Charles Huntziger | |
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General Charles Huntziger signs the armistice on behalf of France
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Born | 25 June 1880 |
Died | 11 November 1941 | (aged 61)
Allegiance |
French Third Republic Vichy France |
Service/branch | French Army |
Years of service | 1887–1935 1939–42 |
Rank | Général d'armée |
Battles/wars |
Charles Huntziger (French pronunciation: [ʃaʁl œ̃tsiʒe]; 25 June 1880 – 11 November 1941) was a French Army general during World War I and World War II. Born at Lesneven (Finistère) of German descent family. He graduated from Saint-Cyr in 1900 and joined the colonial infantry. During World War I he served in the Middle Eastern theatre. He was chief of staff of operations of the Allied Expeditionary Force. In 1918 he participated in the development of General Louis Franchet d'Espèrey's Vardar Offensive against German and Bulgarian forces which would lead to Allied victory and the signing of the Armistice of Mudros in October 1918.
In 1933, Huntziger was named commander-in-chief of the troops in the French Mandate of Syria. He participated in the negotiations for the cession of the Sanjak of Alexandretta, then part of French Syria, to Turkey. He joined the Superior Council of War in 1938.
During World War II, in 1939–1940, he initially commanded the Second French Army, then the Fourth Army Group in the Ardennes. He fought in the Battle of France with the Second Army. On 16 June 1940 Premier Philippe Pétain's new Cabinet decided upon an armistice. The armistice negotiations were led, on the French side, by Huntziger, who, without success, attempted to lessen the harsh terms of the armistice.