Géraud Réveilhac

Who was Géraud Réveilhac?

Géraud François Gustave Réveilhac was a French career officer, Général de division during World War I. After trying unsuccessfully to take a German position, he ordered artillery to fire on his own troops to force them to attack, and after being refused, he had four corporals executed for cowardice, in order to set an example. He was made Commandeur of the Légion d'honneur at the end of the war. His actions were one of the inspirations for the Humphrey Cobb novel Paths of Glory and the Stanley Kubrick film of the same name.