Marie-Eugène Debeney
Encyclopedia
Marie-Eugène Debeney was a French Army
general. Several streets in his birthplace are named after him
, Ain
. A student at Saint-Cyr
, Marie-Eugène Debeney became Lieutenant des Chasseurs in 1886. He was Chief of Staff of the First Army in 1914, then became commander of the Seventh Army
from 1916, returning to the First Army as its commander in 1917, leading the offensive at Montdidier
, and defeating Hindenburg at the battle of Saint-Quentin
on 8 August 1918. He had the honour of receiving the German ambassadors on 11 November for the Armistice. Post-war, he was made commandant of the école de Guerre, commandant of la place de Paris, then Chief of the Defence Staff
from 1924 to 1930. Mentioned in despatches four times, he also received the cravate de commandeur for his actions in the battle of the Somme and became a Grand officier (battle of Saint-Quentin) and then (in 1923) grand cross of the Légion d'honneur. Finally, in 1926 he received the supreme reward for a general in time of war, the Médaille Militaire
which he always wore.
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
general. Several streets in his birthplace are named after him
Life
Marie-Eugène Debeney was born in Bourg-en-BresseBourg-en-Bresse
Bourg-en-Bresse is a commune in eastern France, capital of the Ain department, and was capital of the former province of Bresse . It is located north-northeast of Lyon.The inhabitants of Bourg-en-Bresse are known as Burgiens.-Geography:...
, Ain
Ain
Ain is a department named after the Ain River on the eastern edge of France. Being part of the region Rhône-Alpes and bordered by the rivers Saône and Rhône, the department of Ain enjoys a privileged geographic situation...
. A student at 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"...
, Marie-Eugène Debeney became Lieutenant des Chasseurs in 1886. He was Chief of Staff of the First Army in 1914, then became commander of the Seventh Army
Seventh Army (France)
The Seventh Army was a field army of the French Army during World War I and World War II.-World War I:*General Putz *General de Maud’Huy...
from 1916, returning to the First Army as its commander in 1917, leading the offensive at Montdidier
Montdidier
Montdidier is the name of several communes in France:* Montdidier, in the Moselle département* Montdidier, in the Somme département...
, and defeating Hindenburg at the battle of Saint-Quentin
Operation Michael
Operation Michael was a First World War German military operation that began the Spring Offensive on 21 March 1918. It was launched from the Hindenburg Line, in the vicinity of Saint-Quentin, France...
on 8 August 1918. He had the honour of receiving the German ambassadors on 11 November for the Armistice. Post-war, he was made commandant of the école de Guerre, commandant of la place de Paris, then Chief of the Defence Staff
Chief of the Defence Staff (France)
The Chief of the Defence Staff is the chief of staff of the Military of France. The position is currently held by Admiral Édouard Guillaud.- Functions :The Chief of the Defence Staff has two roles:...
from 1924 to 1930. Mentioned in despatches four times, he also received the cravate de commandeur for his actions in the battle of the Somme and became a Grand officier (battle of Saint-Quentin) and then (in 1923) grand cross of the Légion d'honneur. Finally, in 1926 he received the supreme reward for a general in time of war, the Médaille Militaire
Médaille militaire
The Médaille militaire is a decoration of the French Republic which was first instituted in 1852.-History:The creator of the médaille was the emperor Napoléon III, who may have taken his inspiration in a medal issued by his father, Louis Bonaparte, King of Holland...
which he always wore.
Works
- La Guerre et les hommmes, which won the prix de l'Académie FrançaiseAcadémie françaiseL'Académie française , also called the French Academy, is the pre-eminent French learned body on matters pertaining to the French language. The Académie was officially established in 1635 by Cardinal Richelieu, the chief minister to King Louis XIII. Suppressed in 1793 during the French Revolution,...
- Vauban
- Sur la sécurité militaire de la France