Second Army (France)
Encyclopedia
The Second Army was a Field army of the French Army
during World War I
and World War II
. The Army became famous for fighting the Battle of Verdun
in 1916 under Philippe Pétain
.
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...
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...
and 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...
. The Army became famous for fighting the Battle of Verdun
Battle of Verdun
The Battle of Verdun was one of the major battles during the First World War on the Western Front. It was fought between the German and French armies, from 21 February – 18 December 1916, on hilly terrain north of the city of Verdun-sur-Meuse in north-eastern France...
in 1916 under Philippe Pétain
Philippe Pétain
Henri Philippe Benoni Omer Joseph Pétain , generally known as Philippe Pétain or Marshal Pétain , was a French general who reached the distinction of Marshal of France, and was later Chief of State of Vichy France , from 1940 to 1944...
.
World War I
- General de Curières de CastelnauNoël Édouard, vicomte de Curières de CastelnauNoël Marie Joseph Édouard, Vicomte de Curières de Castelnau was a French general in World War I, one of the leading proponents of the philosophy of attaque à outrance that dominated French military thinking in the early part of the war.Born in Gascony to a family with a long history of military...
(Mobilization – 21 June 1915) - General PétainPhilippe PétainHenri Philippe Benoni Omer Joseph Pétain , generally known as Philippe Pétain or Marshal Pétain , was a French general who reached the distinction of Marshal of France, and was later Chief of State of Vichy France , from 1940 to 1944...
(21 June 1915 – 1 May 1916) - General NivelleRobert NivelleRobert 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...
(1 May 1916 – 15 December 1916) - General GuillaumatAdolphe GuillaumatMarie Louis Adolphe Guillaumat was a French Army general during World War I.-Early years:Adolphe Guillaumat graduated first from his class of 1884 at the Saint-Cyr military academy....
(15 December 1916 – 11 December 1917) - General Auguste Edouard HirschauerAuguste Edouard HirschauerAuguste Edouard Hirschauer was a French lieutenant general in the First World War and from 1920 to 1936 representatives of Lorraine in the Senate....
(11 December 1917 – Armistice)
World War II
- General Charles HuntzigerCharles HuntzigerCharles Huntziger was a French Army general during World War I and World War II.Born at Lesneven , he graduated from Saint-Cyr in 1900 and joined the colonial infantry. During World War I he served in the Middle Eastern theatre. He was chief of staff of operations of the Allied Expeditionary Force...
(2 September 1939 – 5 June 1940) - General Henry Freydenberg (5 June – 31 July 1940)