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Michel-Joseph Maunoury

French General Michel-Joseph Maunoury
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Offert par "Banania"
L.V.Cie
Photo Henri Manuel Paris
Maunoury 
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Administration: 48. r. de la Victoire, Paris, Tel. Cent 03 21

French General Michel-Joseph Maunoury
Text:
Offert par "Banania"
L.V.Cie
Photo Henri Manuel Paris
Maunoury

Image text

Offert par "Banania"

L.V.Cie

Photo Henri Manuel Paris

Maunoury

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In August and September 1914 as the Allies retreated before the German advance, French Commander Joseph Joffre reconfigured his forces.

The left end of the French line was held by General Lanrezac and the French Fifth Army. He correctly believed the Germans would advance much further west before turning south against France than Joffre believed. By the time Joffre recognized the extent of the German advance, Lanrezac's position was difficult.

The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was moving into position to Lanrezac's left when the First Army on the German right wing turned south. The British and Germans collided in the Battle of Mons, a fighting retreat by the British.

Joffre began to transfer French forces to the left of the BEF, creating a French Sixth Army under Maunoury. After battles against the British (at Le Cateau) and the French (at Guise) von Kluck, commanding the German First Army, concluded there was little threat to his right wing.

With Paris threatened, the government gave command of the city's garrison to General Joseph Gallieni. The garrison and the Sixth Army strengthened even as Maunoury's forces fell back to Paris.

During the retreat, Joffre sought a line from which to base a counter-attack, asking his generals when they would be ready to strike. General Franchet d'Esperey, newly commanding the French Fifth Army, would be ready on September 6. On September 5, Gallieni and Maunoury, attacking from Paris, struck the right flank of the German First Army as it passed to the northeast in pursuit of the French Fifth Army. The French and the BEF were still retreating, preparing to attack the next day.

The German First Army turned to meet the threat from Paris increasing a gap that had already opened between it and the Second Army, dangerously isolating the First.

France

Roles held by Michel-Joseph Maunoury

Role Start Date End Date
Combatant - General