How did France use tanks as support for infantry after World War I?

Following World War I, France adopted a military doctrine that viewed tanks primarily as auxiliary support for the infantry. This approach was heavily influenced by the success and serviceability of the Renault F.T., a light six-ton vehicle that became the most widely used tank in the postwar period.12

Because the French army maintained a traditional belief in the primacy of infantry, they assigned tanks to operate alongside foot soldiers rather than as independent, strategic strike forces. This doctrine was widely imitated by other nations, including the United States and Italy, which developed their own light tanks for similar support roles.1

As military technology evolved, the French continued to prioritize infantry support by developing more heavily armed and armoured vehicles, such as the Char B and the R-35. These designs were intended to withstand antitank fire while moving at the slow pace of the infantry, reflecting the persistent French commitment to integrating tanks into infantry-led operations rather than utilizing them for independent, high-speed armoured offensives.2