11 Facts About Adolphe Guillaumat

Adolphe Guillaumat graduated first from his class of 1884 at the Saint-Cyr military academy.

Adolphe Guillaumat was appointed a sub-lieutenant of infantry in October 1884.

Adolphe Guillaumat was promoted lieutenant-colonel in 1907 and colonel in 1910.

Adolphe Guillaumat led the 1st Army Corps from 25 February 1915, and on 15 December 1916 he replaced Robert Nivelle as commander of the Second Army, when the latter was made commander-in-chief of the French Army.

Adolphe Guillaumat was sent to replace General Sarrail as commander of the Allied Army of the Orient in Salonika in December 1917.

Adolphe Guillaumat laid the plans later executed by his replacement, General Franchet d'Esperey, and rebuilt the relations with France's allies somewhat damaged by his predecessor.

Adolphe Guillaumat was recalled to Paris on 17 June 1918 and replaced with Franchet d'Esperey.

Adolphe Guillaumat then returned to active command as commander of the Fifth Army, which he led through the Ardennes at the end of the war.

Adolphe Guillaumat was a minister of war in a short-lived government led by Aristide Briand, who had been one year his senior at the Nantes Lycee.

Adolphe Guillaumat married Louise Bibent from Toulouse on 17 July 1906 and had two sons: Louis, who became an ophthalmologist, and Pierre, who became a civil servant and served as a minister of the armies of General De Gaulle after the latter's return to power from 1 June 1958 to 5 February 1960.

General Adolphe Guillaumat was a practising Catholic and an admirer of Frederic Bastiat.