Joseph Joffre Biography and Timeline

Birth of Joseph Joffre

Birth of Joseph Joffre

Chief of General Staff

Appointed Chief-of General Staff

Neutrality

A plan to mobilize 3 million troops against Germany, assumes Belgiums neutrality

Plan XVII

Operation XVII is approved by the War Minister. A plan to mobilize 3 million troops against Germany, assumes Belgiums neutrality

Chief of General Staff

Appointed Commander of the French Army

Battle of Mulhouse

The taking of Mulhouse, albeit without opposition, sparked wild celebrations in France, the French are regarded as liberators by the inhabitants of Mulhouse. The Battle of Mulhouse was intended to secure the recapture of Alsace (with Lorraine to follow separately), territories lost to Germany as a consequence of losing the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71

Role range: 1914-1918

Capture of Mulhouse

The taking of Mulhouse, albeit without opposition, sparked wild celebrations in France, the French are regarded as liberators by the inhabitants of Mulhouse

Role range: 1914-1918

Chief of General Staff

Appointed Commander of the French Army

Role range: 1914-1918

Battle of Mulhouse

The Germans mount a counter-attack at nearby Cernay, Bonneau begins a slow withdrawal

Role range: 1914-1918

Battle of Mulhouse

Despatches a reserve division to assist in the defence, but they arrived too late to save the town from recapture, Bonneau withdrawing towards Belfort on 10 August in order to escape German encirclement

Role range: 1914-1918

Battle of Mulhouse

Charges Bonneau with a lack of aggression & relieves him of his command, Joffre adds four more divisions to the Army of Alsace placed under the command of General Pau

Role range: 1914-1918

Battle of Frontiers

One of the battles of the Frontiers, the Invasion of Lorraine (also known as the Battle of Morhange-Sarrebourg) begins with the French First and Second Armies entering the city

Role range: 1914-1918

First Army

The French First Army, under General Auguste Dubail, intended to take Sarrebourg, east of Nancy, a strongly defended town, with General Noel de Castelnaus Second Army taking Morhange, similarly fortified

Role range: 1914-1918

Invasion of Lorraine

One of the battles of the Frontiers, the Invasion of Lorraine (also known as the Battle of Morhange-Sarrebourg) begins with the French First and Second Armies entering the city.

Role range: 1914-1918

Invasion of Lorraine

The French First Army, under General Auguste Dubail, intended to take Sarrebourg, east of Nancy, a strongly defended town, with General Noel de Castelnaus Second Army taking Morhange, similarly fortified.

Role range: 1914-1918

Invasion of Lorraine

The French invasion of Lorraine forms one of the major objectives of the French pre-war offensive strategy against Germany, Plan XVII.

Role range: 1914-1918

Plan XVII

The French invasion of Lorraine forms one of the major objectives of the French pre-war offensive strategy against Germany, Plan XVII

Role range: 1914-1918

Second Army

The French First Army, under General Auguste Dubail, intended to take Sarrebourg, east of Nancy, a strongly defended town, with General Noel de Castelnaus Second Army taking Morhange, similarly fortified

Role range: 1914-1918

Battle of Frontiers

Eight days after the French offensive had begun both First and Second Armies are back to the fortress zones of Belfort, Epinal and Toul

Role range: 1914-1918

Invasion of Lorraine

Eight days after the French offensive had begun both First and Second Armies are back to the fortress zones of Belfort, Epinal and Toul

Role range: 1914-1918

Battle of Ardennes

The French forces begin a disorderly retreat, the 3rd Army withdrawing to Verdun chased by the German 5th Army (where Ruffey was subsequently removed by Joffre), and 4th Army retreating near Sedan and Stenay

Role range: 1914-1918

Fifth Army

The French forces begin a disorderly retreat, the 3rd Army withdrawing to Verdun chased by the German 5th Army (where Ruffey was subsequently removed by Joffre), and 4th Army retreating near Sedan and Stenay

Role range: 1914-1918

Fourth Army

The French forces begin a disorderly retreat, the 3rd Army withdrawing to Verdun chased by the German 5th Army (where Ruffey was subsequently removed by Joffre), and 4th Army retreating near Sedan and Stenay

Role range: 1914-1918

Third Army

The French forces begin a disorderly retreat, the 3rd Army withdrawing to Verdun chased by the German 5th Army (where Ruffey was subsequently removed by Joffre), and 4th Army retreating near Sedan and Stenay

Role range: 1914-1918

Invasion of France

Joffre orders a retreat to the Somme

Role range: 1914-1918

Capture of Amiens

Amiens is captured by the Germans

Role range: 1914-1918

Invasion of France

Joffre orders a retreat to the Seine-Aube-Ornain line

Role range: 1914-1918

Siege of Paris

Orders the 6th French Army to defend Paris

Role range: 1914-1918

Siege of Paris

Ordes retreat to the Rivers Seine & Aube south east of Paris & 60 km south of the Marne

Role range: 1914-1918

Battle of Marne, 1st

Forms the 6th & 9th Armies in preparation for the German counter-attack

Role range: 1914-1918

Battle of Marne, 1st

Orders the 1st & 2nd French Armies to hold the Germans around Verdun & Nancy

Role range: 1914-1918

Battle of Marne, 1st

Stops further French retreat & orders an attack at the Marne

Role range: 1914-1918

Battle of Marne, 1st

Counter-attacks against von Bulow & forces him to retire, the German advance is halted

Role range: 1914-1918

Battle of Marne, 1st

Defeats von Kluck, the German Army retreats from Paris to the Soissons-Rheims line

Role range: 1914-1918

Capture of Amiens

France recaptures Amiens

Role range: 1914-1918

Capture of Rhiems

France recaptures Rheims

Role range: 1914-1918

Battle of Champagne, 1st

Hopes to divert the Germans from the Eastern front

Role range: 1914-1918

Battle of Champagne, 1st

By the end of the battle the French have advanced 500 yards

Role range: 1914-1918

Battle of Champagne, 2nd

Hopes to divert the Germans from the Eastern front

Role range: 1914-1918

Battle of Champagne, 2nd

A final French attempt to attack the Germans is halted

Role range: 1914-1918