On 11.11.1939, the formation of the 2nd Infantry Rifle Division began in the Parthenay, Thouars and Bressuire areas of the Deux-Sèvres department. Bressuire was the scene of a tragic disaster: at dawn on 16.02.1940, a speeding tanker ploughed into soldiers lined up in a line on the road. Five died on the spot, another four died in hospital. The dead soldiers were buried in the local cemetery in a common grave. In addition to the 9 soldiers with known names, an unknown soldier also rests there; it is not certain whether he also died that day.