Chief of Staff of the French Army

{{Infobox official post

| post = Chief

| body = the Army Staff

| native_name = {{small|Chef d'état-major de l'armée de terre}}

| insignia =

| insigniasize =

| insigniacaption =

| flag = Marque CEMAT.svg

| flagsize =

| flagcaption = Honor flag{{cite web|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6577418k/f63.image|title=Marks, honors, salutes and visits in the naval forces and on board naval vessels|last=Government of the French Republic|website=gallica.bnf.fr|language=fr|date=10 August 1939|access-date=2 October 2020}}

| image = Le général Pierre Schill.jpg

| imagesize =

| alt =

| incumbent = Army General Pierre Schill

| acting =

| incumbentsince = 22 July 2021

| department = Ministry of the Armed Forces

| style =

| type = Chief of Staff

| status =

| abbreviation = CEMAT

| member_of = Chiefs of Staff Committee

| reports_to = Chief of the Defence Staff

| residence =

| seat = Hexagone Balard, Paris

| nominator =

| appointer = President of the Republic

| appointer_qualified = Requires the Prime Minister's countersignature

| termlength =

| termlength_qualified =

| constituting_instrument =

| precursor =

| formation = {{start date and age|1871|06|08|df=y}}

| first = François Hartung

| last =

| abolished =

| succession =

| unofficial_names =

| deputy = Major General of the Army

| salary =

| website = [https://www.defense.gouv.fr/terre/l-armee-de-terre/le-commandement/le-chef-d-etat-major-de-l-armee-de-terre/le-cemat defense.gouv.fr/terre]

}}

The Chief of the Army Staff ({{langx|fr|Chef d'état-major de l'armée de terre}},{{efn|{{IPA|fr|ʃɛf deta maʒɔʁ də laʁme də tɛʁ}}, {{literally|Chief of Staff of the Land Army}}}} CEMAT){{cite web|url=https://www.defense.gouv.fr/terre/l-armee-de-terre/le-commandement/le-chef-d-etat-major-de-l-armee-de-terre/le-cemat|title=The Chief of the Army Staff|last=French Army|language=fr|access-date=2 October 2020}} is the military head of the French Army.[https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/article_lc/LEGIARTI000030293298 Defence Code – Article R3222–3 § 2] The chief directs the army staff and acts as the principal advisor to the Chief of the Defence Staff on subjects concerning the Army.[https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/article_lc/LEGIARTI000029944736 Defence Code – Article R*3121–25 § 1] As such, they ensure the operational preparedness of their service branch, express their need for military and civilian personnel, and are responsible for maintaining the discipline, morale and conduct of their troops.[https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/article_lc/LEGIARTI000029944736 Defence Code – Article R*3121–25 § 2] Special responsibilities can be assigned to them in relation to nuclear safety.[https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/article_lc/LEGIARTI000029944736 Defence Code – Article R*3121–25 § 3]

The chief does not have a fixed term, nor an attached rank. In practice, however, a term has never exceeded five years and all chiefs since the late 1950s have been five–stars generals (OF–09). They are assisted in their duties by the Major General of the Army who will deputise if needed.

General Pierre Schill is the current chief and has been serving since 22 July 2021.

History

= Creation =

The office was originally created on 8 June 1871 as Chief of the General Staff of the Army.{{cite web|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6584226s/f3.image|title=Décret portant organisation de l'administration centrale du ministère de la guerre|website=gallica.bnf.fr|last=Government of the French Republic|language=fr|date=8 June 1871|access-date=18 August 2019}} Following the fall of the Second French Empire, the central administration of the Ministry of War was reorganized. The Chief of Staff had full control of the operations of the army, military engineering services, military justice, and general resources such as the historic and geographic departments. The Chief reported directly to the Minister of War.

However, under some governments, the position was given a lesser importance and was attributed to a Général de brigade, the lowest of the two flag officer ranks existing at the time in the French Army. In normal circumstances, it was filled by a Général de division.

= First World War =

In times of war, the Chief of Staff of the French Army took charge of general headquarters (Grand Quartier Général (1914–1919) (GQG)). During the First World War, the leader of the French Armies was variously referred to as generalissimo or commander-in-chief.{{efn|This official title (sometimes referred to as Généralissime) gave the Chief of Staff full authority over all French armies.}}{{cite web|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6351461p/f3.image|title=Décret portant réorganisation du haut-commandement|website=gallica.bnf.fr|last=Government of the French Republic|language=fr|date=2 December 1915|access-date=29 February 2020}} In the closing years of the First World War I, the establishment of the Supreme War Council in 1917 led to overall command being held by General Ferdinand Foch, and by mid-1918 French Army Chief Philippe Pétain was subordinate to Foch. Although the war ended with the armistice in November 1918, the war-time organisation persisted until 1920.

= Interwar =

During the interwar period, command of the French Army was divided between the vice president of the Superior War Council and the chief of the general staff of the Armies. Marshal Philippe Pétain was vice president from 1920 to 1931, when he was replaced by General Weygand. After Weygand retired in 1935 he was succeeded by Gamelin who held the two positions simultaneously.

= Second World War =

The position was abolished during the Battle of France and not reestablished until the end of the war.{{cite web|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k96147503/f6.image|title=Décret portant réorganisation du haut-commandement|website=gallica.bnf.fr|last=Government of the French Republic|language=fr|date=19 May 1940|access-date=29 February 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k1576584k/f11.item|title=Décret portant réorganisation du haut-commandement|website=gallica.bnf.fr|last=Government of the French Republic|language=fr|date=28 April 1948|access-date=29 February 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jo_pdf.do?id=JORFTEXT000000845018&pageCourante=03548|title=Décret portant réorganisation du haut-commandement|website=legifrance.gouv.fr|last=Government of the French Republic|language=fr|date=1 April 1950|access-date=29 February 2020}}

= Postwar =

The modern-day office of Chief of Staff of the Army was created in 1951.{{cite book|title=Dialogues avec un général|last=Zeller|first=André|author-link=André Zeller|publisher=Presses de la Cité|year=1974|page=14|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yPTEPN_OJW0C}} The Chief is placed under the authority of the Chief of the Defence Staff and is member of the Chiefs of Staff committee.

Office holders

= Third Republic =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:100%"
style="width:2%" rowspan=2 \| {{abbr\|No.\|Number}} ! style="width:5%" rowspan=2 \| Portrait ! style="width:15%" rowspan=2 \| Rank & Name ! colspan=3 \| Term ! rowspan=2 \| Minister ! style="width:20%" rowspan=2\| Commander-in-Chief ! style="width:2%" rowspan=2 \| Ref.
style="width:12%" \| Took office ! style="width:12%" \| Left office ! style="width:12%" \| Duration
bgcolor="navy" \| colspan=9 \| {{font color\|white\|Office established}}
1 \| 80px \| Brigade general {{nowrap\|Edmond Hartung}} \| {{nowrap\|9 June 1871}} \| {{nowrap\|2 June 1873}} \| {{ayd\|1871\|06\|09\|1873\|06\|02}} \| Ernest de Cissey François du Barail \| Adolphe Thiers \| {{cite web\|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6584226s/f3.image\|title=Décret portant affectation d'un officier général\|website=gallica.bnf.fr\|last=Government of the French Republic\|language=fr\|date=8 June 1871\|access-date=29 February 2020}} -
2 \| 80px \| Division general {{nowrap\|Jean-Louis Borel}} \| {{nowrap\|2 June 1873}} \| {{nowrap\|2 June 1874}} \| {{ayd\|1873\|06\|02\|1874\|06\|02}} \| François du Barail Ernest de Cissey \| rowspan=3 \| Patrice de MacMahon \| {{cite web\|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k62171541/f2.image\|title=Décret portant affectation d'un officier général\|website=gallica.bnf.fr\|last=Government of the French Republic\|language=fr\|date=1 June 1873\|access-date=29 February 2020}} -
3 \| 80px \| Division general{{efn\|name=a\|Brigade general at the time of his appointment, promoted to Division general while in office.}} {{nowrap\|Henri Gresley}} \| {{nowrap\|2 June 1874}} \| {{nowrap\|29 November 1877}} \| {{ayd\|1874\|06\|02\|1877\|11\|29}} \| Ernest de Cissey Jean Berthaut Gaëtan de Rochebouët \| {{cite web\|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k62518805/f1.image\|title=Décret portant affectation d'un officier général\|website=gallica.bnf.fr\|last=Government of the French Republic\|language=fr\|date=1 June 1874\|access-date=29 February 2020}} -
4 \| 80px \| Division general {{nowrap\|Joseph de Miribel}} \| {{nowrap\|29 November 1877}} \| {{nowrap\|25 January 1879}} \| {{ayd\|1877\|11\|29\|1879\|01\|25}} \| Gaëtan de Rochebouët Jean-Louis Borel Henri Gresley \| {{cite web\|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6457774f/f1.image\|title=Décret portant affectation d'un officier général\|website=gallica.bnf.fr\|last=Government of the French Republic\|language=fr\|date=28 November 1877\|access-date=29 February 2020}} -
5 \| 80px \| Division general {{nowrap\|Léopold Davout}} \| {{nowrap\|25 January 1879}} \| {{nowrap\|11 January 1880}} \| {{ayd\|1879\|01\|25\|1880\|01\|11}} \| Henri Gresley Jean-Joseph Farre \| rowspan=8 \| Jules Grévy \| {{cite web\|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6214123j/f2.image\|title=Décret portant affectation d'un officier général\|website=gallica.bnf.fr\|last=Government of the French Republic\|language=fr\|date=24 January 1879\|access-date=29 February 2020}} -
6 \| 80px \| Division general {{nowrap\|Omer Blot}} \| {{nowrap\|11 January 1880}} \| {{nowrap\|16 November 1881}} \| {{ayd\|1880\|01\|11\|1881\|11\|16}} \| Jean-Joseph Farre Jean-Baptiste Campenon \| {{cite web\|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6213889d/f1.image\|title=Décret portant affectation d'un officier général\|website=gallica.bnf.fr\|last=Government of the French Republic\|language=fr\|date=10 January 1880\|access-date=29 February 2020}} -
7 \| 80px \| Division general {{nowrap\|Joseph de Miribel}} \| {{nowrap\|16 November 1881}} \| {{nowrap\|18 February 1882}} \| {{ayd\|1881\|11\|16\|1882\|02\|18}} \| Jean-Baptiste Campenon Jean-Baptiste Billot \| {{cite web\|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6222224z/f2.image\|title=Décret portant affectation d'un officier général\|website=gallica.bnf.fr\|last=Government of the French Republic\|language=fr\|date=15 November 1881\|access-date=29 February 2020}} -
8 \| 80px \| Division general {{nowrap\|Achile Vuillemot}} \| {{nowrap\|18 February 1882}} \| {{nowrap\|5 January 1885}} \| {{ayd\|1882\|02\|18\|1885\|01\|05}} \| Jean-Baptiste Billot Jean Thibaudin Jean-Baptiste Campenon Jules Lewal \| {{cite web\|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k62232263/f2.image\|title=Décret portant affectation d'un officier général\|website=gallica.bnf.fr\|last=Government of the French Republic\|language=fr\|date=17 February 1882\|access-date=29 February 2020}} -
9 \| 80px \| Division general{{efn\|name='a'}} {{nowrap\|Charles Warnet}} \| {{nowrap\|5 January 1885}} \| {{nowrap\|9 April 1885}} \| {{ayd\|1885\|01\|05\|1885\|04\|09}} \| Jules Lewal Jean-Baptiste Campenon \| {{cite web\|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6268696s/f1.image\|title=Décret portant affectation d'un officier général\|website=gallica.bnf.fr\|last=Government of the French Republic\|language=fr\|date=4 January 1885\|access-date=29 February 2020}} -
10 \| 80px \| Division general {{nowrap\|Amédée de Cools}} \| {{nowrap\|9 April 1885}} \| {{nowrap\|10 January 1886}} \| {{ayd\|1885\|04\|09\|1886\|01\|10}} \| Jean-Baptiste Campenon Georges Boulanger \| {{cite web\|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6387097m/f2.image\|title=Décret portant affectation d'un officier général\|website=gallica.bnf.fr\|last=Government of the French Republic\|language=fr\|date=8 April 1885\|access-date=29 February 2020}} -
11 \| 80px \| Division general {{nowrap\|Eugène Galland}} \| {{nowrap\|10 January 1886}} \| {{nowrap\|14 January 1886}} \| {{ayd\|1886\|01\|10\|1886\|01\|14}} \| Georges Boulanger \| {{cite web\|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k62645647/f6.image\|title=Décret portant affectation d'un officier général\|website=gallica.bnf.fr\|last=Government of the French Republic\|language=fr\|date=9 January 1886\|access-date=29 February 2020}} -
12 \| 80px \| Division general{{efn\|name='a'}} {{nowrap\|Savin de Larclause}} \| {{nowrap\|14 January 1886}} \| {{nowrap\|6 July 1887}} \| {{ayd\|1886\|01\|14\|1887\|07\|06}} \| Georges Boulanger Théophile Ferron \| {{cite web\|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6264568w/f3.image\|title=Décret portant affectation d'un officier général\|website=gallica.bnf.fr\|last=Government of the French Republic\|language=fr\|date=14 January 1886\|access-date=29 February 2020}} -
13 \| 80px \| Division general{{efn\|name='a'}} {{nowrap\|Charles Haillot}} \| {{nowrap\|6 July 1887}} \| {{nowrap\|7 May 1890}} \| {{ayd\|1887\|07\|06\|1890\|05\|07}} \| Théophile Ferron François Logerot Charles de Freycinet \| rowspan=3 \| Sadi Carnot \| {{cite web\|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6271199d/f4.image\|title=Décret portant affectation d'un officier général\|website=gallica.bnf.fr\|last=Government of the French Republic\|language=fr\|date=5 July 1887\|access-date=29 February 2020}} -
14 \| 80px \| Division general {{nowrap\|Joseph de Miribel}} \| {{nowrap\|7 May 1890}} \| {{nowrap\|29 September 1893}} \| {{ayd\|1890\|05\|07\|1893\|09\|29}} \| Charles de Freycinet Julien Léon Loizillon \| {{cite web\|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6241437h/f3.image\|title=Décret portant affectation d'un officier général\|website=gallica.bnf.fr\|last=Government of the French Republic\|language=fr\|date=6 May 1890\|access-date=29 February 2020}} {{cite web\|title=L'armée française (1871–1914): Les chef de l'Etat major général\|publisher=Military photos.com\|url=http://www.military-photos.com/index-armee.htm\|access-date=18 August 2019}}
rowspan=3 \| 15 \| rowspan=3 \| 80px \| rowspan=3 \| Division general {{nowrap\|Raoul de Boisdeffre}} \| rowspan=3 \| {{nowrap\|29 September 1893}} \| rowspan=3 \| {{nowrap\|3 September 1898}} \| rowspan=3 \| {{ayd\|1893\|09\|29\|1898\|09\|03}} \| rowspan=3 \| Julien Loizillon Auguste Mercier [...] Jean-Baptiste Billot Jacques Cavaignac \| rowspan=3 \| {{cite web\|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k64505876/f5.image\|title=Décret portant affectation d'un officier général\|website=gallica.bnf.fr\|last=Government of the French Republic\|language=fr\|date=28 September 1893\|access-date=29 February 2020}}
Jean Casimir-Perier
rowspan=3 \| Félix Faure
16 \| 80px \| Division general {{nowrap\|Jean Renouard}} \| {{nowrap\|3 September 1898}} \| {{nowrap\|5 November 1898}} \| {{ayd\|1898\|09\|03\|1898\|11\|05}} \| Jacques Cavaignac Charles Chanoine Édouard Locroy Charles de Freycinet \| {{cite web\|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6383446f/f40.image\|title=Décret portant affectation d'un officier général\|website=gallica.bnf.fr\|last=Government of the French Republic\|language=fr\|date=2 September 1898\|access-date=29 February 2020}} -
rowspan=2 \| 17 \| rowspan=2 \| 80px \| rowspan=2 \| Division general {{nowrap\|Paul Brault}} \| rowspan=2 \| {{nowrap\|5 November 1898}} \| rowspan=2 \| {{nowrap\|27 September 1899†}} \| rowspan=2 \| {{ayd\|1898\|11\|05\|1899\|09\|27}} \| rowspan=2 \| Charles de Freycinet Camille Krantz Gaston de Galliffet \| rowspan=2 \| {{cite web\|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6254130s/f6.image\|title=Décret portant affectation d'un officier général\|website=gallica.bnf.fr\|last=Government of the French Republic\|language=fr\|date=4 November 1898\|access-date=29 February 2020}}
rowspan=4 \| Émile Loubet
18 \| 80px \| Brigade general{{efn\|name=b\|Appointed "Chef d'état-major général avec le titre faisant fonction"; faisant fonction is a locution indicating that an officer is holding an office usually attached to a higher rank.}} {{nowrap\|Alfred Delanne}} \| {{nowrap\|27 September 1899}} \| {{nowrap\|5 July 1900}} \| {{ayd\|1899\|09\|27\|1900\|07\|05}} \| Gaston de Galliffet Louis André \| {{cite web\|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6384021j/f3.image\|title=Décret portant affectation d'un officier général\|website=gallica.bnf.fr\|last=Government of the French Republic\|language=fr\|date=26 September 1899\|access-date=29 February 2020}} -
19 \| 80px \| Division general{{efn\|name='a'}}{{efn\|name='b'}} {{nowrap\|Jean Pendézec}} \| {{nowrap\|5 July 1900}} \| {{nowrap\|2 August 1905}} \| {{ayd\|1900\|07\|05\|1905\|08\|02}} \| Louis André Maurice Berteaux \| {{cite web\|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6249505c/f6.image\|title=Décret portant affectation d'un officier général\|website=gallica.bnf.fr\|last=Government of the French Republic\|language=fr\|date=4 July 1900\|access-date=29 February 2020}}
rowspan=2 \| 20 \| rowspan=2 \| 80px \| rowspan=2 \| Division general {{nowrap\|Jean Brun}} \| rowspan=2 \| {{nowrap\|2 August 1905}} \| rowspan=2 \| {{nowrap\|5 August 1909}} \| rowspan=2 \| {{ayd\|1905\|08\|02\|1909\|08\|05}} \| rowspan=2 \| Maurice Berteaux Eugène Étienne Georges Picquart Jean Brun \| rowspan=2 \| {{cite web\|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6513639j/f5.image\|title=Décret portant affectation d'un officier général\|website=gallica.bnf.fr\|last=Government of the French Republic\|language=fr\|date=1 August 1905\|access-date=29 February 2020}}
rowspan=4 \| Armand Fallières
21 \| 80px \| Division general {{nowrap\|Édouard de Ladébat}} \| {{nowrap\|5 August 1909}} \| {{nowrap\|31 May 1911}} \| {{ayd\|1909\|08\|05\|1911\|05\|31}} \| Jean Brun Aristide Briand Maurice Berteaux François Goiran \| {{cite web\|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k62489204/f13.image\|title=Décret portant affectation d'un officier général\|website=gallica.bnf.fr\|last=Government of the French Republic\|language=fr\|date=4 August 1909\|access-date=29 February 2020}}
22 \| 80px \| Division general {{nowrap\|Augustin Dubail}} \| {{nowrap\|31 May 1911}} \| {{nowrap\|29 July 1911}} \| {{ayd\|1911\|05\|31\|1911\|07\|29}} \| François Goiran Adolphe Messimy \| {{cite web\|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k63916068/f29.image\|title=Décret portant affectation d'un officier général\|website=gallica.bnf.fr\|last=Government of the French Republic\|language=fr\|date=30 May 1911\|access-date=29 February 2020}}
rowspan=2 \| 23 \| rowspan=2 \| 80px \| rowspan=2 \| Division general {{nowrap\|Joseph Joffre}} \| rowspan=2 \| {{nowrap\|29 July 1911}} \| rowspan=2 \| {{nowrap\|14 December 1916}} \| rowspan=2 \| {{ayd\|1911\|07\|29\|1916\|12\|14}} \| rowspan=2 \| Adolphe Messimy Alexandre Millerand [...] Pierre Roques Hubert Lyautey \| rowspan=2 \| {{cite web\|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6336680q/f12.image\|title=Décret portant affectation d'un officier général\|website=gallica.bnf.fr\|last=Government of the French Republic\|language=fr\|date=29 July 1911\|access-date=29 February 2020}} {{cite book\|title=World War I: encyclopedia, Volume 1\|last=Tucker\|first=Spencer\|author2=Mary Roberts, Priscilla\|year=2005\|publisher=ABC-CLIO\|pages=616–617\|isbn=9781851094202\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2YqjfHLyyj8C&q=%22Joseph+Joffre%22+French+Army+Chief+of+Staff&pg=PA616\|access-date=18 August 2019}}
rowspan=5 \| Raymond Poincaré
24 \| 80px \| Division general {{nowrap\|Robert Nivelle}} \| {{nowrap\|14 December 1916}} \| {{nowrap\|30 April 1917}} \| {{ayd\|1916\|12\|14\|1917\|04\|30}} \| Hubert Lyautey Lucien Lacaze Paul Painlevé \| {{cite web\|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6295336c/f3.image\|title=Décret portant affectation d'un officier général\|website=gallica.bnf.fr\|last=Government of the French Republic\|language=fr\|date=13 December 1916\|access-date=29 February 2020}} -
25 \| 80px \| Division general {{nowrap\|Philippe Pétain}} \| {{nowrap\|30 April 1917}} \| {{nowrap\|16 May 1917}} \| {{ayd\|1917\|04\|30\|1917\|05\|16}} \| Paul Painlevé \| {{cite web\|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6310527k/f2.image\|title=Décret portant affectation d'un officier général\|website=gallica.bnf.fr\|last=Government of the French Republic\|language=fr\|date=29 April 1917\|access-date=29 February 2020}} -
26 \| 80px \| Division general{{efn\|Subsequently appointed Supreme Allied Commander (1918–1920).}} {{nowrap\|Ferdinand Foch}} \| {{nowrap\|16 May 1917}} \| {{nowrap\|29 December 1918}} \| {{ayd\|1917\|05\|16\|1918\|12\|29}} \| Paul Painlevé Georges Clemenceau \| {{cite web\|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6317901w/f3.image\|title=Décret portant affectation d'un officier général\|website=gallica.bnf.fr\|last=Government of the French Republic\|language=fr\|date=15 May 1917\|access-date=29 February 2020}} -
27 \| 80px \| Division general {{nowrap\|Henri Alby}} \| {{nowrap\|29 December 1918}} \| {{nowrap\|25 January 1920}} \| {{ayd\|1918\|12\|29\|1920\|01\|25}} \| Georges Clemenceau André Lefèvre \| {{cite web\|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6371008g/f27.image\|title=Décret portant affectation d'un officier général\|website=gallica.bnf.fr\|last=Government of the French Republic\|language=fr\|date=29 December 1918\|access-date=29 February 2020}} -
rowspan=2 \| 28 \| rowspan=2 \| 80px \| rowspan=2 \| Division general {{nowrap\|Edmond Buat}} \| rowspan=2 \| {{nowrap\|25 January 1920}} \| rowspan=2 \| {{nowrap\|30 December 1923†}} \| rowspan=2 \| {{ayd\|1920\|01\|25\|1923\|12\|30}} \| rowspan=2 \| André Lefèvre Flaminius Raiberti Louis Barthou André Maginot \| Paul Deschanel \| rowspan=2 \| {{cite web\|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k64769217/f5.image\|title=Décret portant affectation d'un officier général\|website=gallica.bnf.fr\|last=Government of the French Republic\|language=fr\|date=24 January 1920\|access-date=29 February 2020}} {{cite news\|title=French Members of Arms Parley Are Now on Scene\|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/ajc_historic/access/516557352.html?dids=516557352:516557352&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Nov+08%2C+1921&author=&pub=The+Atlanta+Constitution&desc=FRENCH+MEMBERS+OF+ARMS+PARLEY+ARE+NOW+ON+SCENE&pqatl=google\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107101105/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/ajc_historic/access/516557352.html?dids=516557352:516557352&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Nov+08,+1921&author=&pub=The+Atlanta+Constitution&desc=FRENCH+MEMBERS+OF+ARMS+PARLEY+ARE+NOW+ON+SCENE&pqatl=google\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=7 November 2012\|newspaper=The Atlanta Constitution\|date=8 November 1921\|access-date=9 July 2011}}
rowspan=2 \| Alexandre Millerand
rowspan=2 \| 29 \| rowspan=2 \| 80px \| rowspan=2 \| Division general {{nowrap\|Eugène Debeney}} \| rowspan=2 \| {{nowrap\|9 January 1924}} \| rowspan=2 \| {{nowrap\|3 January 1930}} \| rowspan=2 \| {{ayd\|1924\|01\|09\|1930\|01\|03}} \| rowspan=2 \| André Maginot Charles Nollet [...] Paul Painlevé André Maginot \| rowspan=2 \| {{cite web\|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k64760192/f11.image\|title=Décret portant affectation d'un officier général\|website=gallica.bnf.fr\|last=Government of the French Republic\|language=fr\|date=8 January 1924\|access-date=29 February 2020}} -
rowspan=3 \| Gaston Doumergue
30 \| 80px \| Division general {{nowrap\|Maxime Weygand}} \| {{nowrap\|3 January 1930}} \| {{nowrap\|10 February 1931}} \| {{ayd\|1930\|01\|03\|1931\|02\|10}} \| André Maginot Louis Barthou André Maginot \| {{cite web\|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6584966q/f13.image\|title=Décret portant affectation d'un officier général\|website=gallica.bnf.fr\|last=Government of the French Republic\|language=fr\|date=2 January 1930\|access-date=29 February 2020}} -
rowspan=3 \| 31 \| rowspan=3 \| 80px \| rowspan=3 \| Division general {{nowrap\|Maurice Gamelin}} \| rowspan=3 \| {{nowrap\|10 February 1931}} \| rowspan=3 \| {{nowrap\|20 May 1940}} \| rowspan=3 \| {{ayd\|1931\|02\|10\|1940\|05\|20}} \| rowspan=3 \| André Maginot André Tardieu [...] Louis Maurin Édouard Daladier \| rowspan=3 \| {{cite web\|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k65429912/f72.image\|title=Décret portant affectation d'un officier général\|website=gallica.bnf.fr\|last=Government of the French Republic\|language=fr\|date=9 February 1931\|access-date=29 February 2020}} {{cite news\|title=MACARTHUR RECEIVES HIGH FRENCH HONOR; Chief of Staff of Our Army Is Made Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor\|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1931/09/17/archives/macarthur-receives-high-french-honor-chief-of-staff-of-our-army-is.html\|newspaper=The New York Times\|date=17 September 1931\|access-date=9 July 2011\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723093545/https://www.nytimes.com/1931/09/17/archives/macarthur-receives-high-french-honor-chief-of-staff-of-our-army-is.html\|archive-date=23 July 2018\|url-status=dead}}
Paul Doumer
Albert Lebrun
bgcolor="crimson" \| colspan="9" \| {{font color\|white\|Office disestablished (1940–1945)}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:100%"

style="width:2%" rowspan=2 | {{abbr|No.|Number}}

! style="width:5%" rowspan=2 | Portrait

! style="width:15%" rowspan=2 | Rank & Name

! colspan=3 | Term

! rowspan=2 | Minister

! style="width:20%" rowspan=2| Commander-in-Chief

! style="width:2%" rowspan=2 | Ref.

style="width:12%" | Took office

! style="width:12%" | Left office

! style="width:12%" | Duration

bgcolor="navy"

| colspan=9 | {{font color|white|Office established}}

Chief of Staff of the French Army

History

= Creation =

= First World War =

= Interwar =

= Second World War =

= Postwar =

Office holders

= Third Republic =

= Fourth Republic =

= Fifth Republic =

See also

Notes

References