Michel-Joseph Maunoury

December 17, 1847 (age 75)

Maintenon, France

The next decades saw his steady climb from captain in 1874 to brigadier general in 1901. En route, he had served as an artillery instructor at St. Cyr and completed the War College (Ecole supérieure de guerre) with honors. In 1905, promoted major general, Maunoury took command at the War College. Then came two tours as a corps commander and, at the apparent close of a distinguished career, a term as military governor of Paris (1910-1912) and membership on the Supreme War Council. In 1912 Maunoury reached retirement age and returned to his family home. The outbreak of World War I ended his quiet life as a gentleman farmer. In the confused days of mid-August 1914, Maunoury was first sent to defend the area north of Verdun. His immediate task was to mold a collection of reservists and units lifted from other field armies into a new "Army of Lorraine." On August 26 the old artilleryman was given a more exciting mission. He was ordered to take command of another scratch force of reservists stiffened by units detached from various field armies; with these he set out to form a new Sixth Army on the Somme. General Joseph Joffre, the commander in chief, intended to launch this force in a counterattack against the right flank of the wheeling German First Army near Amiens. That possibility vanished in the face of the rapid enemy advance. The aggressive Maunoury retreated reluctantly, meanwhile urging Joffre to let him attack at the first opportunity. On September 4 the Sixth Army took up positions northeast of Paris. Maunoury was told to prepare for a counterattack on September 7. But General Gallieni, military governor of Paris, convinced Joffre to move the offensive up to strike the exposed right flank of the German First Army east of Paris. On September 5 Maunoury hurriedly wheeled to his right, advanced blindly, and by early afternoon stumbled into the German flank defenses. Both Gallieni and Maunoury had expected to encounter the enemy only the following day. Maunoury faced deep trouble, even as his blow knocked the overall German advance off stride. General von Kluck recalled his III and IX Corps from their advance south of the Marne to hurl these reinforcements at Manoury. Gallieni rushed reinforcements to the Sixth Army, the western an-chor for a huge battle of the Marne that stretched from Paris to Verdun. One division arrived on the Ourcq to aid Maunoury via the famous fleet of Parisian taxi cabs. The hard-pressed Maunoury barely held on until September 9, when Kluck was ordered to retire to the Aisne. Maunoury and his exhausted troops pursued in the rain, trying unsuccessfully to outflank an enemy retreating in good order. Maunoury's field service was cut short at the start of the spring campaign on the Aisne. In March 1915, while observing the enemy from the French forward line, the old general was severely wounded. Partially blinded, he managed to serve as military governor of Paris until 1916, then left active duty. He died on March 28, 1923. For his tenacious defense on the Ourcq in September 1914, Maunoury was named a marshal of France shortly after his death.

Michel-Joseph Maunoury Edit Profile

General military commander

Background

Maunoury was born on 17 December 1847 in Maintenon, France.

Education

He graduated from the Ecole polytechnique and, as a young artillery lieutenant, fought with distinction in the defense of Paris during the Franco-Prussian War, 1870/1871.

Career

The next decades saw his steady climb from captain in 1874 to brigadier general in 1901. En route, he had served as an artillery instructor at St. Cyr and completed the War College (Ecole supérieure de guerre) with honors. In 1905, promoted major general, Maunoury took command at the War College. Then came two tours as a corps commander and, at the apparent close of a distinguished career, a term as military governor of Paris (1910-1912) and membership on the Supreme War Council. In 1912 Maunoury reached retirement age and returned to his family home. The outbreak of World War I ended his quiet life as a gentleman farmer.

In the confused days of mid-August 1914, Maunoury was first sent to defend the area north of Verdun. His immediate task was to mold a collection of reservists and units lifted from other field armies into a new "Army of Lorraine." On August 26 the old artilleryman was given a more exciting mission. He was ordered to take command of another scratch force of reservists stiffened by units detached from various field armies; with these he set out to form a new Sixth Army on the Somme. General Joseph Joffre, the commander in chief, intended to launch this force in a counterattack against the right flank of the wheeling German First Army near Amiens. That possibility vanished in the face of the rapid enemy advance. The aggressive Maunoury retreated reluctantly, meanwhile urging Joffre to let him attack at the first opportunity.

On September 4 the Sixth Army took up positions northeast of Paris. Maunoury was told to prepare for a counterattack on September 7. But General Gallieni, military governor of Paris, convinced Joffre to move the offensive up to strike the exposed right flank of the German First Army east of Paris. On September 5 Maunoury hurriedly wheeled to his right, advanced blindly, and by early afternoon stumbled into the German flank defenses. Both Gallieni and Maunoury had expected to encounter the enemy only the following day.

Maunoury faced deep trouble, even as his blow knocked the overall German advance off stride. General von Kluck recalled his III and IX Corps from their advance south of the Marne to hurl these reinforcements at Manoury. Gallieni rushed reinforcements to the Sixth Army, the western an-chor for a huge battle of the Marne that stretched from Paris to Verdun. One division arrived on the Ourcq to aid Maunoury via the famous fleet of Parisian taxi cabs. The hard-pressed Maunoury barely held on until September 9, when Kluck was ordered to retire to the Aisne. Maunoury and his exhausted troops pursued in the rain, trying unsuccessfully to outflank an enemy retreating in good order.

Maunoury's field service was cut short at the start of the spring campaign on the Aisne. In March 1915, while observing the enemy from the French forward line, the old general was severely wounded. Partially blinded, he managed to serve as military governor of Paris until 1916, then left active duty. He died on March 28, 1923. For his tenacious defense on the Ourcq in September 1914, Maunoury was named a marshal of France shortly after his death.

Personality

Quotes from others about the person

He is described by Holger Herwig as “slender, almost delicate” and by Tuchman as “svelte, delicate, small-boned”.

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