | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() | Victory |
Battle of the Bulge | 16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945 | Belgium | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() | Victory |
Operation Nordwind | 1–25 January 1945 | France | ![]() | ![]() | Victory |
Colmar Pocket | 20 January – 9 February 1945 | France | ![]() | ![]() | Victory |
Western Allied invasion of Germany | 8 February – 8 May 1945 | Germany | ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() | Victory |
Second French Indochina Campaign | 9 March – 26 August 1945 | South-East Asia | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | Victory |
Operation Tiderace | 4–12 September 1945 | Singapore | ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() | Victory |
Fourth Republic (1946–1958)
Battle | Date | Location | Allies | Enemies | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Indochina War (1946–1954) | |||||
Battle of Hanoi | December 1946 | Vietnam | None | ![]() | Victory |
Operation Papillon | April 1947 | Vietnam | None | ![]() | Victory |
Battle of Cao Bằng | October 1947 – 4 September 1949 | Vietnam | None | ![]() | Defeat |
Operation Lea | 7 October – 15 November 1947 | Vietnam | None | ![]() | Victory |
Operation Ceinture | 20 November – 22 December 1947 | Vietnam | None | ![]() | Victory |
Battle of Phu Tong Hoa | 25 July 1948 | Vietnam | None | ![]() | Victory |
Battle of Đông Khê | 15–18 September 1950 | Vietnam | None | ![]() | Defeat |
Battle of Route Coloniale 4 | 1–13 October 1950 | Vietnam | None | ![]() | Defeat |
Battle of Vĩnh Yên | 19–17 January 1951 | Vietnam | None | ![]() | Victory |
Battle of Mạo Khê | 23–28 March 1951 | Vietnam | None | ![]() | Victory |
Battle of the Day River | 30 May – 18 June 1951 | Vietnam | None | ![]() | Victory |
Battle of Nghĩa Lộ | 3–10 October 1951 | Vietnam | None | ![]() | Victory |
Battle of Hòa Bình | 10 November 1951 – 25 February 1952 | Vietnam | None | ![]() | Defeat |
Operation Lorraine | 29 October – 8 November 1952 | Vietnam | None | ![]() | Indecisive |
Battle of Nà Sản | 23 November – 2 December 1952 | Vietnam | None | ![]() | Victory |
Operation Bretagne | 1 December 1952 – 4 January 1953 | Vietnam | None | ![]() | Victory |
Operation Hirondelle | 17–19 July 1953 | Vietnam | None | ![]() | Indecisive |
Operation Camargue | 28 July 1953 – 10 August 1953 | Vietnam | None | ![]() | Indecisive |
Operation Brochet | August – October 1953 | Vietnam | None | ![]() | Indecisive |
Operation Mouette | 15 October – 7 November 1953 | Vietnam | None | ![]() | Victory |
Operation Castor | 20–22 November 1953 | Vietnam | None | ![]() | Victory |
Operation Atlante | 20 January 1954 – March 1954 | Vietnam | None | ![]() | Indecisive |
Battle of Dien Bien Phu | 13 March – 7 May 1954 | Vietnam | None | ![]() | Defeat |
Operation Condor | April 1954 | Vietnam | None | ![]() | Defeat |
Battle of Mang Yang Pass | 24 June – 17 July 1954 | Vietnam | None | ![]() | Defeat |
Korean War (1950–1953) | |||||
First and Second Battles of Wonju | 31 December 1950 – 20 January 1951 | South Korea | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | Victory |
Battle of the Twin Tunnels | 1 February 1951 | South Korea | ![]() | ![]() | Victory |
Battle of Chipyong-ni | 13–15 February 1951 | South Korea | ![]() | ![]() | Victory |
Battle of Heartbreak Ridge | 13 September – 15 October 1951 | South Korea | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | Victory |
Algerian War (1954–1962) | |||||
Battle of Philippeville | 20 August 1955 | Algeria | None | ![]() | Victory |
Battle of El Djorf I | 22–29 September 1955 | Algeria | None | ![]() | Defeat |
Battle of Algiers | 7 January – 8 October 1957 | Algeria | None | ![]() | Victory |
Ambush of Palestro | 18 May 1956 | Algeria | None | ![]() | Defeat |
Battle of Agounennda | 23–25 May 1957 | Algeria | None | ![]() | Victory |
Battle of Bouzegza | 4–12 August 1957 | Algeria | None | ![]() | Defeat |
Suez Crisis (1956–1957) | |||||
Operation Kadesh | October 1956 – March 1957 | Egypt | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | Victory |
Operation Musketeer | November 1956 | Egypt | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | Victory |
Ifni War (1957–1958) | |||||
Reconquest of Spanish Sahara | 10–21 February 1958 | Morocco | ![]() | ![]() | Victory |
Fifth Republic (1958–present)
See also
References
- Norrie MacQueen (2006). Peacekeeping and the International System. Routledge.
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