Denis Auguste Duchêne
Encyclopedia
Denis Auguste Duchene was a French World War I
general. He was born on 23 September 1862 at Juzennecourt
, Haute-Marne
and died on 9 June 1950 at Bihorel
, Seine-Inférieure. He was promoted brigadier-general on 27 October 1914, then acting major-general on 12 March 1915 with the rank confirmed on 28 September 1916.
Duchêne is best known for his command of the French Sixth Army from December 1917 to June 1918. During the Third Battle of the Aisne
(the Blücher-Yorck phase of the Spring Offensive
), Duchêne's group held the high ground of the Chemin des Dames
. However, he was openly contemptuous of General Philippe Petain
's order to maintain a defence in depth
, preferring instead to consolidate his troops in the front line. When the Germans attacked in late May 1918, his line broke and crossed the river Aisne
. The German armies poured through, taking 19 kilometres in three days, and putting Paris within their reach.
Duchêne was relieved of his command French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau
on 9 June 1918. He remained in the army however and was made a Grand Officer of the Légion d'honneur
on 16 June 1920. He retired in 1924 as head of the III Corps
.
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
general. He was born on 23 September 1862 at Juzennecourt
Juzennecourt
Juzennecourt is a commune in the Haute-Marne department in north-eastern France....
, Haute-Marne
Haute-Marne
Haute-Marne is a department in the northeast of France named after the Marne River.-History:Haute-Marne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
and died on 9 June 1950 at Bihorel
Bihorel
-Population:-Places of interest:* The church of Notre-Dame, dating from the nineteenth century.* A seventeenth century manor house.-Notable people:* Jules Michelet historian, stayed here many times....
, Seine-Inférieure. He was promoted brigadier-general on 27 October 1914, then acting major-general on 12 March 1915 with the rank confirmed on 28 September 1916.
Duchêne is best known for his command of the French Sixth Army from December 1917 to June 1918. During the Third Battle of the Aisne
Third Battle of the Aisne
The Third Battle of the Aisne was a battle of the German Spring Offensive during World War I that focused on capturing the Chemin des Dames Ridge before the American Expeditionary Force could arrive completely in France. It was one of a series of desperate offensives, known as the Kaiserschlacht,...
(the Blücher-Yorck phase of the Spring Offensive
Spring Offensive
The 1918 Spring Offensive or Kaiserschlacht , also known as the Ludendorff Offensive, was a series of German attacks along the Western Front during World War I, beginning on 21 March 1918, which marked the deepest advances by either side since 1914...
), Duchêne's group held the high ground of the Chemin des Dames
Chemin des Dames
In France, the Chemin des Dames is part of the D18 and runs east and west in the département of Aisne, between in the west, the Route Nationale 2, and in the east, the D1044 at Corbeny. It is some thirty kilometres long and runs along a ridge between the valleys of the rivers Aisne and Ailette...
. However, he was openly contemptuous of General Philippe Petain
Philippe Pétain
Henri Philippe Benoni Omer Joseph Pétain , generally known as Philippe Pétain or Marshal Pétain , was a French general who reached the distinction of Marshal of France, and was later Chief of State of Vichy France , from 1940 to 1944...
's order to maintain a defence in depth
Defence in depth
Defence in depth is a military strategy; it seeks to delay rather than prevent the advance of an attacker, buying time and causing additional casualties by yielding space...
, preferring instead to consolidate his troops in the front line. When the Germans attacked in late May 1918, his line broke and crossed the river Aisne
Aisne
Aisne is a department in the northern part of France named after the Aisne River.- History :Aisne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was created from parts of the former provinces of Île-de-France, Picardie, and Champagne.Most of the old...
. The German armies poured through, taking 19 kilometres in three days, and putting Paris within their reach.
Duchêne was relieved of his command French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau
Georges Clemenceau
Georges Benjamin Clemenceau was a French statesman, physician and journalist. He served as the Prime Minister of France from 1906 to 1909, and again from 1917 to 1920. For nearly the final year of World War I he led France, and was one of the major voices behind the Treaty of Versailles at the...
on 9 June 1918. He remained in the army however and was made a Grand Officer of the Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
on 16 June 1920. He retired in 1924 as head of the III Corps
French III Corps
The 3rd Army Corps was a military unit in the French Army that fought during World War I and World War II, and was active after World War II until finally being disbanded on 1 July 1998.-Cold War:...
.