General Henri Joseph Simon was a French army officer.
13 Facts About Henri Simon
1.
2.
Henri Simon is particularly associated with the French protectorate of Morocco where he spent much of his army career.
3.
Henri Simon later wrote books about his time in Morocco and helped the production of the 1934 film Itto.
4.
Henri Simon was born on 23 February 1866 at Selestat in the Bas-Rhin department of Alsace.
5.
Henri Simon was given command of the irregular Moroccan Goumiers in French service in 1911.
6.
An initially temporary arrangement Henri Simon provided such "good service" that his superior, Colonel Pein, called them "the marvel and revelation of this campaign" and they were expanded and integrated as a permanent part of the French armed forces.
7.
Henri Simon later became director of the Indigenous Affairs Service of Morocco and was a member of the Rabat Berber Studies Committee from its establishment in 1915.
8.
On 14 April 1917 Henri Simon was appointed an officer of the Legion of Honour, at which point he was commanding an infantry brigade on the German front.
9.
On 7 February 1918 Henri Simon was appointed commanding officer of the 73rd Infantry Brigade, transferring to the 33rd brigade on 6 June and to the 334th brigade on 28 May 1919.
10.
Henri Simon commanded the 154th Infantry brigade from 12 September, the 255th from 11 December 1922 and was promoted to command the 77th Infantry division on 10 April 1923.
11.
Henri Simon was a General de Brigade and commanded the French "bridgehead" at Dusseldorf, Germany on 12 July 1923 when he was appointed grand officer of the Legion of Honour.
12.
Henri Simon became a grand cross of the Legion of Honour on 11 July 1928 at which point he was general commanding the 11th Infantry Division.
13.
Henri Simon was involved with the production of the 1934 film Itto, filmed in Morocco and written by fellow soldier Maurice Le Glay.