Alain de Boissieu
Encyclopedia
Alain de Boissieu was a French general, Free French, Compagnon de la Libération, Army chief of staff (1971–1975) and son-in-law of general Charles de Gaulle
.
(French military academy) in 1936 and Saumur
(French cavalry school) in 1938. He was a cavalry
officer during World War II
and, with horses and sabre, made a successful charge (one of the last in cavalry
history) against German
troops on June 11, 1940.
A prisoner of the Germans, he managed to escape to Russia
in March 1941. But Stalin was, at this time, the ally of Hitler. So he was sent for a while to a Russian camp. Finally, after Germany attacked Russia mid-1941, he joined general Charles de Gaulle
and the Free French Forces
(FFL) in London.
As a Free French, Alain de Boissieu was a member of the military operations over Bayonne (Easter 1942) and Dieppe (Dieppe Raid
, August 1942), in Madagascar and Djibouti with the FFL. He fought in the Battle of Normandy
from July 30, 1944, as an officer of the famous 2nd Armored Division of general Philippe Leclerc, and was wounded on August 12. He fought for the Liberation of Paris
(August 25, 1944).
In 1946, Alain de Boissieu married Élisabeth de Gaulle, the daughter of general Charles de Gaulle
.
He fought in Algeria (1956). On August 22, 1962, he was in the same car as his father-in-law during the terrorist attack of Petit-Clamart planned by the Organisation armée secrète
, when he saved the life of Charles de Gaulle
.
As a general, he commanded the French military academy of Saint-Cyr
(École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr
and of l'École militaire interarmes de Coëtquidan) (1964).
He was army chief of staff (in French, "chef d'État-major de l'Armée de Terre") (1971–1975).
Alain de Boissieu became Grand Chancelier de l'ordre de la Légion d'Honneur
and Chancelier de l'Ordre National du Mérite
(1975–1981) and Chancelier de l'Ordre de la Libération
(2002–2006).
Charles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
.
Life
Son of a French family coming from Forez and Lyon (de Boissieu), Alain de Boissieu was a pupil at École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-CyrÉcole Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr
The École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr is the foremost French military academy. Its official name is . It is often referred to as Saint-Cyr . Its motto is "Ils s'instruisent pour vaincre": literally "They study to vanquish" or "Training for victory"...
(French military academy) in 1936 and Saumur
Saumur
Saumur is a commune in the Maine-et-Loire department in western France.The historic town is located between the Loire and Thouet rivers, and is surrounded by the vineyards of Saumur itself, Chinon, Bourgueil, Coteaux du Layon, etc...
(French cavalry school) in 1938. He was a cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
officer during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and, with horses and sabre, made a successful charge (one of the last in cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
history) against German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
troops on June 11, 1940.
A prisoner of the Germans, he managed to escape to Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
in March 1941. But Stalin was, at this time, the ally of Hitler. So he was sent for a while to a Russian camp. Finally, after Germany attacked Russia mid-1941, he joined general Charles de Gaulle
Charles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
and the Free French Forces
Free French Forces
The Free French Forces were French partisans in World War II who decided to continue fighting against the forces of the Axis powers after the surrender of France and subsequent German occupation and, in the case of Vichy France, collaboration with the Germans.-Definition:In many sources, Free...
(FFL) in London.
As a Free French, Alain de Boissieu was a member of the military operations over Bayonne (Easter 1942) and Dieppe (Dieppe Raid
Dieppe Raid
The Dieppe Raid, also known as the Battle of Dieppe, Operation Rutter or later on Operation Jubilee, during the Second World War, was an Allied attack on the German-occupied port of Dieppe on the northern coast of France on 19 August 1942. The assault began at 5:00 AM and by 10:50 AM the Allied...
, August 1942), in Madagascar and Djibouti with the FFL. He fought in the Battle of Normandy
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
from July 30, 1944, as an officer of the famous 2nd Armored Division of general Philippe Leclerc, and was wounded on August 12. He fought for the Liberation of Paris
Liberation of Paris
The Liberation of Paris took place during World War II from 19 August 1944 until the surrender of the occupying German garrison on August 25th. It could be regarded by some as the last battle in the Battle for Normandy, though that really ended with the crushing of the Wehrmacht forces between the...
(August 25, 1944).
In 1946, Alain de Boissieu married Élisabeth de Gaulle, the daughter of general Charles de Gaulle
Charles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
.
He fought in Algeria (1956). On August 22, 1962, he was in the same car as his father-in-law during the terrorist attack of Petit-Clamart planned by the Organisation armée secrète
Organisation armée secrète
The Organisation de l'armée secrète was a short-lived, French far-right nationalist militant and underground organization during the Algerian War . The OAS used armed struggle in an attempt to prevent Algeria's independence...
, when he saved the life of Charles de Gaulle
Charles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
.
As a general, he commanded the French military academy of Saint-Cyr
École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr
The École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr is the foremost French military academy. Its official name is . It is often referred to as Saint-Cyr . Its motto is "Ils s'instruisent pour vaincre": literally "They study to vanquish" or "Training for victory"...
(École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr
École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr
The École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr is the foremost French military academy. Its official name is . It is often referred to as Saint-Cyr . Its motto is "Ils s'instruisent pour vaincre": literally "They study to vanquish" or "Training for victory"...
and of l'École militaire interarmes de Coëtquidan) (1964).
He was army chief of staff (in French, "chef d'État-major de l'Armée de Terre") (1971–1975).
Alain de Boissieu became Grand Chancelier de l'ordre de la Légion d'Honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
and Chancelier de l'Ordre National du Mérite
Ordre National du Mérite
The Ordre national du Mérite is an Order of State awarded by the President of the French Republic. It was founded on 3 December 1963 by President Charles de Gaulle...
(1975–1981) and Chancelier de l'Ordre de la Libération
Ordre de la Libération
The Ordre de la Libération is a French Order awarded to heroes of the Liberation of France during World War II. It is an exceptional honor, the second highest after the Légion d’Honneur and only a small number of people and military units have received it, exclusively for deeds accomplished...
(2002–2006).
Books by Alain de Boissieu
- "Pour Combattre avec de Gaulle (1940-1945)", Paris, 1981.
- "Pour servir le Général (1946-1970)", Paris, 1982.