Who were the senior generals who took France through the First World War, and why do we know so little about them? They commanded the largest force on the Western Front through both humiliating defeats and forgotten victories; they won international respect and adoration, but also led their army to infamous mutiny. Nevertheless, the French and their allies, under a French General in Chief, would eventually achieve final victory over Imperial Germany. It is extraordinary that this remarkable group of men has been so neglected in histories on the war. Previous studies are outdated and haven't tapped the wealth of primary source material in France's military archives. It is this gap in the literature and in the understanding of the conflict that this thought-provoking and original volume is designed to address. It takes a collective biographical approach to the leading French soldiers who ran the war on the Western Front.

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• List of Abbreviations in Text and Footnotes
• Notes on Contributors
• Preface
• Introduction Leadership and Learning, by William Philpott and Jonathan Krause
• Chapter 1 Joseph Joffre: Strategist of Mass War, by William Philpott
• Chapter 2 Ferdinand Foch: Master of Strategy, by Michael Neiberg
• Chapter 3 Philippe Pétain: The Soldiers’ General, by Jonathan Krause
• Chapter 4 Robert Nivelle: A Formula for Failure, by Paul Strong
• Chapter 5 Marie-Émile Fayolle: The Forgotten Marshal of France, by William Philpott
• Chapter 6 Fernand de Langle de Cary: A Pragmatic Survivor, by Simon House
• Chapter 7 Paul Maistre: Missing in Action, by William Philpott
• Chapter 8 Pierre Roques: A Political General, by Simon House
• Chapter 9 Marie-Eugène Debeney: A Fighting Professor, by William Philpott
• Chapter 10 Charles Mangin: ‘This Devil of a Man’, by Tim Gale
• Chapter 11 Maurice Gamelin: A Successful Apprenticeship, by Martin Alexander
• Chapter 12 Jean-Baptiste Estienne: Father of the Tanks, by Tim Gale
• Bibliographical Note
• Notes
• Plates