François Anthoine
Encyclopedia
François Paul Anthoine was a French
army general during World War I
, most notable during Robert Nivelle
's ill-fated campaign
in 1917 and later the Third Battle of the Aisne
.
At the height of his career, Anthoine was appointed as Chief of Staff to the former Commander in Chief, Henri-Philippe Petain, during the Third Battle of the Aisne. However, when the "Great War" began, Anthoine was General Castelnau's Chief of Staff. As time passed and Anthoine proved his worth in military tactics, he was eventually promoted to commander of the French First Army
.
At the Third Battle of Ypres in 1917, Anthoine and the French First Army were set the tasks of participating in the attacks on the northern flank of the salient and guarding the BEF's northern flank from enemy attack across the Yser Canal. Herbert Plumer
's Second Army was given the parallel task of Anthoine, attacking the southern flank of the salient and guarding the BEF's southern flank.
Despite all of his hard work, Anthoine was fired, although some say he was a scape goat, along with Henri-Philippe Petain after poor British
and French troop handling allowed German
gains that hampered Allied victory in the Third Battle of the Aisne in 1918. After this disgracement, François Anthoine died many years later in 1944.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
army general during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, most notable during Robert Nivelle
Robert Nivelle
Robert Georges Nivelle was a French artillery officer who served in the Boxer Rebellion, and the First World War. In May 1916, he was given command of the French Third Army in the Battle of Verdun, leading counter-offensives that rolled back the German forces in late 1916...
's ill-fated campaign
Nivelle offensive
The Nivelle Offensive was a 1917 French attack on the Western Front in the First World War. Promised as the assault that would end the war within 48 hours, with casualties expected of around 10,000 men, it failed on both counts. It was a three-stage plan:...
in 1917 and later the Third Battle of the Aisne
Third Battle of the Aisne
The Third Battle of the Aisne was a battle of the German Spring Offensive during World War I that focused on capturing the Chemin des Dames Ridge before the American Expeditionary Force could arrive completely in France. It was one of a series of desperate offensives, known as the Kaiserschlacht,...
.
At the height of his career, Anthoine was appointed as Chief of Staff to the former Commander in Chief, Henri-Philippe Petain, during the Third Battle of the Aisne. However, when the "Great War" began, Anthoine was General Castelnau's Chief of Staff. As time passed and Anthoine proved his worth in military tactics, he was eventually promoted to commander of the French First Army
French First Army
The First Army was a field army of France that fought during World War I and World War II. It was also active during the Cold War.-First World War:...
.
At the Third Battle of Ypres in 1917, Anthoine and the French First Army were set the tasks of participating in the attacks on the northern flank of the salient and guarding the BEF's northern flank from enemy attack across the Yser Canal. Herbert Plumer
Herbert Plumer, 1st Viscount Plumer
Field Marshal Herbert Charles Onslow Plumer, 1st Viscount Plumer, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, GBE was a British colonial official and soldier born in Torquay who commanded the British Second Army in World War I and later served as High Commissioner of the British Mandate for Palestine.-Military...
's Second Army was given the parallel task of Anthoine, attacking the southern flank of the salient and guarding the BEF's southern flank.
Despite all of his hard work, Anthoine was fired, although some say he was a scape goat, along with Henri-Philippe Petain after poor British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and French troop handling allowed 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...
gains that hampered Allied victory in the Third Battle of the Aisne in 1918. After this disgracement, François Anthoine died many years later in 1944.
External links
- Colour picture of Gen. Anthoine from 1917