Background
Georges Blanchard was born at Orleans on 9 December 1877.
Georges Blanchard was born at Orleans on 9 December 1877.
Georges Maurice Jean Blanchard graduated from the Ecolc Polytechnique in 1899 as an artillerist.
In 1914-18 he served in frontline and staff assignments, winning two citations and ending up as a major in Marshal Joffre’s headquarters. He was promoted to brigadier general at the end of 1932 and three years later got another star. In 1938 the studious sexagenarian became director of all higher military instruction.
At the start of war the general commanded the 1st French Army around Cambrai. He was part of Billotte’s 1st AG (below). On 10 May 1940, in accordance with the agreed strategy, Blanchard joined the advance to support the Belgians on the Dyle River line. Moving between Lord Gort's Bef, on his north flank, and Corap's 9th French Army, he advanced about 25 miles and collided with Reichenau's 6th Army around Hannut. Blanchard withdrew into the large pocket of Allied troops cut off by the German drive down the Somme River to the English Channel. On 25 May 1940, two days after Bil Lotte was fatally injured, a bewildered Blanchard moved up to head the army group. But he was incapable of issuing orders. Alan Brooke later wrote, “He gave me the impression of a man whose brain had ceased to function”. Evacuated from Dunkirk on a French destroyer at 6 PM on 1 June 1940, Blanchard was put on the reserve list on 28 Aug 1940. He faded into obscurity, but not before being awarded the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor as of 4 June 1940 (the date the Dunkirk evacuation was completed).