Joseph Joffre

Marshal Joseph Joffre OM, GCB
Marshal Joffre, unknown date after 1916
23rd Chief of the Army Staff
In office 29 July 1911 – 14 December 1916
Preceded by	Augustin Dubail
Succeeded by	Robert Nivelle
Personal details
Born	(1852-01-12)12 January 1852 Rivesaltes, France
Died	3 January 1931(1931-01-03) (aged 78) Paris, France
Spouses	Amélie Pourcheyroux ​ ​ (m. 1873; died 1874)​ Henriette Penon ​ (m. 1905)​
Parents	Gilles Joseph Félix Joffre (father) Catherine Plas (mother)
Alma mater	École Polytechnique
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	Second Empire Third Republic
Branch/service	French Army Cavalry
Years of service	1869–1916
Rank	Division general[a]
Commands	List 19th Artillery Brigade 6th Infantry Division 2nd Corps
Battles/wars	List Franco-Prussian War Siege of Paris Sino-French War First World War Battle of the Frontiers First Battle of the Marne Race to the Sea First Battle of Artois First Battle of Champagne Second Battle of Ypres Second Battle of Artois Second Battle of Champagne Battle of Verdun Battle of the Somme

Joseph Jacques Césaire Joffre OM, GCB (French: [ʒozɛf ʒɔfʁ]; 12 January 1852^[1] – 3 January 1931)^[2] was a French general who served as Commander-in-Chief of French forces on the Western Front from the start of World War I until the end of 1916. He is best known for regrouping the retreating allied armies to defeat the Germans at the strategically decisive First Battle of the Marne in September 1914.

His political position waned after unsuccessful offensives in 1915,^[3] the German attack on Verdun in 1916, and the disappointing results of the Anglo-French offensive on the Somme in 1916. At the end of 1916 he was promoted to Marshal of France, the first such elevation under the Third Republic, and moved to an advisory role, from which he quickly resigned. Later in the war he led an important mission to the United States.

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