1916 Joseph Joffre

1 1916

1.1 verdun
1.2 somme
1.3 fall power

1916
verdun

the british government accepted need maintain salonika bridgehead keep french happy, despite being sceptical idea bring greece war on allied side, british military opinion did not favour more commitment necessary. argument continued joffre throughout year. late in march 1916 joffre , briand blocked proposal lord kitchener , sir william robertson gradually withdraw 5 british divisions salonika serb troops arrived.

after months of discussion, haig , joffre agreed on 14 february 1916 anglo-french offensive on somme, although british not pleased @ joffre s suggestion british engage in wearing out attacks prior main offensive. german attack on verdun began on 21 february, reducing planned french commitment somme.

the french general staff had decided in august 1915 partially disarm verdun forts, under erroneous assumption not resist effects of modern heavy artillery, , germans made progress against fortifications had had guns removed. fort douaumont, keystone of system of verdun forts, had been given without fight, becoming shelter , operational base german forces behind front line. in words of 1 french divisional commander, loss cost french army hundred thousand lives.

joffre s political position had weakened after enormous losses of 1915, , rumours circulated in paris joffre had ordered abandonment of verdun when germans first attacked. gallieni demanded see paperwork period, joffre had made no such order in writing, merely despatching castelnau assess situation.

the political atmosphere had become poisonous. gallieni presented highly critical report council of ministers on 7 march—read in usual precise way—criticising joffre s conduct of operations on last eighteen months , demanding ministerial control, resigned. unclear whether trying have joffre ousted poincaré believed. survival of government @ stake, general roques appointed minister of war after had been ensured joffre had no objections. joffre himself had been mooted job.

the somme

early in 1916 joffre asked british commander-in-chief, sir douglas haig, put in word lord bertie, british ambassador in paris, french government. general haig wanted delay anglo-french offensive @ somme until 15 august allow more training , more artillery. when told of joffre shouted @ haig french army cease exist , had calmed down liberal doses of 1840 brandy. british refused agree french demands joint anglo-french offensive salonika bridgehead. eventually, perhaps influenced reports of french troop disturbances @ verdun, haig agreed attack @ start of july. in time, later turned out philippe pétain, commander @ verdun, warning french government game unless british attacked.

joffre lobbied robertson, , @ second chantilly conference (15–16 november 1916) agreed concentrate on western front in 1917 rather sending greater resources salonika.

fall power

the fall of bucharest (6 december 1916) not ruled out russo-romanian attack on bulgaria, made possible central powers attack on salonika. 1 of joffre s last official duties (11 december) order maurice sarrail cease offensive , establish strong defensive position, further offensives might launched in future. briand s , joffre s surprise, roques, minister of war, returned fact-finding mission salonika recommending sarrail reinforced , no longer report joffre. coming on of disappointing results of somme campaign , fall of romania, roques s report further discredited briand , joffre , added parliamentary deputies demands closed session. on 27 november council of ministers met debate rescinding decree of 2 december 1915, had placed sarrail under joffre; briand proposed joffre demoted commander-in-chief in north-east france, reporting war minister along commander-in-chief @ salonika, although withdrew proposal after joffre threatened resignation. during closed session (28 november – 7 december) briand had little choice make concessions preserve government, , in speech of 29 november promised repeal decree of 2 december 1915 , in vague terms appoint general technical adviser government. met joffre on 3 december 1916—according joffre, promising appoint him marshal of france , give him staff of own , direction of war .

on 13 december briand formed new government, day survived vote of confidence thirty votes. joffre appointed general-in-chief of french armies, technical adviser government, consultative member of war committee , robert nivelle commander-in-chief of armies of north , northeast. unclear briand had told joffre role; commented, not promised me, when reading newspaper on morning of 13 december , put out described general-in-chief rather commander-in-chief. departed @ once paris, persuaded accept briand. on 17 december, told british liaison officer, sidney clive, commander-in-chief , intend command effectively. however, found had no real power—the acting war minister (admiral lacaze, general lyautey had not yet returned north africa take position) forbade him approve units being granted fourragère—and on 26 december, day promoted marshal of france, asked relieved. joffre still popular , first man promoted marshal under third republic.