Education
Georges entered the École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr and graduated third in his class in 1897. He served in French Algeria with a Tirailleur regiment.
Georges entered the École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr and graduated third in his class in 1897. He served in French Algeria with a Tirailleur regiment.
Third in Saint Cyr in 1897 (about 578 students), promotion of Antananarivo, he chose the infantry, and in particular, 1 Rifle Regiment in Algiers, one of the most famous regiments of the Army. In North Africa, the young officer learns his craft, participating in several columns that are designed to pacify the Sahara and was soon noticed by his superiors. He married in 1902, a girl of the local bourgeoisie, and prepared from the 1903 competition of the War College he succeeded brilliantly. After this, the second in command of the school, General Toutée, now between time head of cabinet of the Minister of War, is assigned in March 1908 to the aide station Picquart Minister War in the Clemenceau government. Two years later, Captain George returned to Algeria controlling 15 company 2 Rifle Regiment stationed in Algiers. While he has taken command of his company for a few months, he was appointed to participate in a “police action” on the Algerian-Moroccan border. In a serious clash with rebels, he led his company to fire victoriously in front of General Lyautey held immediately to know what intrepid captain.
Return to Algiers, he led the life classical officers stationed when in 1912 he was given a hitherto intractable issue: the incorporation of “Indigenous s.” George comes to end in a few months, while none of those who had previously studied this issue was previously managed to find a solution. Joffre, informed, is assigned to one Captain George Office of the General Staff of the army to Paris. Under the orders of General de Castelnau, he will now prepare the mobilization of millions of men, as provided in Plan XVII.
In August 1914, the battalion commander George used to the staff of the Second Army of General de Castelnau then finally gets early September to take command of the troops. There remain, however, a few days at the head of his battalion of 122 Infantry Regiment, because it is seriously injured 11. After several weeks of treatment and convalescence, Georges wish to find a command, but Joffre does not hear as well: there is no question that returns to the front, he is too valuable as a staff officer and found in the Staff of the Army (EMA).
In October 1916, he gets to join the army of the East to the position of Deputy Chief of Staff, but do not agree with General Sarrail. He returned to France in March 1917, but two months later, Charles Jonnart, the former governor-general of Algeria who remembers the promising young officer he once knew, asked what it is, not a general officer, but Lieutenant Colonel George, who assumes the task of military adviser in the difficult mission that has awarded him drop the first king of Greece Constantine, favorable to the Germans. The masterminded by Georges military is a complete success, the monarch must leave the country.
In November 1932, he was promoted to General of the Army and joined the Supreme Council of War (CSG). At age 58, and given the age limits in force, it may still remain on active 7 to 10 years. Almost all of his fellow generals see it become Inspector General of the army, that is to say chief in war.
At all conferences General Georges say at this time, he never misses an opportunity to express its concern about the state of the army, the lack of training of reserves, very poor engine, poor aviation, the production deficit of modern weapons, etc..
At the mobilization, he became Deputy General Gamelin to the front of the North-East and then only in December, commander of the front of the Northeast. Yet this title should not be misled by Georges actually sees its small prerogatives as Gamelin split the Supreme Headquarters French ground forces (GHQ), and withdraw means as well as some of his closest collaborators. George can not fully exercise his command. Above all, it is obliged to implement a plan which he disapproves, especially in Holland sending the powerful army.
The German attack on May 10, shows the inability of the French army to make strategic moves. The front is broken on the Meuse May 15 Georges from GHQ, see what it would take its orders but often too late. The enemy advancing at a speed never imagined, even in the worst scenarios. Stress the win. After the sacking of Gamelin May 19, replaced by Weygand, George found all his ways and began to organize new lines of defense without illusion, as the Germans now, after the destruction of the armies of the North, three times more divisions the Allies.
After the armistice of 22 June 1940, General George organizes a few weeks the new Vichy army which no longer count in Métropole, then, having reached the age limit in August 1940 (65) it is placed in the second section of part of the general officers.
In 1943, Churchill organized his escape to France so that he could work with General Giraud in Algeria. Georges actively involved in the French Committee of National Liberation June to November, but was unable to impose his moderate views. It is removed by General de Gaulle, and then retired permanently from any political or military activity.
Opposing the plan by supreme commander Maurice Gamelin to move the best allied forces into the Low Countries, he was overruled. Georges tried to allow as much initiative to his subordinates as possible, to improve operational flexibility.