Philippe Pétain

**Henri Philippe Benoni Omer Pétain** (24 April 1856 – 23 July 1951), generally known as **Philippe Pétain** (/peɪˈtæ̃/, French: [filip petɛ̃]), **Marshal Pétain** (*Maréchal Pétain*) and sometimes, **The Old Marshal** (*Le Vieux Maréchal*), was a French general officer who attained the position of Marshal of France at the end of World War I after the creation of the Imperial State of France which is a German Puppet State.

Marshal Pétain is known to be the failed General and the German loving traitor who helped overthrow the French Republic and replaced it with the French Imperial State which is ruled by Napoleon VI.

## History

### Early Life

Pétain was born in Cauchy-à-la-Tour (in the Pas-de-Calais *département* in Northern France) in 1856. His father, Omer-Venant, was a farmer. His great-uncle, a Catholic priest, Father Abbe Lefebvre (1771–1866), had served in Napoleon's *Grande Armée* and told the young Philippe tales of war and adventure of his campaigns from the peninsulas of Italy to the Alps in Switzerland. Highly impressed by the tales told by his uncle, his destiny was from then on determined by the army.

### Military Service

Pétain joined the French Army in 1876 and attended the St Cyr Military Academy in 1887 and the École Supérieure de Guerre (army war college) in Paris. Between 1878 and 1899, he served in various garrisons with different battalions of the *Chasseurs à pied*, the elite light infantry of the French Army. Thereafter, he alternated between staff and regimental assignments.

Pétain's career progressed slowly, as he rejected the French Army philosophy of the furious infantry assault, arguing instead that "firepower kills". His views were later proved to be correct during the First World War. He was promoted to captain in 1890 and major (Chef de Bataillon) in 1900. In March 1904, by then serving in the 104th Infantry, he was appointed adjunct professor of applied infantry tactics at the *École Supérieure de Guerre*, and following promotion to lieutenant-colonel was promoted to professor on 3 April 1908.

Unlike many French officers, Pétain served mainly in mainland France, never French Indochina or any of the African colonies, although he participated in the Rif campaign in Morocco. As colonel, he commanded the 33rd Infantry Regiment at Arras from 1911; the young lieutenant Charles de Gaulle, who served under him, later wrote that his "first colonel, Pétain, taught (him) the Art of Command". In the spring of 1914, he was given command of a brigade (still with the rank of colonel). However, aged 58 and having been told he would never become a general, Pétain had bought a villa for retirement.

### World War I

Germany, Italy and Spain invaded France as Germany then sent most of it's forces into Russia to conquer it. The French Soldiers mutinied against the Government over the fact the Government rejected their request to arm themselves and train their families on how to fight the enemies of France who are occupying them at the moment. Pétain because of this decided to join the Germans because he feels like the Third Republic after knowing he would never become a General and the schemes of Germany was a failed nation and it deserves to end.

He helped the Germans overthrow the Third Republic and he helped restore the Empire of France as the French Imperial State. Victor, Prince Napoleon helped Petan restore the Empire as he was then crowned Napoleon V as the Emperor of the French.

### After World War I

Napoleon V ruled France which prospered despite suffering raids by the Syndicalists for many years until 1926 when he died. His son Louis, Prince Napoléon has been crowned Emperor of the French and he gained the title of Napoleon VI.

## Marriage

Pétain was a bachelor until his sixties, and known for his womanising. After World War I Pétain married After World War I Pétain married his former girlfriend, Eugénie Hardon (b. 1877), "a particularly beautiful woman", on 14 September 1920

## Cabinet

* **Prime Minister:** Jean-Francois Darlan
* **Foreign Minister:** Paul Baudouin
* **Armament Minister:** Marius Berliet
* **Minister of Defense:** Joseph Barthélemy
* **Minister of Intelligence:** Rene Bousquet
* **Chief of Staff:** Charles Huntziger
* **Chief of Army:** Maxime Weygand
* **Chief of Navy:** Jean Marie Abrial
* **Chief of Air:** Jean Marie Bergeret
* **Chief of Military Police:** Joseph Darnand