Paul Pau

Who was Paul Pau?

Paul Marie Cesar Gerald Pau, was a French General, a commander of an army at the beginning of World War I.

When war broke out in 1914 French commander in chief General Joseph Joffre recalled General Pau from retirement to command the Army of Alsace to participate in attacks called for by the doomed French Plan XVII. Although initially successful, Pau was forced to withdraw after the defeat by the First Army at Morhange-Sarrebourg. When it was clear to Joffre that French hopes for a quick victory in Alsace had faded and that France now faced the real possibility of quick defeat, Pau's army was broken up and sent north to join the Sixth Army in time to participate in the First Battle of the Marne.

General Pau's command barely lasted 2 months. After that he was sent as French representative to the Russian Stavka. Pau also toured Australia in Sept 1918, meeting Australian Veterans, and War rallies. he was In Toowoomba Qld, Sept 28th 1918.