Ferdinand Foch Biography and Timeline

Birth of Ferdinand Foch

Birth of Ferdinand Foch

Lieutenant

Appointed Lieutenant in the artillery

Principles of War

Publication of "Principles of War"

Brigadier General

Appointed Brigadier General

Chief of Staff

Appointed Chief of Staff to V Corps

War College

Appointed Head of the War College

Major General

Appointed Major General

Commander of Ninth Army

Appointed Commander of the Ninth Army, to fill the gap on the Marne front

Ninth Army

Appointed Commander of the Ninth Army, to fill the gap on the Marne front

Commander of Ninth Army

Appointed Commander of the Ninth Army, to fill the gap on the Marne front

Role range: 1914-1918

Ninth Army

Appointed Commander of the Ninth Army, to fill the gap on the Marne front

Role range: 1914-1918

Battle of Frontiers

Attacks Morhange but forced to retreat to Nancy

Role range: 1914-1918

Commander of Army Group North

Appointed Commander of the Army Group North

Commander of Army Group North

Appointed Commander of the Army Group North, during the "Race to the Sea"

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1914-1916

Battle of Ypres, 1st

Foch coordinates French support around Ypres.

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1914-1918

Allied Line around Ypres Reinforced

Foch coordinates French reinforcements to help stabilise the Allied position around Ypres.

Role range: 1914-1918

French Northern Armies Coordinated in Flanders

Foch coordinates French support for Belgian and British forces during the fighting in Flanders.

Role range: 1914-1918

Battle of Artois, 1st

Conducts an offensive in Artois

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1914-1916

Commander of XX Corps

Appointed Commander of the XX Corps

Mobilization

Coordinate the Allied forces between the Oise & the North Sea

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1914-1916

Commander of XX Corps

Appointed Commander of the XX Corps

Role range: 1914-1918

Commander of Army Group North

Appointed Commander of the Army Group North, given full command

Commander of Army Group North

Appointed Commander of the Army Group North, given full command

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1914-1916

Battle of the Somme, 1st

Coordinates French northern army operations supporting the Allied Somme offensive.

Role range: 1914-1918

Dismissal

Moved to an advisery post after the failure of the Somme offensive

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1914-1916

Chief of General Staff

Appointed Chief of the General Staff

Chief of General Staff

Appointed Chief of the General Staff

Role range: 1914-1918

Battle of Caporetto

Made adviser to the Italian Government after the Italian disaster at Caporetto

Role range: 1914-1918

Supreme Allied War Council

Appointed Member of Supreme Allied War Council

Supreme Allied War Council

Appointed Member of Supreme Allied War Council

Role range: 1914-1918

Supreme War Council

Serves as French military representative to the council.

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1917-1918

Commander in Chief

Appointed Commander for Allied operations on the Western Front

Commander in Chief

Appointed Commander for Allied operations on the Western Front

Role range: 1914-1918

Conference of Doullens

Foch becomes the de facto Allied Generalissimo

Role range: 1914-1918

Supreme War Council

Receives broader Allied coordinating authority after the German offensive.

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1918-1918

Capture of Montdidier

The French 3rd Army loses Montdidier

Role range: 1914-1918

Third Army

The French 3rd Army loses Montdidier

Role range: 1914-1918

General

Appointed General in Chief of the Allied Armies, extending his powers

General

Appointed General in Chief, extending his powers to "strategic direction"

Role range: 1914-1918

Battle of Marne, 1st

Mounts a counter-offensive along the Marne

Role range: 1914-1918