A true legend among his men, François Léon Jouinot-Gambetta (1870–1923) is an unsung architect of victory in the Great War. At 18, he enlisted as a simple soldier and began a modest military career in Algeria and Morocco. Despite unfavourable assessments and very mixed appraisals, his bravery and his sense of … A true legend among his men, François Léon Jouinot-Gambetta (1870–1923) is an unsung architect of victory in the Great War.
At 18, he enlisted as a simple soldier and began a modest military career in Algeria and Morocco. Despite unfavourable assessments and very mixed appraisals, his bravery and his sense of command would eventually be noticed. From that point on, a meteoric rise propelled him to the head of the cavalry of the Orient, at the rank of brigadier general, at 46. In September 1918, he received orders to seize Uskub, the capital of Macedonia, at all costs. An intrepid commander, he launched his cavalrymen on an epic ride through mountains and valleys, in all weathers and without supplies. He boldly led the liberation of numerous villages and pushed back the enemy lines until the victorious capture of Uskub. This exploit, surpassing all expectations, triggered the capitulation of Bulgaria.
The brigade then moved towards the Danube, where it extended its control over the region. Despite a brilliant coup that hastened the final victory, General Jouinot-Gambetta's action remained largely unrecognised, and he was himself unjustly sidelined thereafter. Through this compelling biography, Laurent Guillemot restores Jouinot-Gambetta to the place he deserves in military history. It also sheds light on the Eastern Front and its major repercussions in the Great War.
