Background
Legentilhomme was born on March 26, 1884 in Valognes, Manche.
Legentilhomme was born on March 26, 1884 in Valognes, Manche.
Ecole Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr.
After the fall of France in 1940, he joined the forces of the Free French. 1905 to 1907: Cadet at the École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr (promotion "la Dernière du vieux Bahut")
1907: Promoted to Sub-Lieutenant
1909: Promoted to Lieutenant
World War I
1914: His unit took part in the battle of Neufchâteau in Belgium, on August 22, and was captured by the Germans. 1914 to1918: In German captivity.
1918: Promoted to Captain
Interwar period
1924: Promoted to Major
1926 to 1928: Chief of Staff Madagascar
1929: Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel
1929 to 1931: Chief of Staff 3rd Colonial Division
1934: Promoted to Colonel
1937 to 1938: Commanding Officer 4th Senegalese Tirailleurs Regiment
1938: Promoted to Brigadier-General
World World War II
1939
1939 to 1940: Commander in Chief of the French military units stationed in French Somaliland (present day Djibouti).
1940
June 18: In Djibouti, the capital of French Somaliland, Legentilhomme condemned the French armistice and declared his intention to continue the war with the British Empire. He declared this in his "General Order Number 4".
August 2 : Left French Somaliland (Vichy French until 1942) and went to the United Kingdom. October 31: Legentilhomme stripped of his French citizenship by the Vichy government.
1941
Legentilhomme promoted to Major General in the Free French Army and returned to East Africa as the Commander-in-Chief of the Free French Forces in the Sudan and Eritrea.
As part of Brigadier Harold Rawdon Briggs" Briggsforce, Free French forces participated in the East African Campaign. Legentilhomme worked under the supreme command of Field Marshal Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell. Created the First French light division or 1st Free French Division (in French "1ère Division légère française libre" or "1ère DLFL").
Commanded the 1st Free French Division and Gentforce during Syria-Lebanon Campaign.
Commander in Chief of Free French forces in Africa. November: Legentilhomme condemned in his absence for treason by the Government of Vichy to the death penalty.
National Commissioner of War
1942
Awarded the Compagnon de la Libération cross by General Charles de Gaulle on 9 September 1942,
High Commissioner of the French possessions in the Indian Ocean
Governor-General of Madagascar
general Officer Commander in Chief Madagascar
1943
Nominated Lieutenant General
Nominated Commissaire to the French Committee for National Liberation
1944 to 1945
General Officer Commanding 3rd Military Region (France)
Military Governor of Paris
1945 to 1946: General Officer Commanding Paris Military Region
1946 to 1947: General Officer Commanding 1st Military Region
1947: Promoted Army General
1947: Retired
1950: Military advisor of the Minister for French overseas departments and territories
1952: Technical advisor of the Minister François Mitterrand (who became President of the French Republic between 1981 and 1995)
23 May 1975: Paul Legentilhomme died at age 91 in Villefranche-sur-Mer, France. He is buried there.
Grand Cross of the Légion of Honor
Compagnon de la Libération
Médaille militaire
Croix de guerre 1914–1918
Croix de guerre 1939–1945
Commander of the Order of the Bath (Great Britain).
1952 to 1958: Member of the Assemblée de l"Union française sous l"étiquette (French) (UDSR - political party).
Member of the Council of Défense of the Empire.