Edgard de Larminat (29 November 1895 – 1 July 1962) was a French general, who fought in two

World War A world war is an international conflict which involves all or most of the world's major powers. Conventionally, the term is reserved for two major international conflicts that occurred during the first half of the 20th century, World WarI (1914 ...

s. He was one of the most important military figures who rejoined the renegade

Free French Free France (french: France Libre) was a political entity that claimed to be the legitimate government of France following the dissolution of the Third Republic. Led by French general , Free France was established as a government-in-exile ...

forces under the British in 1940. He was awarded the Ordre de la Libération. Larminat joined the French Army at the outbreak of the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...

as a private and by 1915 had completed his officer training and later fought at the

Battle of Verdun The Battle of Verdun (french: Bataille de Verdun ; german: Schlacht um Verdun ) was fought from 21 February to 18 December 1916 on the Western Front in France. The battle was the longest of the First World War and took place on the hills north ...

. During the course of the war, Larminat was wounded three times and gassed once. He achieved the rank of captain by the close of the war. Completing his military studies at Saint-Cyr in October 1919, Larminat volunteered to serve in the colonial infantry. In this capacity, he saw combat against rebels in

Morocco Morocco (),, ) officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is the westernmost country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria to A ...

, and later served in

Mauritania Mauritania (; ar, موريتانيا, ', french: Mauritanie; Berber: ''Agawej'' or ''Cengit''; Pulaar: ''Moritani''; Wolof: ''Gànnaar''; Soninke:), officially the Islamic Republic of Mauritania ( ar, الجمهورية الإسلامية ...

and

Indochina Mainland Southeast Asia, also known as the Indochinese Peninsula or Indochina, is the continental portion of Southeast Asia. It lies east of the Indian subcontinent and south of Mainland China and is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the west an ...

. At the outbreak of the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...

, Larminat was a lieutenant-colonel stationed in the

Levant The Levant () is an approximate historical geographical term referring to a large area in the Eastern Mediterranean region of Western Asia. In its narrowest sense, which is in use today in archaeology and other cultural contexts, it is ...

. Larminat was still serving in the Middle East when France surrendered in June, 1940. He refused to obey the French Government and was imprisoned in

Damascus )), is an adjective which means "spacious". , motto = , image_flag = Flag of Damascus.svg , image_seal = Emblem of Damascus.svg , seal_type = Seal , map_caption = , ...

, but escaped and fled to join the renegade Free French group in Palestine. He was later active in Africa and during the Allied invasion of Italy and France, serving as the commander of the

1st Free French Division The 1st Free French Division (french: 1re Division Française Libre, 1re DFL) was one of the principal units of the Free French Forces (FFL) during World War II, renowned for having fought the Battle of Bir Hakeim. Consisting of troops from ...

in north Africa, the Free French Pursuit Corps in Italy, and the Free French II Corps and Atlantic Army Detachment in France. De Larminat is held responsible for the controversial bombardment and destruction of the French city of Royan in January 1945.''The Zinn reader: writings on disobedience and democracy'' Howard Zinn p.275''ff'

and in French

After the war, Larminat served in several positions, notably as the Inspector-General of overseas troops and the inspector of colonial forces. He also served as the first president of the Association of the Free French. Larminat retired to the reserves in 1956 and was briefly recalled to active duty in 1962 to chair the Court of Military Justice charged with judging the actions of French officers who took part in the rebellion of colonial troops in Algeria in 1961. Before the court convened, Larminat committed suicide on 1 July 1962.

Awards and decorations

France

* Ordre de la Libération – Decree of 1 August 1941 * Grand Cross of the

Legion of Honour The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleo ...

* Croix de Guerre 1914-1918 (4 citations) *

Croix de Guerre 1939-1945 Croix (French for "cross") may refer to: Belgium * Croix-lez-Rouveroy, a village in municipality of Estinnes in the province of Hainaut France * Croix, Nord, in the Nord department * Croix, Territoire de Belfort, in the Territoire de Belfort depa ...

(4 citations) *

Croix de guerre des Théâtres d'opérations extérieures The ''Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieurs'' (War Cross for foreign operational theatres), also called the ''Croix de Guerre TOE'' for short, is a French military award denoting citations earned in combat in foreign countri ...

(1 citation) * Croix du Combattant Volontaire *

Médaille de la Résistance The Resistance Medal (french: Médaille de la Résistance) was a decoration bestowed by the French Committee of National Liberation, based in the United Kingdom, during World War II. It was established by a decree of General Charles de Gaulle on 9 ...

with rosette * Commander of the

Ordre du Mérite combattant The ''Ordre du Mérite combattant'' (Order of Merit for Veterans) was a ministerial order of merit of France created on 14 September 1953 to reward individuals who distinguished themselves by their service and dedication in the management of the ...

Colonial Medal The Colonial Medal (french: "Médaille Coloniale") was a French decoration created by the "loi de finances" of 26 July 1893 (article 75) to reward "military services in the colonies, resulting from participation in military operations, in a colon ...

with Clasp "Morocco" * Médaille commémorative de la guerre 1914–1918 * Commemorative Medal for the Levant * Médaille Interalliée 1914–1918 * Médaille des Évadés * Medal for the Wounded

Foreign

* Commander of the

Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight u ...

(USA) *

Order of the Bath The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate medieval ceremony for appointing a knight, which involved bathing (as a symbol of purification) a ...

(UK) * Commander of the

Order of Leopold (Belgium) The Order of Leopold ( nl, Leopoldsorde, french: Ordre de Léopold, ) is one of the three current Belgian national honorary orders of knighthood. It is the oldest and highest order of Belgium and is named in honour of its founder, King Le ...

* Belgian Croix de Guerre 1914-1918 with Palm * Grand Cross of the

Virtuti Militari The War Order of Virtuti Militari ( Latin: ''"For Military Virtue"'', pl, Order Wojenny Virtuti Militari) is Poland's highest military decoration for heroism and courage in the face of the enemy at war. It was created in 1792 by Polish King S ...

(Poland) * Grand Cross of the Order of the Black Star (Benin) * Grand Cross of the

Order of the Dragon of Annam The Imperial Order of the Dragon of Annam (, , ; french: Ordre impérial du Dragon d'Annam, Ordre du Dragon Vert) was created in 1886 in the city of Huế, by Emperor Đồng Khánh of the Imperial House of Annam, upon the "recommendation" of th ...

Works

* ''Que sera la France de demain'', n.p. 1943 * ''L'Armée dans la Nation'', Paris 1945 * ''Bertie Albrecht, Pierre Arrighi, General Brosset, D. Corticciato, Jean Prevost, 5 parmi d'autres'', Paris 1947 * ''L'Armée européenne'', Paris 1952 * ''Chroniques irrévérencieuses'', Paris 1962

References

https://web.archive.org/web/20100827123649/http://www.ordredelaliberation.fr/fr_compagnon/556.html {{DEFAULTSORT:Larminat, Edgard De 1895 births 1962 deaths People from Alès French military personnel of World War I French Army generals of World War II French military leaders Free French Forces Free French military personnel of World War II Grand Croix of the Légion d'honneur Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France) Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 (France) Recipients of the Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures Companions of the Liberation Recipients of the Resistance Medal Honorary Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Recipients of the Croix de guerre (Belgium) Commanders of the Legion of Merit Grand Crosses of the Virtuti Militari Recipients of the Order of the Dragon of Annam