Ferdinand Foch
Ferdinand Foch was a prominent French military leader and strategist during World War I. Born in 1851, he had already established himself as a respected figure in the French military prior to the war, with his works on military strategy becoming essential reading for officers. Foch displayed remarkable strategic prowess early in the war, particularly during the Battle of the Marne in September 1914, where he halted the German advance. His philosophy emphasized aggressive offensive tactics, which proved effective in subsequent battles such as Ypres in 1915 and the Somme in 1916, contributing to the retreat of German forces.
In 1917, French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau appointed Foch as head of the French forces, believing his strategies would lead to Allied success. By April 1918, he was appointed Supreme Allied Commander, where he coordinated efforts among Allied forces, including the British and Americans, ultimately leading to the victory of the Allies. Foch's military leadership culminated in his signing of the armistice on November 11, 1918, marking the end of hostilities in World War I. His contributions have left a significant impact on military strategy and history.
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Ferdinand Foch
Armed Forces Personnel
- Born: October 2, 1851
- Birthplace: Tarbes, Hautes-Pyrénées, France
- Died: March 20, 1929
- Place of death: Paris, France
Born: October 2, 1851; Tarbes, Hautes-Pyrénées, France
Died: March 20, 1929; Paris, France
Principal war: World War I
Principal battles: Marne (1914), Ypres (1915), Somme (1916)
Military significance: Foch led the French forces and then the Allied forces during World War I.
When World War I began in 1914 following the assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand in Sarajevo, Ferdinand Foch was already sixty-three years old and a respected senior French general. His books Principes de la guerre (1903; The Principles of War, 1918) and De la conduite de la guerre (1905; the conduct of war) were considered mandatory reading for French officers, and he also served as the commandant of the French War College.
Shortly after the war began, he revealed himself to be an excellent strategist at the September, 1914, Battle of the Marne when he stopped the German advance and forced them to retreat. He told his officers that they and their soldiers should always attack and never retreat. This offensive strategy was very effective in the 1915 Battle of Ypres and especially at the 1916 Battle of the Somme. In both cases, unrelenting attacks by French and English soldiers forced the German soldiers to retreat.
In 1917, the French prime minister Georges Clemenceau appointed Marshal Foch the head of the French forces because of his belief that Foch’s offensive strategy would lead to victory. In April, 1918, Marshal Foch became the Supreme Allied Commander. With the cooperation of the head of British forces, Douglas Haig, and his American counterpart, John J. Pershing, Foch led the Allies to final victory. Foch signed the armistice for the Allies on November 11, 1918.
Bibliography
Aston, George. The Biography of the Late Marshal Foch. New York: Macmillan, 1929.
Liddell Hart, B. H. Foch: The Man of Orleans. Boston: Little, Brown, 1932.
Trask, David F. The AEF and Coalition Warmaking, 1917–1918. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 1993.