Augustin Dubail

First World War When the First World War broke out in the summer of 1914, Dubail was given command of the First Army, which would start the invasion of Germany by taking Lorraine together with de Castelnau's Second Army. The armies met strong German resistance and were repulsed out of Lorraine with heavy casualties. They were able to reform and defend the French border against a German attack.

In 1915 he was promoted to commander of Army Group East (G.A.E) on the Western Front, around Belfort and Verdun. He became convinced that a major German offensive was coming against Verdun. He called for reinforcements and heavy artillery and the new Allie tanks for the Verdun sector, but the French commander-in-chief, Joseph Joffre, was not convinced that an attack was imminent.

When the German offensive began at Verdun, Joffre partly blamed Dubail, who was fired in March 1916, publicly humiliated. He claimed to have been made a scapegoat for Joffre's lack of foresight, although he had himself public played down the likelihood of a German attack at Verdun. Dubail was hired again in April 1916, becoming military governor of Paris, a position he kept until June 1918, when he was replaced by General Guillaumat.

Death Dubail died on January 7, 1934, at the age of 82.

Decorations Légion d'honneur Knight (24 June 1886) Officer (11 July 1900) Commander (30 December 1905) Grand Officer (30 December 1911) Grand Cross (18 September 1914) Médaille militaire (8 October 1915) Croix de guerre 1914–1918 with 3 palms Commemorative medal of the 1870–1871 War Médaille Interalliée de la Victoire 1914-1918 Médaille Commémorative de la Grande Guerre War Cross (Belgium) Distinguished Service Medal (US) Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (UK) Officer of Nichan Iftikhar (Tunisia) Grand Cross of St. Stanislas Grand Cross of the White Eagle Grand Cross of the Crown Grand Cross of the Sacred Treasure Grand Cross of the Rising Sun