Marie-Eugène Debeney

Marie-Eugène Debeney (5 May 1864 – 6 November 1943 ) was a French Army general. Several streets in his birthplace are named after him

Life
Marie-Eugène Debeney was born in Bourg-en-Bresse, Ain. A student at Saint-Cyr, Marie-Eugène Debeney became Lieutenant des Chasseurs in 1886. He was Chief of Staff of the First Army in 1914, then became commander of the Seventh Army from 1916, returning to the First Army as its commander in 1917, leading the offensive at Montdidier, and defeating Hindenburg at the battle of Saint-Quentin on 8 August 1918. He had the honour of receiving the German ambassadors on 11 November for the Armistice. Post-war, he was made commandant of the école de Guerre, commandant of la place de Paris, then Chief of the Defence Staff from 1924 to 1930. Mentioned in despatches four times, he also received the cravate de commandeur for his actions in the battle of the Somme and became a Grand officier (battle of Saint-Quentin) and then (in 1923) grand cross of the Légion d'honneur. Finally, in 1926 he received the supreme reward for a general in time of war, the Médaille Militaire which he always wore.

Works

 * La Guerre et les hommmes, which won the prix de l'Académie Française
 * Vauban
 * Sur la sécurité militaire de la France