Émile Fayolle

Marie Émile Fayolle (14 May 1852 – 27 August 1928) was a French general during World War I and a diplomat, elevated to the dignity of Marshal of France.

Early life Marie Émile Fayolle was born on 14 May 1852, in Puy-en-Velay, at 9 rue du Chenebouterie, a road renamed in 1961 "rue du Maréchal-Fayolle". He is the first of six children born from the marriage of Jean Pierre Auguste Fayolle, lacemaker in Le Puy, and his wife Marie Rosine Badiou.

He married in 1883 to Marie Louise Augustine Collangettes, in Clermont-Ferrand, and had two children. He is the grandfather of the pilot Émile Fayolle and the great-grandfather of Anne Pingeot, mother of Mazarine Pingeot.

Fayolle studied at the École polytechnique from 1873, where he graduated with the class of 1875 and was commissioned into the artillery.

Military career During his career he served in the artillery. He participated in the Pacification of Tunisia in 1881. During the offensive, Fayolle is credited with successfully using a combination of artillery resources and infantry tactics to push the less well-defended Germans back across an 8-mile (12.87 km) long segment of his front. In August, as the Battle of the Somme continued, General Foch, commander of French forces on the Somme, visited British General Haig at Val Vion. Foch appointed Fayolle, one of the most successful army commanders of July, to fight alongside the British forces between their right flank and the north bank of the River Somme. During the British and French Somme offensive from 1 August to 12 September, Fayolle decided without consulting the high command that his troops were too exhausted to launch a major offensive. He then reduced his command's participation in the battle to 1 division. The British had lost significant French support on their right during the offensive. In October, French forces led by Fayolle advanced almost to Sailly Saillisol by successfully using the artillery-barrage system.

On 31 December 1916, Fayolle was transferred to command the First Army. and served as inspector general of aeronautics from 1921 to 1924. The title of Marshal of France was awarded to him on 19 February 1921.

He was charged with leading a mission of gratitude to Canada for the country's aid during the war and presented the Canadian government with a bronze bust called La France, made by the sculptor Auguste Rodin. Fayolle also undertook diplomatic missions to Italy.

Quote

"For every position there must be a battle, following each other as rapidly as possible. Each one needs a new plan, a new artillery preparation. If one goes too quickly, one risks being checked; too slowly and the enemy has time to make more positions. That is the problem, and it is serious." (21 January 1916)

Legacy

He also has a statue in front of the Les Invalides. Émile Fayolle died in Paris on 27 August 1928, at 18 avenue de La Bourdonnais. His body rests in the governors' vault at Les Invalides.

During the War, Émile Fayolle had kept a diary, published by Plon in 1964 under the title Cahiers secrets de la Grande Guerre and republished digitally in December 2013; it provides deep insight into French strategic thinking at the time.

Honours and decorations Légion d'honneur Knight - 30 December 1890 Officer - 30 December 1911 Commander - 11 October 1914 Grand Officer - 3 October 1916 Grand Cross - 10 July 1918 Médaille militaire - 21 October 1919 Croix de guerre 1914–1918 with 5 palms Distinguished Service Medal (US)