’Papa’ Joffre and the Great War

As commander of French forces in World War I from August 1914 until December 1916, General Joseph Joffre is one of the most controversial leaders of the war. As victor of the “miracle” of the Marne, he earned almost universal respect and admiration, but in subsequent years he came under scathing criticism for the enormous French casualties and for his failure to drive the Germans out of France. A strong supporter of the American Expeditionary Forces, he was praised by General John J. Pershing as “my loyal and consistent personal friend.” This article attempts to determine whether Joffre’s failures outweigh his successes in the enormously destructive and complex war.