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Noël de Castelnau
Person page: Noël de Castelnau →
Tag
(13)
1914
August
14
Key event
Battles of Morhange and Sarrebourg begin
On 14 August 1914 the French armies launched a great offensive in Lorraine. It began a series of battles that ended in defeat at Morhange and Sarrebourg.
20
End of the battles of Morhange and Sarrebourg
On 20 August 1914 a German counter-attack in Lorraine shattered the French offensive. The French armies fell back towards Nancy with heavy losses.
25
Key event
Battle of the Mortagne begins
On 25 August 1914 the armies of Castelnau and Dubail halted the German drive on the Trouée de Charmes in Lorraine and went over to a counter-offensive.
September
03
End of the Battle of the Mortagne
On 3 September 1914 the Battle of the Mortagne ended. The French held Lorraine, and the Germans prepared a new blow, this time against Nancy.
04
Key event
Battle of the Grand Couronné begins
On 4 September 1914 Crown Prince Rupprecht's army struck the Grand Couronné heights before Nancy. General Castelnau's French held the city for over a week.
12
End of the Battle of the Grand Couronné
On 12 September 1914 the Battle of the Grand Couronné ended. The German 6th Army withdrew from Nancy, and the French recovered Lunéville and Pont-à-Mousson.
21
French briefly enter Noyon
On 21 September 1914 General Castelnau's troops entered Noyon but could not hold it. The town remained in German hands until March 1917.
22
Key event
First Battle of Picardy begins
On 22 September 1914 General de Castelnau's new French Second Army attacked north of the Oise. The Race to the Sea had begun.
26
End of the First Battle of Picardy
On 26 September 1914 the First Battle of Picardy ended. The French failed to turn the German flank, and the front between the Oise and Somme set in trenches.
1915
September
25
Key event
Second Battle of Champagne begins
On 25 September 1915 two French armies attacked in Champagne. They took the German first line and 14,000 prisoners, but the second position stopped the attack.
November
06
End of the Second Battle of Champagne
On 6 November 1915 the last fighting of the Second Battle of Champagne died down. German counter-attacks retook the Butte de Tahure and Hill 199 near Massiges.
December
10
Castelnau becomes Joffre's chief of staff
On 10 December 1915 General Noël de Castelnau, who had led the Champagne offensive, became chief of staff and deputy to Joffre, the French commander-in-chief.
1916
February
25
Germans capture Fort Douaumont
On 25 February 1916 a few dozen Brandenburgers walked without a shot into Fort Douaumont, the largest fort of Verdun, held by a handful of Frenchmen.