Noël Édouard, vicomte de Curières de Castelnau
Encyclopedia
Noël Marie Joseph Édouard, Vicomte de Curières de Castelnau (24 December 1851 – 19 March 1944) was a French general in World War I
, one of the leading proponents of the philosophy of attaque à outrance
that dominated French military thinking in the early part of the war.
Born in Gascony
to a family with a long history of military service, he joined the army in 1870 and fought in the Franco-Prussian War
, 1870–1871. He was Catholic and nicknamed le Capucin Botté (the fighting friar).
From 1912 to 1914 he was Chief of Staff to Joseph Joffre
and helped to develop the strategic Plan XVII
for the recapture of Alsace-Lorraine
as part of an invasion of Germany
. Although the plan almost led to disaster in the Battle of the Frontiers
in August 1914, Castelnau was able to organize a defence at Nancy.
In 1914 he was appointed to command the Central Army Group, , leading to the distastrous First Battle of Champagne
.
In 1915 he served again as Chief of Staff to Joffre, and in 1916 he organised the initial defence at the Battle of Verdun
, before appointing Philippe Pétain
to the command.
After the dismissal of Joffre and the appointment of Robert Nivelle
in 1916 Castelnau was retired from active service. When Nivelle was dismissed and replaced with Philippe Pétain
, Castelnau was recalled to the command of the Eastern Army Group where he commanded the advance into Lorraine
in 1918.
Recognizing the hopelessness of modern trench warfare, he once remarked: "Ah, Napoleon, Napoleon. If he were here now, he'd have thought of something else."
Three of Castelnau's sons were killed in the war.
Rue De Castelnau and De Castelnau
metro station in Montreal
are named for the general.
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...
, one of the leading proponents of the philosophy of attaque à outrance
Attaque à outrance
Attaque à outrance was the expression of a military philosophy common to many armies in the period before and during the earlier parts of World War I....
that dominated French military thinking in the early part of the war.
Born in Gascony
Gascony
Gascony is an area of southwest France that was part of the "Province of Guyenne and Gascony" prior to the French Revolution. The region is vaguely defined and the distinction between Guyenne and Gascony is unclear; sometimes they are considered to overlap, and sometimes Gascony is considered a...
to a family with a long history of military service, he joined the army in 1870 and fought in the Franco-Prussian War
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
, 1870–1871. He was Catholic and nicknamed le Capucin Botté (the fighting friar).
From 1912 to 1914 he was Chief of Staff to Joseph Joffre
Joseph Joffre
Joseph Jacques Césaire Joffre OM was a French general during World War I. He is most known for regrouping the retreating allied armies to defeat the Germans at the strategically decisive First Battle of the Marne in 1914. His popularity led to his nickname Papa Joffre.-Biography:Joffre was born in...
and helped to develop the strategic Plan XVII
Plan XVII
Plan XVII was the name of a "scheme of mobilization and concentration" that was adopted by the French General Staff in 1913, to be put into effect by the French Army in the event of war between France and Germany but was not ‘a prescribed narrative for the campaign’ or battle...
for the recapture of Alsace-Lorraine
Alsace-Lorraine
The Imperial Territory of Alsace-Lorraine was a territory created by the German Empire in 1871 after it annexed most of Alsace and the Moselle region of Lorraine following its victory in the Franco-Prussian War. The Alsatian part lay in the Rhine Valley on the west bank of the Rhine River and east...
as part of an invasion of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Although the plan almost led to disaster in the Battle of the Frontiers
Battle of the Frontiers
The Battle of the Frontiers was a series of battles fought along the eastern frontier of France and in southern Belgium shortly after the outbreak of World War I. The battles represented a collision between the military strategies of the French Plan XVII and the German Schlieffen Plan...
in August 1914, Castelnau was able to organize a defence at Nancy.
In 1914 he was appointed to command the Central Army Group, , leading to the distastrous First Battle of Champagne
First Battle of Champagne
The First Battle of Champagne was fought early in World War I in the Champagne region of France, between the French and German Empire armies. It was effectively the first significant attack by the Allies against the Germans since the construction of trenches following the so-called 'Race to the...
.
In 1915 he served again as Chief of Staff to Joffre, and in 1916 he organised the initial defence at the Battle of Verdun
Battle of Verdun
The Battle of Verdun was one of the major battles during the First World War on the Western Front. It was fought between the German and French armies, from 21 February – 18 December 1916, on hilly terrain north of the city of Verdun-sur-Meuse in north-eastern France...
, before appointing Philippe Pétain
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...
to the command.
After the dismissal of Joffre and the appointment of Robert Nivelle
Robert Nivelle
Robert Georges Nivelle was a French artillery officer who served in the Boxer Rebellion, and the First World War. In May 1916, he was given command of the French Third Army in the Battle of Verdun, leading counter-offensives that rolled back the German forces in late 1916...
in 1916 Castelnau was retired from active service. When Nivelle was dismissed and replaced with Philippe Pétain
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...
, Castelnau was recalled to the command of the Eastern Army Group where he commanded the advance into Lorraine
Lorraine (province)
The Duchy of Upper Lorraine was an historical duchy roughly corresponding with the present-day northeastern Lorraine region of France, including parts of modern Luxembourg and Germany. The main cities were Metz, Verdun, and the historic capital Nancy....
in 1918.
Recognizing the hopelessness of modern trench warfare, he once remarked: "Ah, Napoleon, Napoleon. If he were here now, he'd have thought of something else."
Three of Castelnau's sons were killed in the war.
Rue De Castelnau and De Castelnau
De Castelnau (Montreal Metro)
De Castelnau is a station on the Blue Line of the Montreal Metro rapid transit system, operated by the Société de transport de Montréal . It is located in the Villeray district of the Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension borough of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.-Overview:It is a normal side platform...
metro station in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
are named for the general.
External links
- Castelnau biography from http://www.firstworldwar.com/