Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Illustrations
- Maps
- Preface
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Part I From theory to practice
- 1 From the Ecole de Guerre to August 1914 in Lorraine
- 2 ‘He held to the last quarter hour’
- 3 Commander-in-chief’s deputy in the north, October–November 1914
- 4 The end of the war of movement and reflections on 1914
- 5 Second Artois, January–June 1915
- 6 Third Artois, June–October 1915
- 7 The scientific method
- 8 Fighting on the Somme, July–November 1916
- 9 In disgrace
- Intermezzo
- Part II Supreme command
- In conclusion
- Bibliography
- Index
9 - In disgrace
reflections on two years of command
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 December 2011
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Illustrations
- Maps
- Preface
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Part I From theory to practice
- 1 From the Ecole de Guerre to August 1914 in Lorraine
- 2 ‘He held to the last quarter hour’
- 3 Commander-in-chief’s deputy in the north, October–November 1914
- 4 The end of the war of movement and reflections on 1914
- 5 Second Artois, January–June 1915
- 6 Third Artois, June–October 1915
- 7 The scientific method
- 8 Fighting on the Somme, July–November 1916
- 9 In disgrace
- Intermezzo
- Part II Supreme command
- In conclusion
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
The story of Foch’s sacking after the Battle of the Somme had ended is not only convoluted, as the following recital of events shows, but it is also somewhat mysterious. Late on 15 December 1916, after Foch had retired to bed, a telegram arrived at Northern Army Group headquarters that announced his removal from command and placed him at the disposition of General Joffre, still styling himself the commander-in-chief. This was followed by further telegrams. The new commander-in-chief, General Robert Nivelle, reiterated the sacking the next day, and informed Foch that he was to carry out a ‘special mission’ under his command. Then, on the 20th, another telegram announced that Foch was placed at the disposition of the War Minister. This was a euphemism for definitive sacking, with no further job in prospect. Finally, the following day, yet another telegram placed Foch once again at the disposition of the new commander-in-chief.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Foch in CommandThe Forging of a First World War General, pp. 192 - 216Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2011