Philippe Pétain

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1917

April

29
- Pétain becomes chief of the general staffOn 29 April 1917, after the Aisne offensive failed, France made Pétain chief of the general staff and its military adviser. Nivelle got a supervisor.

May

03
- Key eventStart of the French Army mutiniesOn 3 May 1917 near Soissons about 1,000 men of the 2nd Colonial Division shouted "Down with the war!". After Nivelle's defeat, mutinies swept the army.
15
- Key eventPétain becomes commander-in-chiefOn 15 May 1917 the French government removed Nivelle. Pétain became commander-in-chief of the armies of the North and North-East, Foch chief of staff.

June

13
- Pershing in FranceOn 13 June 1917 Gen. John Pershing and his staff landed at Boulogne. That evening crowds greeted him in Paris, and in the next days Poincaré, Joffre and Pétain.

August

20
- The Second Offensive Battle of Verdun beginsAt dawn on 20 August 1917 the French attacked on both banks of the Meuse at Verdun, retook Mort-Homme, Talou and Hill 344 and took thousands of prisoners.

October

23
- Battle of La Malmaison beginsAt 5.15 a.m. on 23 October 1917 the French Sixth Army attacked the western end of the Chemin des Dames. Zouaves took Fort La Malmaison; Chavignon fell too.

November

01
- End of the Battle of La MalmaisonOn the night of 1–2 November 1917 the Germans quietly left the Chemin des Dames for the Ailette. The French found empty trenches up to Craonne.

December

15
- End of the Second Offensive Battle of VerdunOn 15 December 1917, by French nomenclature, the Second Offensive Battle of Verdun ended. By autumn the fighting was only for positions on the right bank.

1918

March

June

09
- Key eventStart of the Battle of the MatzOn 9 June 1918 the German Eighteenth Army struck between Montdidier and Noyon. The French knew the hour of attack, yet by evening lost 10 km in the centre.

August

November

19
- The French enter MetzOn 19 November 1918 troops of the Tenth Army entered Metz, capital of German Lorraine. The parade was watched by Pétain, who learned of his promotion that day.
- Pétain becomes Marshal of FranceOn 19 November 1918, the day the French entered Metz, General Pétain learned he would be made a Marshal of France. The decree was signed on 21 November.