Joffre, Joseph Jacques Cesaire, << ZHAWF ruh, zhaw ZEHF zhahk say ZEHR >> (1852-1931), commanded the French armies during the early part of World War I (1914-1918). Joffre’s reputation grew when he defeated the Germans in the First Battle of the Marne in 1914. He was the first French general to defeat a German army in a major battle since Napoleon Bonaparte did so in the early 1800’s. His victory ended Germany’s hopes to defeat France quickly.
By 1915, the opposing armies had reached a stalemate on the Western Front. Joffre attempted to break the stalemate with offensives in Artois and Champagne, but they were costly failures. In December 1916, the French government replaced Joffre because it thought he was wasting French strength in exchange for minor gains. Joffre was named marshal of France and given largely ceremonial duties.
Joffre was born on Jan. 12, 1852, in Rivesaltes near Perpignan. He interrupted his engineering studies to serve in the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871). After a career spent mainly in the French colonies, Joffre was promoted to chief of the general staff in 1911. He died on Jan. 3, 1931.
