Maxime weygand biography of barack

French general (1867–1965)

Maxime Weygand (French pronunciation:[vɛɡɑ̃]; 21 January 1867 – 28 January 1965) was a French military commander in World War I and World War II, as well as a high ranking member of the Vichy regime.

Born in Belgium, Weygand was raised in France and educated at the Saint-Cyr military academy in Paris. After graduating in 1887, he went on to become an instructor at the Saumur Cavalry School. During World War I, Weygand served as a staff officer to General (later Marshal) Ferdinand Foch. He then served as an advisor to Poland in the Polish–Soviet War and later High Commissioner of the Levant. In 1931, Weygand was appointed Chief of Staff of the French Army, a position he served until his retirement in 1935 at the age of 68.

In May 1940, Weygand was recalled for active duty and assumed command of the French Army during the German invasion. Following a series of military setbacks, Weygand advised armistice and France subsequent

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Surviving France’s Shame: French General Maxime Weygand in WWII

By Blaine Taylor

“What General Weygand has called the Battle of France is over,” intoned British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. “The Battle of Britain is about to begin.” Those famous words were uttered as German armies steamrolled beaten French armies in the spring of 1940 and chased the British Expeditionary Force into the sea at Dunkirk in one of the most successful military campaigns in martial annals.

“A Man of Authority and Good Sense”

But who was General Maxime Weygand? Small in stature, weighing only 120 pounds and standing but five feet tall, Weygand was a mild-mannered and reserved soldier who is today virtually unknown among the senior military commanders of France during the early days of World War II.

It was Weygand who took over the routed French armies from General Maurice Gamelin on the very eve of their defeat. Prior to the debacle of May 1940, Weygand had been consulted by all the

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740.0011 European War 1939/7644: Telegram

The Minister in Portugal (Pell) to the Secretary of State

Lisbon, January 14, 1941—7 p.m.
[Received January 17—3:12 p.m.]

14. For the beneath Secretary12 from Murphy:13 In accordance with your instructions I visited what seemed to me the key places in French Africa—viz., Algiers, Dakar, Tunis, Bizerte, Oran, Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech, Fez, and also Tangier. I was fortunate in finding General Weygand14 not only at Algiers, but also at Dakar and Rabat. inom had conversations with him, General Noguès,15 Admiral Esteva,16 Governor General Boisson,17 Governor General Chatel,18 [Page 207] Generals Barrau, Gama, Martin, Lascroux, Lotay, Admirals D’Harcourt, Landriau and Derrien, sekreterare General Monick at Rabat,19 the Comte de Paris and many other French officials and businessmen whom I shall enumerate in my written report.20 inom also had talks with some of the natives, such as the Pashas of Fez and Marrakech.

If you approve I shall outline the