First World War · permanent subject timeline
French commander-in-chief during the opening years of the war. This page combines historical context with 16 matching records drawn directly from the World History Database World War I battle archive.
Historical context
Joseph Joffre commanded the French armies during the opening campaigns of 1914 and played the central French command role in the counter-offensive on the Marne. He remained commander-in-chief through most of 1916.
Joffre oversaw France's recovery from the failures of the opening offensive and the stabilization of the Western Front. His leadership was later criticized as casualties mounted during prolonged offensive operations.
World History Database records
The records below are selected from the 572-record World War I battles archive and rendered as static HTML in chronological order.
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
Battle of Mulhouse
The Germans mount a counter-attack at nearby Cernay, Bonneau begins a slow withdrawal
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
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
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
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
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
Battle of Marne, 1st
Forms the 6th & 9th Armies in preparation for the German counter-attack
Battle of Marne, 1st
Orders the 1st & 2nd French Armies to hold the Germans around Verdun & Nancy
Battle of Marne, 1st
Stops further French retreat & orders an attack at the Marne
Battle of Marne, 1st
Counter-attacks against von Bulow & forces him to retire, the German advance is halted
Battle of Marne, 1st
Defeats von Kluck, the German Army retreats from Paris to the Soissons-Rheims line
Battle of Champagne, 1st
Hopes to divert the Germans from the Eastern front
Battle of Champagne, 1st
By the end of the battle the French have advanced 500 yards
Battle of Champagne, 2nd
Hopes to divert the Germans from the Eastern front
Battle of Champagne, 2nd
A final French attempt to attack the Germans is halted
Editorial provenance
Compiled and edited by World History Database.
Historical context is editorial material; the chronology is generated from World History Database First World War records.
Last reviewed: September 2026.
Imperial War Museums · Commonwealth War Graves Commission · Australian War Memorial
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