Gamelin, Maurice Gustav, born 20-09-1872 in Paris, was a French General. Gamelin is best remembered for his unsuccessful command of the French military in 1940 during the Battle of France and his steadfast defense of republican values. Gamelin served with distinction under Joseph Joffre in World War I. Joffre died age 79, on 03-01-1931.
Gamelin is often credited with being responsible for devising the outline of the French counter-attack in 1914 which led to victory during the First Battle of the Marne. When war was declared in 1939 Gamelin was already 67 years old. A few French units crossed the German border in the Saar Offensive but only travelled 8 km (5.0 mi). Not even penetrating Germany’s unfinished Siegfried Line even though there were no German tanks on the Western front. Gamelin’s vision for France’s defense was based upon a static defense along the Franco-German border, which was reinforced by the Maginot Line.
According to General der Panzertruppe, Hasso von Manteuffel, the German Panzer commander, France had more and better tanks than Germany but chose to disperse them. Major-General Erwin Rommel





Death and burial ground of Gamelin, Maurice Gustav.



