François Anthoine

François Anthoine
François Anthoine in 1917. Autochrome by Paul Castelneau.
Born	(1860-02-28)28 February 1860 Le Mans, France
Died	25 December 1944(1944-12-25) (aged 84) Paris, France
Allegiance	France
Service/branch	French Army
Years of service	1881–1921
Rank	Général
Commands held	1st Army (1917) 4th Army (1917) 10th Army Corps (1915–17) 20th Division (1914–15)
Battles/wars	Tonkin Campaign First World War
Awards	Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour Croix de guerre Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown (Belgium) Croix de guerre (Belgium) Grand Officer of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus (Italy)

François Paul Anthoine (28 February 1860 – 25 December 1944) was a French Army general during the First World War.

When the Great War began, Anthoine was General Castelnau's Chief of Staff (Second Army).

Anthoine played an important role in Robert Nivelle's ill-fated campaign in spring 1917.

Anthoine was eventually promoted to command French Fourth Army in March 1917 then French First Army in June 1917. At the Third Battle of Ypres in autumn 1917, Anthoine and the First Army participated in the attacks on the northern flank of the salient and guarded the BEF's northern flank from enemy attack across the Yser Canal. Herbert Plumer's Second Army was given a parallel task, attacking the southern flank of the salient and guarding the BEF's southern flank.

Anthoine then served as chief of staff to Petain, French commander in chief, but was dismissed as he was thought “too pessimistic” after the near catastrophe of the Third Battle of the Aisne in May 1918.

After this disgrace, François Anthoine died many years later in 1944.

Further reading

• Evans, M. M. (2004). Battles of World War I. Select Editions. ISBN 1-84193-226-4.
• Greenhalgh, Elizabeth (2014). The French Army and the First World War. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-107-60568-8.

External links

• Colour picture of Gen. Anthoine from 1917
• Biography of Gen. Anthoine in French