41 Facts About Joseph Gallieni

Joseph Simon Gallieni was a French military officer, active for most of his career as a military commander and administrator in the French colonies where he wrote several books on colonial affairs.

Joseph Gallieni was recalled from retirement at the beginning of the First World War.

Joseph Gallieni died later that year and was made Marshal of France posthumously in 1921.

Joseph Gallieni was born in 1849 at Saint-Beat, in the department of Haute-Garonne, in the central Pyrenees.

Joseph Gallieni's father, born in Pogliano Milanese, had risen from the ranks to be a captain.

Joseph Gallieni was gifted and outstanding in mathematics and languages.

Joseph Gallieni later became a second lieutenant in the 3rd Marine Infantry Regiment before serving in the Franco-Prussian War.

Joseph Gallieni fought at Sedan and was taken prisoner at Bazeilles, scene of the stand of the colonial marines.

Joseph Gallieni learned German while a prisoner there, and later kept a notebook in German, English and Italian called "Erinnerungen of my life di ragazzo".

Joseph Gallieni stayed in Madagascar with one brief interruption until 1905; his future commander Joseph Joffre served under him there.

In 1905 Joseph Gallieni defended the code de l'indigenat, as it administered punishment more arbitrarily and swiftly than would be possible under due legal process.

In 1905 Joseph Gallieni was appointed Military Governor of Lyon and commandant of the Army of the Alps.

Joseph Gallieni wanted to thrust into Belgium in the event of war, and to increase the size of the army by attaching a regiment of reservists to each regular regiment to form demi-brigades.

Joseph Gallieni commanded Fifth Army until his retirement, and protested that it was not strong enough to advance into Belgium, and that Maubeuge should be fortified more strongly.

At the 1911 manoeuvres Joseph Gallieni used air reconnaissance to capture a colonel of the Supreme War Council and his staff.

Joseph Gallieni learned from Messimy that 61st and 62nd Infantry Divisions, formerly the Paris Garrison, were being ordered north for Maunoury's planned offensive against the German west flank near Amiens, leaving Joseph Gallieni with only territorial troops.

From 10am to 10:15am Joseph Gallieni held his one and only Council of Defence, at which his military and civil cabinets, standing up and without discussion, were made to sign the order placing Paris in a state of defence.

Joseph Gallieni sacked two generals in his first two days.

Joseph Gallieni later recorded that he had been certain that he was remaining behind to die.

Joseph Gallieni had four territorial divisions and the 185th Territorial Brigade.

Joseph Gallieni soon received a Marine Artillery Brigade and the 84th Territorial Division.

Joseph Gallieni stayed up with his staff all night drawing up plans for Sixth Army to give battle between the Oise and Pontoise.

Joseph Gallieni believed that Joffre's strategy of retreating behind the Seine was "divorced from reality" as the Germans would not allow his forces enough time to rally.

Joseph Gallieni decided that it was "vital to act quickly" so as not to leave Paris uncovered.

Joseph Gallieni had already received advice from the liaison officer Victor Huguet that BEF Commander-in-Chief Sir John French, influenced by BEF Chief of Staff Murray and concerned about his supply lines along the lower Seine, was unlikely to join in any offensive.

That evening Joseph Gallieni, who returned to Paris find Joffre's message from earlier in the day and a message from Wilson, insisted on speaking to Joffre personally on the telephone, informing him that it was too late to cancel the movement of Maunoury's Army.

At 8:30pm Joseph Gallieni ordered the attack by Maunoury's Army, which was in fact already under way.

That day Joseph Gallieni was ordered not to communicate directly with the government.

Joffre, concerned that Joseph Gallieni might arouse Sir John's "touchiness," sent a telegram to Lord Kitchener thanking him for Sir John's efforts.

Joseph Gallieni was an early supporter of some kind of expeditionary force to the Balkans.

Joseph Gallieni complained bitterly in his diary about the politicians' unwillingness to stand up to Joffre.

Joseph Gallieni later ordered Joffre to send an extra French division, although not the two Sarrail demanded.

Joseph Gallieni made an effort to unite soldiers and politicians, and to establish a working relationship in which he concentrated on supplying resources.

Joseph Gallieni demanded to see all paperwork from the period, but Joffre had made no such order in writing, merely despatching de Castelnau to assess the situation.

Joseph Gallieni was falsely suspected of wanting to launch a military takeover of the government.

Poincare wrote that Joseph Gallieni was trying to force Joffre's resignation, although it is unclear whether he was specifically trying to do so.

Joseph Gallieni was persuaded to remain in office until a replacement had been designated and approved.

Joseph Gallieni was posthumously made Marshal of France, in 1921.

Joseph Gallieni thinks for France and he behaves with the spontaneous confidence of genius in action.

Doughty writes of the Marne: "Joseph Gallieni's role was important, but the key concept and decisions lay with Joffre".

Joseph Gallieni amassed a large collection of objects from French Sudan and Madagascar, which he donated to the Museum de Toulouse.