Gamelin, Maurice-Gustave

(1872-1958)

   military figure

   The commander of the Allied forces at the beginning of world war II, Maurice Gamelin was born in Paris and educated at saint-cyr. From 1902 to 1911, he served on the staff of General joseph joffre and, during world war I, rose to the rank of brigadier general. He was later (1925-27) sent to the Middle East, where he suppressed a Druze revolt in Syria. Named chief of the general staff in 1931 Gamelin directed the extension of the Maginot Line and, in 1935, became inspector general of the army and vice president of the War Council. Commander in chief of Allied forces in September 1939, at the start of World War II, he was replaced in May 1940, when German forces broke through on the western front. In 1942, he was charged by the vichy government with responsibility for France's entry into the war and interned first at Portalet and later (1943) deported to Germany. He was released and repatriated in 1945. His memoirs were published after the war under the title Servir (1946-47).