Marie Bertrand Alfred Fagalde (22 July 1878, Boghar, Algeria – 6 February 1966,

Garches Garches () is a Communes of France, commune in the Hauts-de-Seine department, in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the Kilometre zero, centre of Paris. Garches has remained largely residential, with a population of 17,898 ...

, Paris) was a French Army officer.

Life

He studied at the

École de guerre École or Ecole may refer to: * an elementary school in the French educational stages normally followed by secondary education establishments (collège and lycée) * École (river), a tributary of the Seine flowing in région Île-de-France * Éco ...

between 1905 and 1907, graduating top of his class. He was promoted to captain on 24 June 1910. He was on the staff of the 5th Army on the outbreak of the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. An

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, he was sent to London as a liaison officer in 1917. By the war's end he had reached the rank of lieutenant-colonel. On 19 June 1939 he was promoted to

général de corps d'armée An army corps general or corps general is a rank held by a general officer who commands an army corps. The rank originates from the General officer#French Revolutionary system, French Revolutionary System, and is used by a number of countries. Nor ...

and assigned to 16th Army Corps in 7th Army. He fought in Flanders in May and June 1940 and also took part in the

battle of Dunkirk The Battle of Dunkirk () was fought around the French Third Republic, French port of Dunkirk, Dunkirk (Dunkerque) during the Second World War, between the Allies of World War II, Allies and Nazi Germany. As the Allies were losing the Battle ...

, commanding the western perimeter defence alongside French Admiral Abrial whilst the British General

Ronald Forbes Adam General (United Kingdom), General Sir Ronald Forbes Adam, 2nd Baronet, (30 October 1885 – 26 December 1982) was a senior British Army Officer (armed forces), officer. He had an important influence on the conduct of the British Army during t ...

III Corps III or iii may refer to: Companies * Information International, Inc., a computer technology company * Innovative Interfaces, Inc., a library-software company * 3i, formerly Investors in Industry, a British investment company Other uses * I ...

commanded the eastern British sector of the perimeter. Fagalde was made a Grand Officier of the

Légion d'honneur The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and Civil society, civil. Currently consisting of five cl ...

Maxime Weygand Maxime Weygand (; 21 January 1867 – 28 January 1965) was a French military commander in World War I and World War II, as well as a high ranking member of the Vichy France, Vichy regime. Born in Belgium, Weygand was raised in France and educate ...

on 4 June for his conduct during the battle, but was captured on 18 June and imprisoned in Königstein Castle near

Dresden Dresden (; ; Upper Saxon German, Upper Saxon: ''Dräsdn''; , ) is the capital city of the States of Germany, German state of Saxony and its second most populous city after Leipzig. It is the List of cities in Germany by population, 12th most p ...

in eastern Germany. He was liberated by the

Soviet Army The Soviet Ground Forces () was the land warfare service branch of the Soviet Armed Forces from 1946 to 1992. It was preceded by the Red Army. After the Soviet Union ceased to exist in December 1991, the Ground Forces remained under th ...

on 9 May 1945 but just after his return to France he was indicted for "intelligence with the enemy" or "acts harming national defence" during his captivity. He was accused of having asked to join the

Waffen SS The (; ) was the combat branch of the Nazi Party's paramilitary ''Schutzstaffel'' (SS) organisation. Its formations included men from Nazi Germany, along with volunteers and conscripts from both German-occupied Europe and unoccupied lands. ...

for unknown reasons, although he was held to have retracted the offer when he found out he would have to wear German uniform. He was found guilty and sentenced to five years' solitary confinement, loss of his rank and confiscation of his property. The case was later re-opened, all the accusations dropped and his reputation reinstated.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fagalde, Bertrand 1878 births 1966 deaths French people of Basque descent Grand Officers of the Legion of Honour French military personnel of World War I French Army generals of World War II French generals 19th-century French military personnel French prisoners of war in World War II French people of colonial Algeria