The Sixth Army (french: 6eme Armée) was a field army of the

French Army The French Army, officially known as the Land Army (french: Armée de Terre, ), is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces. It is responsible to the Government of France, along with the other components of the Armed Force ...

during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

and

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

World War I

The Sixth Army was formed 26 August 1914, composed of troops from various disparate French armies: two active army corps, the ( 4th and 7th respectively detached from the Third Army and First Army, the 5th and 6th groups of reserve divisions, the 45th and 37th Infantry Divisions, a native brigade and a cavalry corps. After

Alexander von Kluck Alexander Heinrich Rudolph von Kluck (20 May 1846 – 19 October 1934) was a German general during World War I. Early life Kluck was born in Münster, Westphalia on 20 May 1846. He was the son of architect Karl von Kluck and his wife Elisabeth ...

rotated his

German First Army The 1st Army (german: 1. Armee) was a World War II field army. Combat chronicle 1939 The 1st Army was activated on 26 August 1939, in Wehrkreis XII with General Erwin von Witzleben in command. Its primary mission was to take defensive positions ...

away from Paris to reinforce

Karl von Bülow Karl Wilhelm Paul von Bülow (24 March 1846 – 31 August 1921) was a German field marshal commanding the German 2nd Army during World War I from 1914 to 1915. Biography Born in Berlin to the distinguished Prussian military family von Bülow ...

's German Second Army,

Joseph Gallieni Joseph Simon Gallieni (24 April 1849 – 27 May 1916) was a French soldier, active for most of his career as a military commander and administrator in the French colonies. Gallieni is infamous in Madagascar as the French military leader who e ...

ordered the Sixth Army to attack von Kluck's forces. Although the German First Army counterattacked, this allowed John French's British Expeditionary Force to occupy a twenty-mile salient between the two armies beginning the

First Battle of the Marne The First Battle of the Marne was a battle of the First World War fought from 5 to 12 September 1914. It was fought in a collection of skirmishes around the Marne River Valley. It resulted in an Entente victory against the German armies in the ...

. France would end up contributing three corps to the opening attack of the Battle of the Somme (the 20th Army Corps, I Colonial and 35th Corps of the Sixth Army).

Commanders

World War I

*General

Michel-Joseph Maunoury Michel-Joseph Maunoury (17 December 1847 – 28 March 1923) was a commander of French forces in the early days of World War I who was posthumously elevated to the dignity of Marshal of France. Initially commanding in Lorraine, as the succe ...

(26 August 1914 – 13 March 1915) *General Pierre Joseph Dubois (13 March 1915 – 26 February 1916) *General

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 May 14, 1852 in Puy-en-Velay, at ''9 ...

(26 February – 19 December 1916) *General

Charles Mangin Charles Emmanuel Marie Mangin (6 July 1866 – 12 May 1925) was a French general during World War I. Early career Charles Mangin was born on 6 July 1866 in Sarrebourg. After initially failing to gain entrance to Saint-Cyr, he joined the 77th ...

(19 December 1916 – 4 May 1917) *General Paul Maistre (4 May – 11 December 1917) *General

Denis Auguste Duchêne Denis Auguste Duchene (23 September 1862 - 9 June 1950) was a French World War I general. He was born on 23 September 1862 at Juzennecourt, Haute-Marne and died on 9 June 1950 at Bihorel, Seine-Inférieure. He was promoted General de Brigade (b ...

(11 December 1917 – 10 June 1918) *General

Jean Degoutte Jean Marie Joseph Degoutte (18 April 1866, Charnay, Rhône – 31 October 1938) was a French general active in the colonies and the First World War. Colonial career Degoutte joined the 31st Artillery Regiment on 7 March 1887 and then attended Sai ...

(10 June – 11 September 1918) *General

Antoine Baucheron de Boissoudy Antoine Baucheron de Boissoudy (Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, France, 12 October 1864 – Paris, 17 March 1926) was a French General in the First World War. He was the son of Admiral Philippe Baucheron de Boissoudy and studied at the École spécial ...

(15 October – 18 November 1918) *General

(18 November 1918)

World War II

*General Antoine-Marie-Benoît Besson (2 September 1939 - 16 October 1939) *General René Olry (16 October 1939 – 13 February 1940) *General Robert-Auguste Touchon (13 February – 1 July 1940)

Footnotes

References

* Field armies of France in World War I 06 Military units and formations of France in World War II Military units and formations established in 1914 1914 establishments in France {{france-mil-unit-stub

World War I

Commanders

World War I

World War II

See also

Footnotes

References