Dictionary of French Generals of the Second World War

The French army ground force commanders serving during the Second World War have not been the subject of an exhaustive biographical study, unlike, for example, those of the United Kingdom or Germany.

The main purpose of this dictionary is to fill this gap and to provide an overview of the career of every general who held responsibilities between 1939 and 1945.

To produce this work, some thirty historians undertook in-depth research in every direction. The general's personal file held at the Service historique de la Défense in Vincennes served as the basis for the entry. To this are added numerous bibliographical references, thousands of meticulously examined archival boxes, as well as valuable documents from descendants or heirs, including dozens of never-published biographies.

All active and reserve army generals recalled to operational or territorial posts are given an entry. Generals of the Resistance, as well as a number of gendarmerie generals who held provost posts within the ground forces, are also covered.

For each general the following are listed: his civil status, his date of entry into service, the military schools he attended, the units in which he served and his principal functions, as well as assessments — notably at crucial moments in his career (ESG, commanding officer, CHEM in particular) — which allow, despite their generally laudatory character, some sense to be formed of the temperament, qualities and shortcomings of the individual concerned. Salient facts and features are of course highlighted. The role of the general studied during the Second World War is treated in greater depth than other periods. Citations and successive grades in the Légion d'honneur are mentioned. Foreign decorations, however, are listed only when awarded for acts of war.