Henri Honoré Giraud (18 January 1879 – 13 March 1949) was a French general who fought in the First and Second World Wars. The Casablanca Conference (codenamed SYMBOL was held at the Anfa Hotel in Casablanca, Morocco, then a French Protectorate, from January 14 to Events 350 - Generallus Magnentius deposes Roman Emperor Constans and proclaims himself Emperor Year 1879 ( MDCCCLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 1138 - Cardinal Gregorio Conti is elected Antipope as Victor IV, succeeding Anacletus II. Year 1949 ( MCMXLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including After being captured in 1940, he escaped from German captivity two years later and joined the Free French Forces. The Free French Forces (Forces Françaises Libres FFL) were French fighters in World War II who decided to continue fighting against Axis forces
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Early life
Henri Giraud was born in Paris, of Alsatian descent. Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city Alsace (Alsace alzas Alsatian and Elsass pre-1996 German: Elsaß; Alsatia is one of the 26 Regions of France, located on the eastern He graduated from the Saint-Cyr Military Academy in 1900 and joined the French Army, serving in North Africa until he was transferred back to France in 1914 when the First World War broke out, when he commanded Zouave troops. The École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr ( ESM, literally the "Special Military School of St Cyr" is the foremost French Military academy. Year 1900 ( MCM) was an exceptional Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar North Africa or Northern Africa is the Northernmost Region of the African Continent, separated by the Sahara from Sub-Saharan Zouave was the title given to certain Infantry regiments in the French Army, normally serving in French North Africa between 1831 and 1962 He was captured in the Battle of Guise in August 1914, when he was seriously wounded, but escaped two months later and returned to France via the Netherlands. The Battle of St Quentin is also called the Battle of Guise, and was fought during World War I. The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands
Afterwards, Giraud served with French troops in Constantinople under General Franchet d'Esperey. Constantinople (Κωνσταντινούπολις Konstantinoúpolis, or gr ἡ Πόλις hē Polis, Latin: la CONSTANTINOPOLIS Louis Félix Marie François Franchet d'Espérey ( 25 May 1856 &ndash 8 July 1942) was a French general during the First In 1933 he was transferred to Morocco to fight against Rifkabyle rebels. Morocco (المغرب "al-Maghrib" officially the Kingdom of Morocco (المملكة المغربية is a country located in North Africa He was awarded the Légion d'Honneur after the capture of Abd-el-Krim and later became the military commander of Metz. Abd el-Krim (c1882 Ajdir &ndash February 6, 1963, Cairo) ( Mulay Abdelkrim, full name Muhammad Ibn 'Abd El-Karim El-Khattabi Metz (mɛs in French) is a city in the northeast of France, capital of the Lorraine région and Préfecture
Capture and escape
When the Second World War began, Giraud was a member of the Superior War Council, and disagreed with Charles de Gaulle about the tactics of using armoured troops. Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle ( ( 22 November 1890 – 9 November 1970) was a French General and statesman who led the Free French He became the commander of the 7th Army when it was sent to the Netherlands on 10 May 1940 and was able to delay German troops at Breda on 13 May. Events 1291 - Scottish Nobles recognize the authority of Edward I of England. Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Breda ( is a Municipality and a city in the southern part of the Netherlands. Subsequently, the depleted 7th Army was merged with the 9th. When he was trying to block a German attack through the Ardennes, German troops captured him at Wassigny on 19 May. For the political subdivision of France see Ardennes (department. Wassigny is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardie in northern France. He was taken to Königstein Castle near Dresden which was used as a high-security POW prison. Königstein Fortress (Festung Königstein the " Saxon Bastille " is a famous historic mountaintop Fortress near Dresden, in Saxon Dresden (etymologically from Old Sorbian Drežďany, meaning people of the riverside forest, Drježdźany is the Capital city of the German
Giraud planned his escape carefully over two years. He learned German and memorised a map of the surrounding area. On 17 April 1942 he lowered himself down the cliff of the mountain fortress. Events 69 - After the First Battle of Bedriacum, Vitellius becomes Roman Emperor. Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. He had shaved off his moustache, and, wearing a Tyrolean hat, traveled to Schandau to meet his SOE contact. The Tyrolean hat, named after the region of Tyrol, is associated with the Austrian Alps. Bad Schandau (ˌbaːt ˈʃandaʊ̯ is a spa town in Germany, in the southern Free State of Saxony, district Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge. The Special Operations Executive ( SOE) (sometimes referred to as "the Baker Street Irregulars " after Sherlock Holmes ' fictional group of helpers Through various ruses he reached the Swiss border and eventually slipped into Vichy France. Vichy France, or the Vichy regime are the common terms used to describe the government of France from July 1940 to August 1944 After escaping from prison, he told Marshal Pétain that Germany would lose and they must resist. Henri Philippe Benoni Omer Joseph Pétain (24 April 1856 – 23 July 1951 generally known as Philippe Pétain or Marshal Pétain ( Maréchal Pétain) The Vichy government refused to return Giraud to the Germans (see Giraud and the African Scene by G. Ward Price).
Cooperation with the Allies
Giraud's escape was soon known all over France. Heinrich Himmler ordered the Gestapo to assassinate him, and Pierre Laval tried to persuade him to return to Germany. Heinrich Luitpold Himmler ( 7 October 1900 – 23 May 1945 was a Nazi German politician and head of the Schutzstaffel (SS. The ( contraction of ge heime Sta ats' po' lizei: "Secret State Police" was the official Secret police of Nazi Germany Pierre Laval (28 June 1883 15 October 1945 was a French Politician and statesman who led the Vichy government during World War II, and Giraud supported Pétain and the Vichy government but refused to cooperate with the Germans. Henri Philippe Benoni Omer Joseph Pétain (24 April 1856 – 23 July 1951 generally known as Philippe Pétain or Marshal Pétain ( Maréchal Pétain) Vichy France, or the Vichy regime are the common terms used to describe the government of France from July 1940 to August 1944 Consequently he agreed upon an Allied landing in North Africa, but asked to be the Commander of such an operation. Eventually Giraud travelled to Algeria, and on 7 November 1942 the British submarine Seraph took him to meet General Dwight Eisenhower in Gibraltar. Algeria ( ar [[Arabic]] الجزائر, Al Jaza'ir ælʤæˈzæːʔir Amazigh: ⴷⵥⴰⵢⴻⵔ Dzayer) officially the People's Events 1492 - The Ensisheim Meteorite the oldest Meteorite with a known date of impact strikes the Earth around noon in a Wheat Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Operation Flagpole See also Operation Flagpole Seraph first saw action in support of Operation Torch, the Allied landings in North Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower (October 14 1890 – March 28 1969 was President of the United States from 1953 until 1961 and a five-star general Gibraltar (dʒɨˈbrɒltər is a British overseas territory located near the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar Eisenhower, giving him the code name King-Pin, asked him to command French troops in Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia after Operation Torch, but Giraud was disappointed not to command the whole operation. Operation Torch (initially called Operation Gymnast) was the British - American invasion of French North Africa in World War II He made a series of significant concessions at Gibraltar before this operation took place. He refused to leave immediately for Algiers, where the French resistance was waiting for him, but rather stayed in Gibraltar until 9 November. Algiers (الجزائر Algerian Arabic: Dzayer ( (From kabyle pronunciation Kabyle: Ledzayer, Alger) is the Capital and largest When asked why he did not go to Algiers he replied: "You may have seen something of the large De Gaullist demonstration that was held here last Sunday. Some of the demonstrators sang the Marseillaise. I entirely approve of that! Others sang the Chant du Depart [a military ballad]. Quite satisfactory! Others again shouted "Vive de Gaulle!" No Objection. But some of them cried "Death to Giraud!" I don't approve of that at all. " (Giraud and the African Scene, p. 260. G. Ward Price. MacMillan. New York, NY, 1944.
The French resistance, pursuant to agreements secretly made in Cherchell on 23 October 1942 with General Mark W. Clark of the combined Allied command, acted without him. Cherchell (older Cherchel) is a seaport town in the Province of Tipaza, Algeria, 55 Miles West of Algiers. Events 4004 BC - Creation of the world begins according to the calculations of Archbishop James Ussher 42 BC - Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Mark Wayne Clark ( May 1, 1896 – April 17, 1984) was an American general during World War II and the Korean War The Putsch of 8 November 1942 was accomplished by 400 poorly armed men who overnight neutralised Vichy army and coastal artillery units, took over the majority of the strategic points of Algiers, and arrested most of the Vichy military and civilian leaders, including General Alphonse Juin, the French commander-in-chief of North Africa, as well as Admiral François Darlan. Events 1519 - Hernán Cortés enters Tenochtitlán and Aztec ruler Moctezuma welcomes him with great a Celebration Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Alphonse Pierre Juin ( 16 December 1888 &ndash 27 January 1967) was a Marshal of France. François Darlan (7 August 1881 &ndash 24 December 1942 was a French Naval officer. Allied forces occupied Algiers and compelled Juin and Darlan to order a ceasefire. Ships that refused to join the Free French were scuttled. Germany, seeing these actions as betrayal, proceeded to occupy southern France. During World War II the German authorities codenamed the occupation of Vichy France Case (or Operation) Anton.
In turn Eisenhower accepted Darlan's self-nomination as high commissioner of French North and West Africa, a move that enraged de Gaulle, who refused to recognise Darlan's status. Giraud arrived on the evening of 9 November in Algiers, and on the 10th he agreed to subordinate himself to Darlan as the French African army commander. Darlan maintained Nazi-inspired racist laws and deported people to Vichy concentration camps. There have been Internment camps and Concentration camps in France before during and after World War II.
That situation, qualified by Roosevelt as "military expediencies", could not be accepted by the French resistance. Consequently, during the afternoon of 24 December 1942, a 20-year-old French monarchist, Fernand Bonnier de La Chapelle, entered Darlan's headquarters in Algiers and shot him twice. Events 563 - The Byzantine church Hagia Sophia in Constantinople is dedicated for the second time after being destroyed by Earthquakes Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Fernand Bonnier de La Chapelle, born in 1922 in Algiers and executed in that city on December 26 1942 was a member of the French resistance who shot Admiral of the Although de la Chapelle had been a member of the resistance group led by Henri d'Astier, it is believed he was acting on his own initiative.
Free French leader
After Admiral Darlan's assassination, Giraud became his de facto successor with Allied support. Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle ( ( 22 November 1890 – 9 November 1970) was a French General and statesman who led the Free French This occurred through a series of consultations between Giraud and de Gaulle. De Gaulle wanted to pursue a political position in France and agreed to have Giraud as commander-in-chief, as the more militarily qualified of the two. It is questionable that he ordered that many French resistance leaders who had helped Eisenhower's troops be arrested, without any protest by Roosevelt's representative, Robert Murphy. Robert Daniel Murphy (1894&ndash1978 was an American Diplomat. Giraud took part in the Casablanca conference, with Roosevelt, Churchill and de Gaulle, in January 1943. The Casablanca Conference (codenamed SYMBOL was held at the Anfa Hotel in Casablanca, Morocco, then a French Protectorate, from January 14 to Later, after very difficult negotiations, Giraud agreed to suppress the racist laws, and to liberate Vichy prisoners from the awful South Algerian concentration camps. Henri Giraud and Charles de Gaulle then became co-presidents of the Comité français de la Libération Nationale and Free French Forces. Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle ( ( 22 November 1890 – 9 November 1970) was a French General and statesman who led the Free French The French Committee of National Liberation (Comité Français de Libération Nationale was a body formed by the French leaders Gens The Free French Forces (Forces Françaises Libres FFL) were French fighters in World War II who decided to continue fighting against Axis forces Giraud wanted to lift all racial laws immediately; however, only the Cremieux decree was immediately restored by General de Gaulle. Adolphe Crémieux ( April 30, 1796 &ndash February 10, 1880) was a French - Jewish lawyer and statesman and a staunch defender De Gaulle consolidated his political position at Giraud's expense because he was more up to date with the political situation.
On 13 September, Giraud led the landings at Corsica arming Corsica's Communist-oriented Front National resistance group. Corsica (Corse Corsican and Italian: Corsica) is the fourth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily This article is about the WWII French resistance movement For the French far-right wing political party see Front National. This drew more criticism from de Gaulle, and he lost the co-presidency in November 1943.
When the Allies found out that Giraud was maintaining his own intelligence network, the French committee forced him from his post as a commander-in-chief of the French forces. He refused to accept a post of Inspector General of the Army and chose to retire. On 28 August 1944 he survived an assassination attempt in Algeria. Events 475 - The Roman General Orestes forces western Roman Emperor Julius Nepos to flee his Capital Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
Postwar life
On 2 June 1946 he was elected to the French Constituent Assembly as a representative of the Republican Party of Liberty and helped to create the constitution of the Fourth Republic. Events 455 - The Vandals enter Rome, and plunder the city for two weeks Year 1946 ( MCMXLVI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Republican Party of Liberty ( French: Parti républicain de la liberté, PRL was a Right-of-center French political party created at The founding of the Fourth Republic (1944-47 See also Three Parties, Third Force (France European Unity The creation of the He remained a member of the War Council and received a medal for his escape. He published two books, Mes Evasions (My Escapes, 1946) and Un seul but, la victoire: Alger 1942-1944 (A Single Goal, Victory: Algiers 1942–1944, 1949) about his experiences.
Henri Giraud died in Dijon, France, on 13 March 1949. Dijon ( diʒɔ̃ is a city in eastern France, the capital of the Côte-d'Or departement and of the Bourgogne region Events 1138 - Cardinal Gregorio Conti is elected Antipope as Victor IV, succeeding Anacletus II. Year 1949 ( MCMXLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
References
Giraud and the African Scene, p. 260. G. Ward Price. MacMillan. New York, NY, 1944.
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