Paul Louis Legentilhomme (March 26, 1884 – May 23, 1975) was an officer in the French Army during

World War I 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, ...

and

World War II 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 World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

. After the fall of France in 1940, he joined the forces of the Free French. Legentilhomme was a recipient of the "Order of the Liberation" ('' Compagnon de la Libération'').

Early life

Legentilhomme was born on March 26, 1884 in

Valognes Valognes () is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France. Geography Valognes is situated in the Cotentin Peninsula, southeast of Cherbourg. Valognes station has rail connections to Caen, Paris and Cherbourg. Histo ...

, Manche.

History

He was a cadet at the École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr 1905 to 1907 (promotion ''"la Dernière du vieux Bahut"''). Promoted to

Sub-Lieutenant Sub-lieutenant is usually a junior officer rank, used in armies, navies and air forces. In most armies, sub-lieutenant is the lowest officer rank. However, in Brazil, it is the highest non-commissioned rank, and in Spain, it is the second hig ...

in 1907. Promoted to

Lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often ...

in 1909. In 1914 his unit took part in the battle of Neufchâteau in

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to ...

, on August 22, and was captured by the Germans. He spent 1914 to 1918 in German captivity. In 1918 he was promoted to Captain. He was promoted to Major in 1924. From 1926 to 1928 he was Chief of Staff in

Madagascar Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de Madagascar), is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately off the coast of East Afric ...

. In 1929 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel From 1929 to 1931 he was Chief of Staff 3rd Colonial Division. In 1934 he was promoted to

Colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge ...

From 1937 to 1938 he was Commanding Officer 4th Senegalese Tirailleurs Regiment. In 1938 he was promoted to Brigadier-General. 1939 to 1940 he was Commander in Chief of the French military units stationed in French Somaliland (present day

Djibouti Djibouti, ar, جيبوتي ', french: link=no, Djibouti, so, Jabuuti officially the Republic of Djibouti, is a country in the Horn of Africa, bordered by Somalia to the south, Ethiopia to the southwest, Eritrea in the north, and the Red ...

). June 18, 1940 : In

, the capital of French Somaliland, Legentilhomme condemned the French armistice and declared his intention to continue the war with the

British Empire The British Empire was composed of the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts e ...

. He declared this in his "General Order Number 4". :*August 2, 1940 : Left French Somaliland (

Vichy French Vichy France (french: Régime de Vichy; 10 July 1940 – 9 August 1944), officially the French State ('), was the fascist French state headed by Marshal Philippe Pétain during World War II. Officially independent, but with half of its ter ...

until 1942) and went to the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and ...

. :*October 31, 1940 : Legentilhomme stripped of his

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

citizenship by the

Vichy Vichy (, ; ; oc, Vichèi, link=no, ) is a city in the Allier department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of central France, in the historic province of Bourbonnais. It is a spa and resort town and in World War II was the capital of ...

government. * 1941 In 1941 Legentilhomme was promoted to

Major General Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of ...

in the Free French Army and returned to

East Africa East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territories make up Eastern Africa: Due to the historica ...

as the Commander-in-Chief of the Free French Forces in the

Sudan Sudan ( or ; ar, السودان, as-Sūdān, officially the Republic of the Sudan ( ar, جمهورية السودان, link=no, Jumhūriyyat as-Sūdān), is a country in Northeast Africa. It shares borders with the Central African Republic t ...

and Eritrea. As part of Brigadier Harold Rawdon Briggs' ''Briggsforce'', Free French forces participated in the East African campaign. Legentilhomme worked under the supreme command of Field Marshal Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell. :*Created the ''First French light division'' or 1st Free French Division (in

''"1ère Division légère française libre"'' or ''"1ère DLFL"''). :*Commanded the 1st Free French Division and ''Gentforce'' during Syria–Lebanon campaign. :*Commander in Chief of Free French forces in Africa. :*November : Legentilhomme condemned in his absence for treason by the Government of Vichy to the death penalty. :*National Commissioner of War * 1942 :*Awarded the Compagnon de la Libération cross by General

Charles de Gaulle Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle (; ; (commonly abbreviated as CDG) 22 November 18909 November 1970) was a French army officer and statesman who led Free France against Nazi Germany in World War II and chaired the Provisional Governm ...

on 9 September 1942, :*High Commissioner of the French possessions in the Indian Ocean :*Governor-General of Madagascar :*

general A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". O ...

Officer Commander in Chief Madagascar * 1943 :*Member of the

Empire Defense Council The Empire Defense Council (also called Council of Defense of the Empire, from french: Conseil de défense de l'Empire) was the embodiment of Free France which constituted the government from 1940 to 1941. Subsequently, this role was assumed ...

, :*Nominated

Lieutenant General Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on th ...

:*Nominated Commissaire to the ''French Committee for National Liberation'' * 1944 to 1945 :* General Officer Commanding 3rd Military Region (France) from 1945 to 1946 he was General Officer Commanding Paris Military Region. * 1945 to 1947 : Military Governor of

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. Si ...

* 1946 to 1947 : General Officer Commanding 1st Military Region * 1947 : Promoted Army General * 1947 : Retired * 1950 : Military advisor of the Minister for French overseas departments and territories * 1952 : Technical advisor of the Minister François Mitterrand (who much later was President of the French Republic between 1981 and 1995) * 1952 to 1958 : Member of the ''Assemblée de l'Union française'' for the UDSR political party * 23 May 1975 : Paul Legentilhomme died at age 91 in Villefranche-sur-Mer,

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

. He is buried there.

Honour

* Grand Cross of the Légion of Honor * Compagnon de la Libération * Médaille militaire * Croix de guerre 1914–1918 * Croix de guerre 1939–1945 * Knight of the Order of the Dragon of Annam *

Commander of the 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) as ...

(GB) * Commander of the Legion of Merit (USA)

External links

*
Full Biography in the ''ordre de la Libération'' website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Legentilhomme, Paul 1884 births 1975 deaths French generals French military leaders French military personnel of World War I French military personnel of World War II Colonial Governors of French Madagascar Commanders of the Legion of Merit Companions of the Liberation École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr alumni French colonial governors and administrators French prisoners of war in World War I Grand Croix of the Légion d'honneur Honorary Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath Military governors of Paris People from Manche Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France) Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 (France) Recipients of the Order of the Dragon of Annam World War I prisoners of war held by Germany

Early life

History

Honour

See also

External links