The Army of Alsace (french: Armée d'Alsace) was a French field army of the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

that operated from 11 to 28 August 1914.

Formation

On 7 August 1914, the French VII Corps (General Bonneau) captured Mulhouse but were forced out three days later by German counter-attacks. Bonneau was dismissed by

Joffre Joseph Jacques Césaire Joffre (12 January 1852 – 3 January 1931) was a French general who served as Commander-in-Chief of French forces on the Western Front from the start of World War I until the end of 1916. He is best known for regroupi ...

and the VII Corps was expanded, becoming the under command of

Paul Pau Paul Marie Cesar Gerald Pau, (29 November 1848, Montélimar – 2 January 1932) was a French soldier and general who served in the Franco-Prussian War and in World War I. He took part in the Franco-Prussian War, suffering the loss of his low ...

. The reinforcements were * 44th Division * 55th Reserve Division * 58th Reserve division * 63rd Reserve division * 66th Reserve division * 8th Cavalry Division A new attack was launched, Mulhouse was taken and the Germans were even pushed over the Rhine. French defeats in Lorraine and the Ardennes forced the to withdrew from Mulhouse, to a more defensible line near Altkirch and to provide reinforcements for the French armies closer to Paris.

Disbandment

The army was disbanded on 28 August and many of its units distributed among the remaining French armies. The units that remained in Southern Alsace, came under the First Army and received the name of , which became the XXXIV Corps on 22 October 1914. On 8 December 1914, with the stabilisation of the Western Front, more units were added to this sector and they formed the independent under General Henri Putz. On 4 April 1915, the force became the Seventh Army.

Footnotes

References

* * 1914 in France France in World War I World War I orders of battle Military units and formations of France in World War I Military history of France {{france-mil-unit-stub