Produced in 430 units, they were all engaged in combat, notably in May-June 1940 within Colonel de Gaulle's 4th armoured division. From May 12 to 14, 1940, the S35s took part in the battle of Hannut, in Belgium, the first armored battle of the Second World War.
In 1955 SOMUA merged with Automobiles industriels Latil and the heavy goods vehicle branch of the Renault factories, creating Saviem LRS (Société Anonyme de Véhicules Industriels et d'Équipements Mécaniques Latil-Renault-SOMUA).
Somua S 35s parade on the Champs-Elysées. In the second row, another war prize of the Germans: Hotchkiss H 38, another French medium tank that was to take over from the Renault FT, source: l'Usine Nouvelle