Augustin Gérard (2 November 1857 – 2 November 1926) was a French

général de division Divisional general is a general officer rank who commands an army division. The rank originates from the French (Revolutionary) System, and is used by a number of countries. The rank is above a brigade general, and normally below an army corps ...

and Grand Master of the Grand Orient de France (1921–22).

Life

His first important assignment was Chief of Staff of general

Joseph Gallieni Joseph Simon Gallieni (24 April 1849 – 27 May 1916) was a French soldier, active for most of his career as a military commander and administrator in the French colonies. Gallieni is infamous in Madagascar as the French military leader who e ...

in Madagascar. In May 1912 he became commander of the 41st Infantry Division and by the outbreak of World War I, he was in charge of the 2nd Army Corps, with which he fought the

Battle of the Ardennes The Battle of the Ardennes took place during the First World War fought on the frontiers of France, Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg from 21 to 23 August 1914. The German armies defeated the French and forced their retreat. The battle was part of ...

and the

First Battle of the Marne The First Battle of the Marne was a battle of the First World War fought from 5 to 12 September 1914. It was fought in a collection of skirmishes around the Marne River Valley. It resulted in an Entente victory against the German armies in the ...

. On 24 July 1915, he became commander of the ''Army Detachment of Lorraine'', which was later renamed to Eighth Army. Between 31 March and 31 December 1916 he was in charge of the First Army, after which he returned to the Eighth Army for the rest of the war. He commanded the eighth Army for an initial period during Allied occupation of the Rhineland until he retired on 21 October 1919. During this period he supported the separatist movement and advocated the formation of an independent

Pfalz Pfalz, Pfälzer, or Pfälzisch are German words referring to Palatinate. They may refer to: Places *Pfalz, the Palatinate (region) of Germany **Nordpfalz, the North Palatinate **Vorderpfalz, the Anterior Palatinate **Südpfalz, the South P ...

republic. Master of the Grand Orient de France in 1921 and 1922. He died in 1926 and was buried in Les Invalides in Paris.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gérard, Augustin French generals 1857 births 1926 deaths French military personnel of World War I Grand Croix of the Légion d'honneur French Freemasons