Maurice Gamelin
French military officer (1872-1958) · France · On the map · Died at 85
The French general who planned to outlast Germany in a war of attrition, then watched his army collapse in nine days. Maurice Gamelin commanded the Allied forces in May 1940 when the Wehrmacht punched through the Ardennes - the gap his own troop deployments had left open.
Maurice Gamelin is read about 477 times a day, in 46 languages.
A typical day, 30 days to 1 November 2026
The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 406 days, one point a day.
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Maurice Gamelin.jpg?width=1200)
1 FI 5 42 - Revue militaire, place Broglie. 04 octobre 1938, en présence du général Gamelin, chef de l'Armée française (archives de Strasbourg)_g%C3%A9n%C3%A9ral_Mac_Arthur%2C_g%C3%A9n%C3%A9ral_Claudel%2C_g%C3%A9n%C3%A9ral_Gamelin%2C_M._Dumesnil%2C_g%C3%A9n%C3%A9ral_Weygand%2C_M._Maginot_-_(photographie_de_presse)_-..._-_btv1b53249328n.jpg?width=1200)
16-9-31, grandes manoeuvres de l'Aisne (avec entre autres de gauche à droite) général Mac Arthur, général Claudel, général Gamelin, M. Dumesnil, général Weygand, M. Maginot - (photographie de presse) -... - btv1b53249328n_g%C3%A9n%C3%A9ral_Claudel%2C_g%C3%A9n%C3%A9ral_Gamelin_(M._Maginot_au_centre)_-_btv1b532493293.jpg?width=1200)
16-9-31, grandes manoeuvres de l'Aisne (avec entre autres sur la gauche) général Claudel, général Gamelin (M. Maginot au centre) - btv1b532493293
Aujourd'hui 16 september 1940
Castle itter prisoners
Commonwealth Representatives Visiting France, November 1939 O219
Cérémonie militaire aux Invalides - remise de décorations par le Maréchal Pétain au Général Georges et au Général Gamelin - btv1b9027894vAwards
About this person
Gamelin built his reputation in the First World War, helping plan the First Battle of the Marne in 1914 and holding off a German offensive in 1918 while badly outnumbered. He spent the interwar years heading a military mission to Brazil, crushing the Great Syrian Revolt, and climbing to the top of the French Army by 1935. A committed republican, he kept the military out of politics during the Popular Front and counselled caution through every prewar crisis. His strategy for the Second World War banked on a long blockade and slow buildup, but in March 1940 he amended his defensive plan to push more forces into Belgium, draining the reserve that might have stopped the German breakthrough. Dismissed on 19 May as France disintegrated, he was imprisoned by Vichy, tried at Riom in 1942, arrested by the Germans the following year, and held in Tyrol until American forces freed him in May 1945. He lived alone until his death in 1958.