military background:
~joined army at age 18
~company commander in Formosa and Indo-China
~major in the Sudan and Timbuktu
~staff officer in the War Ministry
~lecturer and instructor at the Artillery School
~fortifications officer in Madagascar under Gallieni
~general of a division
~general of a corps
~Director of the Rear and member of the War Council

Joffre as Chief of Staff:
~appointed in 1911
~underlying reasons for appointing Joffre include:
-no apparent monarchist, clerical, or other disturbing connections
-had no ties to the Dreyfus Affair (being out of the country at the time)
-strong reputation as a good republican
-outstanding character and habitual silence

significance:
~French commander during first 2 years of WWI
~he and his staff (mainly Foch) devised Plan 17 (1913)
~known for his successful conterattack against the German armies that invaded at the beginning of the war, notably his Victory of the Marne
~became a national hero for his victories
~later, Joffre fails to break through German lines in the east and losses are high at Verdun
~as a result of these failures, Nivelle is appointed in his place 1916
~Joffre is given the title of "Marshal of France"

Quotes:
"Get rid of me! Not Castelnau. I need him for six months; then I'll give him a corps command."
(discussion with Messimy on Castelnau)

"Certainly I think so. I have always thought so. It will come. I shall fight it and I shall win. I have always succeeded in whatever I do- as in the Sudan. It will be that way again."
(when Major Alexandre asked Joffre if war was shortly to be expected)

"The hour has come to advance at all costs and to die where you stand rather than give way."
(his instructions to the commanders at Marne)