Jean Touzet du Vigier

Lieutenant General Jean-Louis-Alain Touzet du Vigier (; 1888–1980 was a French army officer during World War II and an advocate of military mechanization, particularly the motorization of the cavalry.

Early life Touzet du Vigier was born in Chambéry on 10 October 1888.

Military career In order to be accepted into the St. Cyr Special Military School, he served in the volunteers until 1913. He failed a medical examination, however, which prevented him from entering the school and was assigned to an infantry regiment instead. He managed to get the support of then-War Minister Millerand, a family friend, When the Allies invaded Africa, Touzet du Vigier switched sides to that of De Gaulle's Free French.

Temporarily promoted to brigadier general, Touzet du Vigier took command of the 1st Mechanized Brigade and then, in 1943, of the 1st Armored Division. By now a major general, again temporarily, he served under the command of General Tassigny, the commander of the 1st French Army.

Touzet du Vigier's troops were some of the first to reach the Rhine. In January 1945, he was placed in command of the fortress-city of Strasbourg, which was threatened by a German offensive. The city did not fall, however, and Touzet du Vigier remained in this post until the end of the war.

Now a lieutenant general, Touzet du Vigier was appointed Assistant Chief of Staff to General de Tassigny and served in this position until 1947, when he reached the mandatory retirement age.

Touzet du Vigier died in Paris on 16 August 1980.