Maurice Gamelin

Maurice Gamelin
General Gamelin c. 1940
31st Chief of the Army Staff
In office 10 February 1931 – 20 May 1940
Preceded by	Maxime Weygand
Succeeded by	Jean de Lattre de Tassigny
Personal details
Born	(1872-09-20)20 September 1872 Paris, Third French Republic
Died	18 April 1958(1958-04-18) (aged 85) Paris, Fourth French Republic
Parents	Zéphyrin Auguste Joseph Gamelin (father) Pauline Adèle Uhrich (mother)
Alma mater	École Spéciale Militaire
Military service
Allegiance	France
Branch/service	French Army
Years of service	1891–1940
Rank	General
Commands	51st Infantry Brigade
Battles/wars	First World War Great Syrian Revolt Second World War Battle of France

Maurice Gustave Gamelin (French pronunciation: [mɔʁis ɡystav ɡamlɛ̃]; 20 September 1872^[1] – 18 April 1958^[2]) was a French general. He is remembered for his disastrous command (until 17 May 1940) of the French military during the Battle of France in World War II and his steadfast defence of republican values.

The Commander-in-chief of the French Armed Forces at the start of World War II, Gamelin was viewed as a man with significant intellectual ability. He was respected, even in Germany, for his intelligence and "subtle mind", though he was viewed by some German generals as stiff and predictable. Despite this, and his competent service in World War I, his command of the French armies during the critical days of May 1940 proved to be disastrous. Historian and journalist William L. Shirer presented the view that Gamelin used World War I methods to fight World War II, but with less vigor and slower response.^[3]

Gamelin served with distinction under Joseph Joffre in World War I. He is often credited with being responsible for devising the outline of the French counter-attack in 1914 which led to victory during the First Battle of the Marne. In 1933 Gamelin rose to command the French Army and oversaw a modernisation and mechanisation programme, including the completion of the Maginot Line defences.

Édouard Daladier supported Gamelin throughout his career, owing to Gamelin's refusal to allow politics to play a part in military planning and promotion, and his commitment to the republican model of government; this was not a trivial matter at a time when Communists on the left and Royalists and Fascists on the right were openly advocating regime change in France.