Marshal Joffre

A century ago General Joffre, as Chief of the French General Staff, led the armies that blocked the German invasion at the First Battle of the Marne. He saved Paris from occupation and France from probable defeat. His calm demeanour when faced with a disaster, his ruthless dismissal of incompetent subordinates, and his skilled redeployment of his forces contributed to a historic victory. At the time many saw him as the saviour of the nation, but what should we make of him now? For Joffre contributed to the failures of the French army and its strategy before the war and during the first battles of 1914. Also his conduct of the war after the Marne futile offensives that cost thousands of lives and gained no ground, followed by near defeat at Verdun - undermined his position and led to his dismissal.Although he remained immensely popular in France, his reputation has been under a cloud ever since, and he has been overshadowed by the French generals - Ptain and especially Foch - who commanded the French army at the time of the final victory over Germany.Andr Bourachot, in this lucid and highly readable study of Joffre's career, focuses on his performance during the opening phase of the Great War. He offers a fresh and carefully considered view of the man and the soldier.

First published posthumously in 1932, this is the second and final volume of French Field Marshal Joffre’s fascinating memoirs. Volume II picks up where Volume I left off at the conclusion of 1914 and takes the reader through to the year 1915, which included the operations in France and Belgium, through to the Allied General offensive of 1916 in Verdun and the Battle of the Somme, and, finally, Field Marshall Joffre’s resignation from politics and his subsequent mission to America. Richly illustrated throughout with pictures and maps. “This book, written by the chief actor, unfolds the history of a great campaign upon which hung the destiny of civilization.”—John J. Pershing “Joffre was not only the greatest commander in chief of the World War, but also, as the chief of a general staff, the superior of the elder Moltke himself.”—Frank H. Simonds

First published posthumously in 1932, this is the first volume of two that comprise French Field Marshal Joffre’s fascinating memoirs. Volume I takes the reader on a journey of his experiences in the years before the commencement of World War I, through to the days immediately preceding the War and the various battles of 1914 that he led, including the Battle of Marne. Richly illustrated throughout with pictures and maps. “This book, written by the chief actor, unfolds the history of a great campaign upon which hung the destiny of civilization.”—John J. Pershing “Joffre was not only the greatest commander in chief of the World War, but also, as the chief of a general staff, the superior of the elder Moltke himself.”—Frank H. Simonds