Foch, Ferdinand (X 1871 ; 1851-1929)

In 1870, enlisted in the 4th infantry regiment, he saw bitter defeat. On leaving the Ecole polytechnique, he chose a military career. In 1895, he taught general tactics at the École supérieure de Guerre (Superior War School) before assuming its leadership, now a brigadier general. In the fall of 1914, General Foch was appointed deputy to the commander-in-chief, commanded the IXth army and contributed to victory during the Battle of the Marne. Then assistant to General Joffre, he stopped the German invasion during the "race to the sea" and the battle of Ypres. After leading the Battle of the Somme, he became Chief of the General Staff of the Army (1917). Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Armies in 1918, he led the battles which forced the enemy into capitulation on November 11, 1918. He was elevated to the title of Marshal of France on August 7. A signatory to the armistice, he had the honor of being appointed Marshal of England and Marshal of Poland. He was elected to the French Academy in 1918. Member of the Academy of Sciences in 1918