Jean Touzet du Vigier
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant General Jean-Louis-Alain Touzet du Vigier (1888-1980 was a French
army officer during World War II and an advocate of military mechanization, particularly the motorization of the cavalry.
on October 10, 1888. In order to be accepted into the St. Cyr
Special Military School, he served in the volunteers
for several years that ended in 1913. He failed a medical examination, however, and was assigned to an infantry regiment instead of the school. He managed to get the support of then-War Minister Millerand
, a family friend, to get a transfer from the 33rd Infantry Regiment. When he had received the transfer, he was accepted by the school. He graduated before the start of World War I and eventually became a lieutenant in the 9th Cuirassiers, stationed in Noyon.
However, cuirassiers had no place in a modern war, and they were stripped of their heavy helmets and horses and sent to fight in the trenches of France. By 1918, Touzet du Vigier had risen to the rank of (temporary) captain. He was then sent to join the 2nd Regiment of Chasseurs d'Afrique
in Morocco, but stayed only a few months before being posted to St. Cyr as an instructor at the Military Academy.
In 1920, Touzet du Vigier was assigned to the staff of General Henri Niessel
, the head of the French military mission to newly independent Poland, which was involved in a war with Bolshevik Russia
. Touzet du Vigier's direct superior while training the Polish troops was future French president Charles De Gaulle
.
Throughout the 1920s, Touzet du Vigier, now a permanent captain, served in the 18th Chasseurs and on various staffs, becoming a proponent of the motorization of cavalry. In 1932, as a military instructor and major, he joined the 18th Dragoon Regiment, which was located in Reims
, where the 1st Light Mechanized Division was being raised. Touzet du Vigier, in his classes, began to speak more about the mechanization of the French army.
In 1936, he was reassigned to the Joint Tactical Studies Center at Versailles
, where he was appointed head of the cavalry section. He continued to lecture others on the importance of mechanized cavalry, and, promoted in 1938 to lieutenant colonel, he was constantly reassigned to areas where his technical knowledge would prove useful. By 1940, he had been given command of the 2nd Armored Cuirassier Regiment. His regiment attempted to block the German blitzkrieg
in Belgium, but, like so many other French units, was forced to retreat.
, was chosen to head the cavalry department of the army headquarters in Versailles. However, Touzet du Vigier secretly collaborated with the French resistance
. His superiors, who ignored his underground activities, sent him to Mascara, Tunisia
, where he took command of a sub-division. When the Allies invaded Africa
, Touzet du Vigier switched sides to that of De Gaulle's Free French.
Temporarily promoted to brigadier general
, Touzet du Vigier took command of the 1st Mechanized Brigade and then, in 1943, of the 1st Armored Division. By now a major general, again temporarily, he served under the command of General Tassigny
, the commander of the 1st French Army.
Touzet du Vigier's troops were some of the first to reach the Rhine. In January 1945, he was placed in command of the fortress-city of Strasbourg
, which was threatened by a German offensive
. The city did not fall, however, and Touzet du Vigier remained in this post until the end of the war.
Now a lieutenant general, Touzet du Vigier was appointed Assistant Chief of Staff to General de Tassigny and served in this position until 1947, when he reached the mandatory retirement age.
Touzet du Vigier died in Paris on August 16, 1980.
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 officer during World War II and an advocate of military mechanization, particularly the motorization of the cavalry.
Early career
Touzet du Vigier was born in ChamberyChambéry
Chambéry is a city in the department of Savoie, located in the Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France.It is the capital of the department and has been the historical capital of the Savoy region since the 13th century, when Amadeus V of Savoy made the city his seat of power.-Geography:Chambéry...
on October 10, 1888. In order to be accepted into the St. 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"...
Special Military School, he served in the volunteers
Military volunteer
A military volunteer is a person who enlists in military service by free will, and is not a mercenary or a foreign legionaire. Volunteers often enlist to fight in the armed forces of a foreign country. Military volunteers are essential for the operation of volunteer militaries.Many armies,...
for several years that ended in 1913. He failed a medical examination, however, and was assigned to an infantry regiment instead of the school. He managed to get the support of then-War Minister Millerand
Alexandre Millerand
Alexandre Millerand was a French socialist politician. He was President of France from 23 September 1920 to 11 June 1924 and Prime Minister of France 20 January to 23 September 1920...
, a family friend, to get a transfer from the 33rd Infantry Regiment. When he had received the transfer, he was accepted by the school. He graduated before the start of World War I and eventually became a lieutenant in the 9th Cuirassiers, stationed in Noyon.
However, cuirassiers had no place in a modern war, and they were stripped of their heavy helmets and horses and sent to fight in the trenches of France. By 1918, Touzet du Vigier had risen to the rank of (temporary) captain. He was then sent to join the 2nd Regiment of Chasseurs d'Afrique
Chasseurs d'Afrique
The Chasseurs d'Afrique were a light cavalry corps in the French Armée d'Afrique . First raised in the 1830s from regular French cavalry posted to Algeria, they numbered five regiments by World War II...
in Morocco, but stayed only a few months before being posted to St. Cyr as an instructor at the Military Academy.
In 1920, Touzet du Vigier was assigned to the staff of General Henri Niessel
Henri Niessel
Henri Albert Niessel was a French general.Henri Niessel oversaw the withhdrawal of German Freikorps troops who had entered Lithuania as part of Pavel Bermondt-Avalov's West Russian Volunteer Army.-References:...
, the head of the French military mission to newly independent Poland, which was involved in a war with Bolshevik Russia
Polish-Soviet War
The Polish–Soviet War was an armed conflict between Soviet Russia and Soviet Ukraine and the Second Polish Republic and the Ukrainian People's Republic—four states in post–World War I Europe...
. Touzet du Vigier's direct superior while training the Polish troops was future French president 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....
.
Throughout the 1920s, Touzet du Vigier, now a permanent captain, served in the 18th Chasseurs and on various staffs, becoming a proponent of the motorization of cavalry. In 1932, as a military instructor and major, he joined the 18th Dragoon Regiment, which was located in Reims
Reims
Reims , a city in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France, lies east-northeast of Paris. Founded by the Gauls, it became a major city during the period of the Roman Empire....
, where the 1st Light Mechanized Division was being raised. Touzet du Vigier, in his classes, began to speak more about the mechanization of the French army.
In 1936, he was reassigned to the Joint Tactical Studies Center at Versailles
Versailles
Versailles , a city renowned for its château, the Palace of Versailles, was the de facto capital of the kingdom of France for over a century, from 1682 to 1789. It is now a wealthy suburb of Paris and remains an important administrative and judicial centre...
, where he was appointed head of the cavalry section. He continued to lecture others on the importance of mechanized cavalry, and, promoted in 1938 to lieutenant colonel, he was constantly reassigned to areas where his technical knowledge would prove useful. By 1940, he had been given command of the 2nd Armored Cuirassier Regiment. His regiment attempted to block the German blitzkrieg
Blitzkrieg
For other uses of the word, see: Blitzkrieg Blitzkrieg is an anglicized word describing all-motorised force concentration of tanks, infantry, artillery, combat engineers and air power, concentrating overwhelming force at high speed to break through enemy lines, and, once the lines are broken,...
in Belgium, but, like so many other French units, was forced to retreat.
World War II
When France fell to the Nazis, Touzet du Vigier, now serving the Marshal Petain's Vichy regimeVichy France
Vichy France, Vichy Regime, or Vichy Government, are common terms used to describe the government of France that collaborated with the Axis powers from July 1940 to August 1944. This government succeeded the Third Republic and preceded the Provisional Government of the French Republic...
, was chosen to head the cavalry department of the army headquarters in Versailles. However, Touzet du Vigier secretly collaborated with the French resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
. His superiors, who ignored his underground activities, sent him to Mascara, Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
, where he took command of a sub-division. When the Allies invaded Africa
Operation Torch
Operation Torch was the British-American invasion of French North Africa in World War II during the North African Campaign, started on 8 November 1942....
, Touzet du Vigier switched sides to that of De Gaulle's Free French.
Temporarily promoted to brigadier general
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
, Touzet du Vigier took command of the 1st Mechanized Brigade and then, in 1943, of the 1st Armored Division. By now a major general, again temporarily, he served under the command of General Tassigny
Jean de Lattre de Tassigny
Jean Joseph Marie Gabriel de Lattre de Tassigny, GCB, MC was a French military hero of World War II and commander in the First Indochina War.-Early life:...
, the commander of the 1st French Army.
Touzet du Vigier's troops were some of the first to reach the Rhine. In January 1945, he was placed in command of the fortress-city of Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
, which was threatened by a German offensive
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
. The city did not fall, however, and Touzet du Vigier remained in this post until the end of the war.
Now a lieutenant general, Touzet du Vigier was appointed Assistant Chief of Staff to General de Tassigny and served in this position until 1947, when he reached the mandatory retirement age.
Touzet du Vigier died in Paris on August 16, 1980.