Jean de Lattre de Tassigny facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Marshal Jean de Lattre de Tassigny
General de Lattre in 1946

32nd Chief of the Army Staff
In office 30 November 1945 – 12 March 1947
Preceded by	Maurice Gamelin
Succeeded by	Georges Revers [fr]

Personal details
Born	(1889-02-02)2 February 1889 Mouilleron-en-Pareds, France
Died	11 January 1952(1952-01-11) (aged 62) Paris, France
Spouse	Simonne Calary de Lamazière
Children	Bernard de Lattre de Tassigny
Parents	Roger de Lattre de Tassigny (father) Anne Marie Louise Hénault (mother)
Alma mater	Lycée Sainte-Geneviève École Spéciale Militaire
Nickname	Le Roi Jean
Military service
Allegiance	Third Republic Vichy France Free France Fourth Republic
Branch/service	French Army Cavalry (until 1915) Infantry (from 1915)
Years of service	1911–1952
Rank	Army general
Unit	List 12th Dragoons Regiment 93rd Infantry Regiment 49th Infantry Regiment 21st Tirailleurs Regiment 4th Infantry Regiment 46th Infantry Regiment 5th Infantry Regiment
Commands	List 151st Infantry Regiment 14th Infantry Division 16th Military Region 2nd Army First Army Commander-in-Chief of Ground Forces in Western Europe Far East Expeditionary Corps
Battles/wars	First World War Battle of the Frontiers Battle of Verdun Nivelle offensive 3rd Battle of the Aisne Meuse-Argonne offensive Rif War Operations in Upper Moulouya Operations in Taza Second World War Battle of France Invasion of Elba Operation Dragoon Battle of the Bulge Colmar Pocket Invasion of Germany First Indochina War Battle of Vĩnh Yên Battle of Mạo Khê Battle of the Day River Battle of Hòa Bình

Jean Joseph Marie Gabriel de Lattre de Tassigny (2 February 1889 – 11 January 1952) was a French army general who played a big role in World War II and the First Indochina War. After he passed away in 1952, he was given the special title of Marshal of France.

During World War I, he fought in many battles, including the famous Battle of Verdun. He was wounded five times but kept fighting. He received several awards, like the Legion of Honour and the Military Cross.

Between the two World Wars, he served in the Rif War in Morocco, where he was wounded again. He also worked at the French Ministry of War.

In World War II, he was the youngest French general in May 1940. He led the 14th Infantry Division during the Battle of France. After France was defeated, he stayed with the Vichy Regime army. When the Germans took over more of France in 1942, de Lattre was the only general who ordered his troops to fight back.

He was arrested but managed to escape and joined Charles de Gaulle's Free French Forces in 1943. From 1943 to 1945, he was a key leader in the Liberation Army. He commanded the forces that landed in Southern France in Operation Dragoon in August 1944. His troops then fought their way to the Rhine and Danube rivers. He also represented France when Germany officially surrendered in Berlin on 8 May 1945.

After the war, he became the Commander-in-Chief of French forces in Germany. Later, he was the Chief of Staff of the French Army. In 1951, he became the High Commissioner and commander in Indochina, leading the French Far East Expeditionary Corps. He won important battles against the Việt Minh. Sadly, his only son was killed there. De Lattre returned to Paris due to illness and died of cancer in 1952.

Jean de Lattre's Early Life

The family crest of the de Lattre de Tassigny family

Jean Joseph Marie Gabriel de Lattre de Tassigny was born on 2 February 1889. His hometown was Mouilleron-en-Pareds, France. This was the same village where Georges Clemenceau, a famous World War I leader, was born.

Jean's father, Roger de Lattre de Tassigny, was the mayor of the village. His mother, Anne-Marie Louise Henault, was the daughter of the previous mayor. The family name "de Tassigny" was added in 1740 after a family property.

Education and Military Training

From 1898 to 1904, Jean went to the College of Saint-Joseph in Poitiers. He first wanted to join the Navy. He passed the written tests but missed the oral one because he was sick.

Then, he decided to join the army. He studied at the Lycée Sainte-Geneviève to prepare for the École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr, a famous military school. He got a spot there in 1908. Before starting, he went to Brighton, England, to improve his English.

He also spent four months serving as a regular soldier. He was a cadet at Saint-Cyr from 1909 to 1911. He graduated as a second lieutenant on 1 October 1910. After that, he went to the Cavalry School in Saumur.

Fighting in World War I

De Lattre joined the 12th Dragoon Regiment. This unit was stationed near the German border. He became a lieutenant on 1 October 1912.

Early Wounds and Awards

When First World War started in August 1914, he was still with his regiment. On 11 August 1914, he was wounded for the first time. A shell fragment hit his knee during a scouting mission.

On 14 September, he was wounded again. He was fighting four German soldiers and killed two with his sword. But a third soldier hit him in the chest with a spear, hurting his lung. He hid in a cellar until French soldiers found him. He received the Legion of Honour on 20 December 1914.

Moving to Infantry and Verdun

In 1915, de Lattre volunteered to join the infantry. He became a captain on 18 December 1915. He led a company and then helped command a battalion in the 93rd Infantry Regiment.

His regiment fought in the brutal Battle of Verdun. In July 1916, he was gassed, which affected his injured lung. He had to go to the hospital.

Later Battles of World War I

He returned to his division in time for the Nivelle offensive in April 1917. In one attack, his battalion lost many soldiers but captured 500 enemies. He was recognized for his bravery eight times.

He was hospitalized again and returned in December. He became an intelligence officer. His division fought in the Third Battle of the Aisne and the Meuse-Argonne offensive in 1918. During these battles, he worked with American Army divisions.

Between the World Wars

After World War I, de Lattre worked in Bordeaux. He helped organize activities for American troops before they went home. Later, he joined the 49th Infantry Regiment.

Service in Morocco and Wounds

From 1921 to 1926, he served in Morocco during the Rif War. He led operations in the Meknes area. He was known for directing columns of infantry and artillery.

He was injured twice in Morocco. On 13 March 1924, he was slashed in the cheek with a dagger, leaving a noticeable scar. On 26 August 1925, he was shot in the knee during a scouting mission. He was promoted to chef de bataillon (battalion chief) on 25 June 1926.

Family Life and Further Training

After returning to France, de Lattre met Simonne Calary de Lamazière. They married on 22 March 1927, in Paris. They had one child, Bernard de Lattre de Tassigny, born on 11 February 1928.

De Lattre commanded a battalion of the 4th Infantry Regiment. He also prepared for the entrance exam for the École de guerre, a high-level military school. He passed and graduated in 1928.

Roles in the Ministry of War

In 1931, de Lattre joined the Ministry of War, working on logistics. He was promoted to lieutenant-colonel on 24 March 1932. He then joined the staff of the Conseil supérieur de la guerre, working under General Maxime Weygand. He focused on foreign policies and military budgets.

On 20 June 1935, he became a colonel and commanded the 151st Infantry Regiment. From 1937 to 1938, he studied at an advanced staff college for generals. In March 1939, he was promoted to général de brigade (brigade general).

World War II: Key Campaigns

Battle of France (1940)

De Lattre became the chief of staff for the Fifth Army on 2 September 1939, just before France declared war on Germany. In January 1940, he took command of the 14th Infantry Division.

His division fought bravely around Rethel, holding off German attacks for a month. On 9 June, the German army launched a big attack. De Lattre's division held its ground, but units on its sides could not. He was forced to retreat. Even though his division lost many soldiers, it stayed together. The fighting ended for them with the Armistice of 22 June 1940.

Under the Vichy Regime

After the armistice, de Lattre stayed in the army of Vichy France. He was given a high honor for his leadership in the Battle of France. He commanded the 13th Military Division and set up training centers for officers. He was promoted to général de division (division general) on 26 June 1941.

In September 1941, he was sent to Tunisia as commander-in-chief of troops. He opened another training center there. He disagreed with his superior, General Alphonse Juin, on how to defend Tunisia.

Resisting German Occupation

On 8 November 1942, the Allies landed in North Africa. Germany then occupied southern France and disbanded the Vichy Army. De Lattre received orders not to fight the Germans. However, he chose to disobey these orders and tried to resist the German occupation.

His troops did not move, and he was arrested. He was charged with treason and abandoning his post. He was found guilty of abandoning his post and sentenced to ten years in prison.

Escape and Joining Free French Forces

De Lattre was held in Montluc prison and then transferred to Riom. His wife, Simonne, helped him plan an escape. They smuggled tools into the prison.

On the night of 1 September 1943, he removed a window frame and a bar, squeezed through, and used a rope to climb down. His son, Bernard, threw a rope ladder over the wall to help him. They escaped in cars and hid on a farm. De Lattre then flew to London on a British aircraft and joined Charles de Gaulle's Free French Forces.

Operation Dragoon and French First Army

De Gaulle promoted de Lattre to général d'armée (army general) on 11 November 1943. After recovering from a lung issue, he flew to Algiers. On 26 December, he was put in charge of the Second Army, later renamed Army B. This army was made up of Free French forces, African army forces, and volunteers.

French Foreign Legion troops with US weapons and uniforms landing on a North African beach during training exercises.

De Lattre was given command of all French forces for Operation Dragoon, the Allied landings in Southern France. He also led Operation Brassard, the invasion of Elba, which was successful.

The Operation Dragoon landings began on 15 August 1944. De Lattre landed the next evening. He quickly moved to capture Toulon and Marseille. His divisions encircled Toulon, which was taken five days later. Marseille was also captured quickly after a local uprising.

André Diethelm reviewing troops in Marseille on 29 August 1944. De Lattre is walking behind him.

Lyon was taken on 3 September. On 12 September, his forces met up with General Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque's 2nd Armoured Division, which had come from Normandy. Army B officially became the French 1st Army on 25 September 1944.

As winter approached, many of de Lattre's troops, especially those from warmer climates, struggled with the cold. Their equipment wore out, and supplies were difficult to get. He worked to include units of the French Forces of the Interior (FFI) into the army. By the end of the year, 137,000 FFI members had joined the French Army.

Final Campaigns in Europe

De Lattre wanted an active role for the First Army, even with supply problems. His attack began on 14 November. Belfort was taken on 25 November. Although he didn't capture as many German soldiers as he hoped, 17,000 prisoners were taken.

De Lattre with American General George C. Marshall (left) and Lieutenant General Jacob L. Devers (right).

In December, the Battle of the Bulge briefly stopped the Allied advance. It seemed like they might have to leave Strasbourg, which had just been freed. De Lattre took charge of Strasbourg's defense on 5 January, even against orders. He managed to hold the city despite heavy German pressure.

De Lattre then moved to clear the Colmar Pocket. For this, four American divisions were placed under his command. Colmar was liberated on 2 February 1945.

The First Army broke through the Siegfried Line on 19 March 1945. They crossed the Rhine river on 31 March and advanced through Germany. The Danube river was crossed on 22 April. They even reached Ulm, a city important to French history because of Napoleon.

Eisenhower, Zhukov, Montgomery, and de Lattre in Berlin on 5 June 1945.

On 8 May 1945, de Lattre flew to Berlin for the official German surrender ceremony. He was the French representative. Although no preparations had been made for a French signer, others supported his right to sign. As a compromise, he signed as a witness.

On 15 June, de Lattre attended the first meeting of the Allied Control Council. The First Army was disbanded on 24 July. De Lattre left his command on 4 August 1945, saluting his regiments along the Rhine river.

After the War

In July 1945, de Lattre was offered a less powerful position. He declined, wanting to retire instead. However, Charles de Gaulle then offered him a combined role as Inspector General and Chief of Staff of the French Army. De Lattre accepted this, starting on 29 November 1945.

His job was to demobilize the wartime army and build a new one. He wanted to create a conscript army, where citizens would serve, rather than a professional one. He opened many new training centers to teach new recruits about citizenship. He also made sure that careers in the army were open to the best soldiers, no matter their background.

De Lattre (in kepi) and senior British Army officers observing a NATO exercise in Germany.

In March 1947, he was removed from his Chief of Staff role but remained Inspector General. From 1948 to 1950, he was the first commander-in-chief of the Western Union Defence Organisation ground forces in Western Europe. He often disagreed with British Field Marshal Lord Montgomery on military plans. However, they shared a moment of kindness when Montgomery gave de Lattre an extra slice of birthday cake for his son, Bernard, who was serving in Indochina.

Leading in Indochina

From December 1950 to November 1951, de Lattre commanded French troops in Indochina during the First Indochina War. He was highly respected by both his own soldiers and his enemies, the Việt Minh. He was known for being a strong and inspiring leader.

De Lattre's arrival greatly boosted the morale of French troops. He led his forces to major victories against the Việt Minh. He won three big battles at Vĩnh Yên, Mạo Khê, and Yen Cu Ha. He successfully defended northern Vietnam against the Việt Minh.

Key Victories and Personal Loss

At the Battle of Vĩnh Yên, he defeated two Việt Minh divisions, totaling 20,000 men. He personally took charge, bringing in reinforcements and using every available aircraft for airstrikes. The Việt Minh retreated after three fierce days of fighting, suffering many casualties. De Lattre had prepared well, reinforcing French defenses with concrete blockhouses and new airfields.

In March 1951, at the Battle of Mạo Khê, de Lattre again defeated the Việt Minh. Sadly, his only son, Bernard, was killed in action in the Battle for Nam Định in late May 1951. Bernard had followed his father's orders to hold the town at all costs. After three weeks of battle, the French won, stopping the Việt Minh's advance.

On 20 September 1951, de Lattre spoke at The Pentagon in the United States. He asked for American aid and warned about the spread of communism in Southeast Asia. The US sent some transport planes and trucks, which helped, but it was not enough to change the outcome for France in Vietnam.

Death and Legacy

Marshal of France Jean de Lattre de Tassigny.

On 20 November 1951, de Lattre became very ill and had to return to Paris for medical treatment. He was suffering from prostate cancer. His condition worsened in January. His last words before losing consciousness on 9 January were: "Where is Bernard?" He passed away on 11 January 1952.

De Lattre was given the special title of Marshal of France after his death. This happened on the day of his funeral, 15 January 1952, at Notre Dame de Paris. Important leaders like Charles de Gaulle, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Lord Montgomery were present.

A National Funeral

His state funeral lasted five days. It was described as the biggest military funeral in France since 1929. His body was moved through the streets of Paris in several processions. His coffin lay in state at his home, a chapel at Les Invalides, the Arc de Triomphe, and before Notre Dame.

Thousands of people lined the streets, ten deep, to pay their respects. The funeral included ringing bells and flags flying at half-mast. The final part of the funeral journey was a 400 km trip to his birthplace, Mouilleron-en-Pareds.

There, his 97-year-old father, Roger de Lattre, who was blind, touched the items on his son's coffin. These included the marshal's baton and his son's military cap. Jean de Lattre was buried next to his only son, Bernard, who had died fighting in Indochina just eight months earlier.

Military Ranks

Volunteer Private, 2nd class	Brigadier	Marshal of Lodgings	Aspirant	Second lieutenant

3 October 1908	10 February 1909	5 November 1909	5 May 1910	1 October 1910

Lieutenant	Captain	Battalion chief	Lieutenant colonel	Colonel

1 October 1912	4 April 1916	26 June 1926	24 March 1932	24 June 1935

Brigade general	Division general	Corps general	Army general	Marshal of France

20 March 1939	26 June 1941	2 January 1942	10 November 1943	15 January 1952 Posthumous

Honours and Decorations

De Lattre received many awards and honors for his service:

Honours and decorations
National honours
Ribbon bar	Name	Date	Source
	Grand Cross of the National Order of the Legion of Honour	10 February 1945
	Grand Officer of the National Order of the Legion of Honour	12 July 1940
	Commander of the National Order of the Legion of Honour	20 December 1935
	Officer of the National Order of the Legion of Honour	16 June 1920
	Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honour	3 January 1915
	Companion of the National Order of Liberation	24 September 1944
Military decorations
Ribbon bar	Name	Date	Source
	Military medal	16 June 1920
	War Cross 1914–1918 – Three palms, two silver-gilt stars, three bronze stars
	War Cross 1939–1945 – Eight palms
	War Cross for foreign operational theatres – Three palms
	Colonial Medal – Clasp "Maroc"
	Escapees' Medal
	1914–1918 Inter-Allied Victory medal
	1914–1918 Commemorative war medal
	Military Health Service honour medal – Gold grade
	Medal of Honor of Physical Education – Gold grade	1 April 1947
Foreign honours
Ribbon bar	Name	Country	Source
	Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath	United Kingdom
	Military Cross	United Kingdom
	Army Distinguished Service Medal	United States
	Commander of the Legion of Merit	United States
	Order of Suvorov – 1st class	Soviet Union
	Grand Officer of the Order of Leopold – One palm	Belgium
	War Cross – One palm	Belgium
	War Cross	Czechoslovakia
	Grand Cross of the Order of the White Lion	Czechoslovakia
	Grand Cross of the Order of St Olav	Norway
	Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau	Netherlands
	Commander's Cross of the Order of Virtuti Militari – 16 July 1946	Poland
	Cross of Grunwald – 1st class	Poland
	Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog	Denmark
	Grand Cordon of the Nichan Iftikar	Tunisia
	Grand Cross of the Order of Blood	Tunisia
	Sherifian Order of Military Merit	Morocco
	Grand Cross of the Order of Ouissam Alaouite	Morocco
	Grand Cross of the Order of the Million Elephants and the White Parasol	Laos
	Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Cambodia	Cambodia
	Grand Cross of the National Order of Vietnam	Vietnam
	Commander of the National Order of Merit	Brazil
	Grand Cross of the Order of the Liberator General San Martín	Argentina
	Order of Military Merit – White clasp	Cuba
	Medal of Military Merit	Mexico
	Grand Cross of the Order of Military Merit	Chile
	Grand Cross of the Order of the Black Star	Benin