Pierre Billotte
Encyclopedia
Pierre Armand Gaston Billotte (1906–1992) was a French Army officer and politician. He was the son of General Gaston Billotte, who commanded parts of the French Army at the start of World War II
. Pierre Billotte was himself notable for his combat actions during the Battle of France
.
. Billotte served in the 1st Compagnie of the 41st Tank Battalion, equipped with the Char B1
heavy tank
. Then-Captain Billotte, commanding a Char B1 Bis tank nicknamed "Eure", was instrumental in capturing the village of Stonne, defended by elements of the German 8th Panzer Regiment. The village had already been the scene of fierce fighting before Billotte's action, having changed hands for numerous times and lying on a strategic location on the road to Sedan. On 16 May, while under heavy fire from German tanks, Billotte and his B1 Bis managed to break through the German defences and to destroy two German PzKpfw IV tanks, eleven PzKpfw III tanks and two enemy guns. Billotte's Char B1-Bis tank received 140 hits from enemy tanks and guns, but none were able to penetrate the tank's heavy armour.
. After the Allied invasion of France, he was attached to the 2nd Armored Division. Later in 1944, he was put in command of the 10th Division, and after the liberation of French he became Assistant Chief of Staff of the French Army
. From 1946 to 1950, he headed the French Military Mission to the UN. Following his retirement from active service, he served Minister of National Defence
(1955–1956) under Edgar Faure
and as Minister of Overseas Departments and Territories (1966–1968) under Georges Pompidou
.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Pierre Billotte was himself notable for his combat actions during the Battle of France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
.
16 May 1940
Billotte is known for his extraordinary actions on 16 May 1940 during the battle at the French village of StonneStonne
Stonne is a commune in the Ardennes department in northern France.-History:This small village, consisting of only a handful of farmsteads, was heavily contested during the invasion of France in the Second World War...
. Billotte served in the 1st Compagnie of the 41st Tank Battalion, equipped with the Char B1
Char B1
The Char B1 was a French heavy tank manufactured before World War II.The Char B1 was a specialised heavy break-through vehicle, originally conceived as a self-propelled gun with a 75 mm howitzer in the hull; later a 47 mm gun in a turret was added, to allow it to function also as a Char...
heavy tank
Heavy tank
A heavy tank was a subset of tank that filled the heavy direct-fire role of many armies.Heavy tanks have usually been deployed to breakthrough enemy lines, though in practice have been more useful in the defensive role than in the attack...
. Then-Captain Billotte, commanding a Char B1 Bis tank nicknamed "Eure", was instrumental in capturing the village of Stonne, defended by elements of the German 8th Panzer Regiment. The village had already been the scene of fierce fighting before Billotte's action, having changed hands for numerous times and lying on a strategic location on the road to Sedan. On 16 May, while under heavy fire from German tanks, Billotte and his B1 Bis managed to break through the German defences and to destroy two German PzKpfw IV tanks, eleven PzKpfw III tanks and two enemy guns. Billotte's Char B1-Bis tank received 140 hits from enemy tanks and guns, but none were able to penetrate the tank's heavy armour.
Further career
Following the death of his father and the German victory in the Battle of France, Billotte was imprisoned by the German military. He escaped the next year, and was appointed by the Free French government-in-exile as head of the French Military Mission to Moscow. From 1942 to 1943, he served as chief of staff to Charles de GaulleCharles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
. After the Allied invasion of France, he was attached to the 2nd Armored Division. Later in 1944, he was put in command of the 10th Division, and after the liberation of French he became Assistant Chief of Staff of the French Army
Chief of Staff of the French Army
The Chief of the Staff of the French Army is the professional head of the French Army. The current Chief of Staff of the French Army has been General Elrick Irastorza since 2 July 2008.-French Army Chiefs of Staff:*Raoul Le Mouton De Boisdeffre...
. From 1946 to 1950, he headed the French Military Mission to the UN. Following his retirement from active service, he served Minister of National Defence
Minister of Defence (France)
The Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs is the French government cabinet member charged with running the military of France....
(1955–1956) under Edgar Faure
Edgar Faure
Edgar Faure was a French politician, essayist, historian, and memoirist.-Career:Faure was born in Béziers, Languedoc-Roussillon. He trained as a lawyer in Paris and became a member of the Bar at 27, the youngest lawyer in France to do so at the time...
and as Minister of Overseas Departments and Territories (1966–1968) under Georges Pompidou
Georges Pompidou
Georges Jean Raymond Pompidou was a French politician. He was Prime Minister of France from 1962 to 1968, holding the longest tenure in this position, and later President of the French Republic from 1969 until his death in 1974.-Biography:...
.
Awards & honors
| Legion of Honour | Ordre de la Libération Ordre de la Libération The Ordre de la Libération is a French Order awarded to heroes of the Liberation of France during World War II. It is an exceptional honor, the second highest after the Légion d’Honneur and only a small number of people and military units have received it, exclusively for deeds accomplished... |
Croix de guerre 1939–1945 | ||||||
| Médaille des Évadés Médaille des Évadés The Médaille des Évadés is a medal given by the government of France, to individuals who were prisoners of war and who escaped.... |
Médaille de l'Aéronautique Médaille de l'Aéronautique The Médaille de l'Aéronautique is an order of merit created on 14 February 1945.-History:Before the Second World War, it was envisioned to create an award similar to the Order of Maritime Merit, an Order of Merit, Air, intended for personal civil and military aeronautics. But the war put an end to... |
Insigne des blessés militaires Insigne des blessés militaires The Insigne des blessés militaires is a French military decoration for wounds received in the line of duty.-History:It was instituted by a law of 11 December 1916, after an idea by the nationalist writer Maurice Barrès... |
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| Médaille com. de la France libre | Order of the Dragon of Annam | Legion of Merit Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements... |
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| Croix de guerre 1940-1945 | Order of Ouissam Alaouite | Nichan Iftikhar Nichan Iftikhar Nichan Iftikhar or Atiq Nishan-i-Iftikhar or Nişan-i İftihar , was an Ottoman and Tunisian honorary order founded in 1835 by Al-Mustafa ibn Mahmud... |