Henri Philippe Petain Biography and Timeline

Birth of Henri Philippe Petain

Birth of Henri Philippe Petain, in the Pas de Calais, son of a peasant familly

Major

Appointed Major

Instructor

Appointed Instructor at the Ecole de Guerre

Colonel

Appointed Colonel

Commander of Thirty 3rd Regiment

Appointed Commander of the 33rd Regiment

General

Appointed General of the Brigade

Battle of Marne, 1st

Fights at the Battle of the Marne

Role range: 1914-1918

General

Appointed General of the Division after the Battle of the Marne

Commander of XXXIII Corps

Appointed Commander of the XXXIII Corps

Battle of Artois, 1st

The battle was the first offensive move on the Western Front by either side after the First Battle of Ypres ended in November 1914. The French assault failed to break the stalemate. Commander at the Battle of Artois

Role range: 1914-1918

Battle of Arras

First day of the Arras Offensive

Role range: 1914-1918

Spring Offensive

The second Battle of Artois, 9 May-18 June 1915, was the most important part of the Allied spring offensive of 1915. It was hoped to capture Vimy Ridge, break through the German lines, and advance into the Douai plain. This would cut key German railway lines and perhaps force them to retreat from their great salient bulging out into France

Role range: 1914-1918

Battle of Arras

Final day of the Arras Offensive, nearly breaks the German defenses on Vimy Ridge

Role range: 1914-1918

Battle of Artois, 2nd

Over five weeks the French and Germans were engaged in a battle of attrition in the area immediately behind the old German front line. This was a maze of communications trenches and strong points, where progress was slow and costly.

Role range: 1914-1918

Battle of Artois, 2nd

The French suffered 100,000 casualties, the Germans 75,000, and as the French were well aware there were more Germans than Frenchmen.

Role range: 1914-1918

Battle of Artois, 2nd

The Moroccan Division did manage to fight its way back onto Vimy Ridge on 16 June, but was once again pushed back

Role range: 1914-1918

Battle of Artois, 2nd

The attack in Artois failed to achieve its original objectives. Vimy Ridge remained in German hands until it fell to the Canadians in 1917 (Battle of Vimy Ridge), while the battle of attrition favoured the Germans.

Role range: 1914-1918

Commander of Second Army

Appointed Commander of the Second Army

Battle of Champagne, 1st

Commander of Second Army during the Battle of Champagne

Role range: 1914-1918

Commander of Second Army

Appointed Commander of the Second Army

Role range: 1914-1918

Second Army

Commander of Second Army during the Battle of Champagne

Role range: 1914-1918

Battle of Verdun

Commander of Second Army during the Battle of Champagne

Role range: 1914-1918

Commander of Armies Centre

Appointed Commander of the Armies of the Centre

Commander of Armies Centre

Appointed Commander of the Armies of the Centre

Role range: 1914-1918

Rebellion of Rebels in Villiers-Cotter

About 1,500 mutineers march on Villiers-Cotterelts to try & reach Paris

Role range: 1914-1918

Marshal

Appointed Marshal of France

Vice President

Appointed Vice President of the Council

Prime Minister of France

Appointed Prime Minister of the French Government in Bordeaux

Constitution of France

Forms the Vichy Government & gives orders for the British to leave France

Role range: 1939-1944

Vichy Government

Forms the Vichy Government & gives orders for the British to leave France

Role range: 1939-1944

Prime Minister of France

Appointed Prime Minister of the French Government in Bordeaux

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1940

Armistice

Asks the Germans for an Armistice

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1940

Armistice

Germany presents armistice terms to France

Capture of Cherbourg

Rommels 7th Panzer Div captures Cherbourg

Armistice

Signs an armistice with the Germans in the Foch railway carriage of 1918

Role range: 1939-1945

Marshal

Appointed Marshal

Marshal

Appointed Marshal

Role range: 1939-1945

Catapult

Vichy breaks off dilomatic relations with Britain in response to Operation Catapult

Role range: 1939-1944

Head of State

Formally proclaimed head of State in France

Head of State

Appointed Head of State in France

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1945