François Anthoine

Who was François Anthoine?

François Paul Anthoine was a French army general during World War I, most notable during Robert Nivelle's ill-fated campaign in 1917 and later the Third Battle of the Aisne.

At the height of his career, Anthoine was appointed as Chief of Staff to the former Commander in Chief, Henri-Philippe Petain, during the Third Battle of the Aisne. However, when the "Great War" began, Anthoine was General Castelnau's Chief of Staff. As time passed and Anthoine proved his worth in military tactics, he was eventually promoted to commander of the French First Army.

At the Third Battle of Ypres in 1917, Anthoine and the French First Army were set the tasks of participating in the attacks on the northern flank of the salient and guarding the BEF's northern flank from enemy attack across the Yser Canal. Herbert Plumer's Second Army was given the parallel task of Anthoine, attacking the southern flank of the salient and guarding the BEF's southern flank.