Marcel Alessandri

Marcel Jean Marie Alessandri (July 23, 1895 – December 23, 1968) was a French army officer who served in the World War I, World War II, and the First Indochina War. During World War II, he was stationed in French Indochina where he ultimately assumed supreme command of the French forces in China, in addition to assuming responsibility for the administration of the French government in China. He was removed from command of Tonkin following the disastrous Battle of Route Coloniale 4 and he returned to France on November 20, 1950.

Later life and legacy On July 23, 1955, after reaching mandatory retirement age, Major General Marcel Alessandri retired and returned to France. By the end of his military career, Marcel Alessandri had received twelve separate Croix de Guerre citations, had been awarded the Grand Officer of Légion d'honneur, and numerous other foreign decorations. Alessandri died on December 26, 1968, in Paris, France.

Promotions Second Lieutenant December 5, 1914 Lieutenant March 9, 1916 Captain July 5, 1917 Chef de Battalion 1930 Lieutenant-colonel March 17, 1936 Colonel March 25, 1941 Brigadier General May 20, 1943 Major General 1945

Awards and commendations France Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour (1950); Chevalier (1916), Officer (1930), Commander (1945) Medal of the Resistance (Official Gazette of 20 March 1948) Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures Colonial Medal with "Morocco" and "Indochine" clasps Memorial Medal of the 1914–1918 War Memorial Medal of the 1939–1945 war Médaille Interalliée 1914–1918 Memorial medal of the Indochina campaign

Foreign Commander of the Order of Ouissam Alaouite Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Cambodia Military Medal of Cambodia Medal of resistance in Laos British Order of the Bath (Honorary)