5th Army (France)

Fifth Army
Memorial to the 5th Army
Active1914–1918
1939–1940
CountryFrance France
BranchFrench Army
TypeField army
Engagements
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Charles Lanrezac
Louis Franchet d'Espèrey
Victor Bourret

The Fifth Army (French: Ve Armée) was a field army of the French Army that fought during World War I and World War II.

World War I

On 29 August 1914 the 5th Army under Lanrezac won a partial victory at the battle of Guise, delaying the German attack. However, Lanrezac was replaced by Louis Franchet d'Espèrey on 3 September 1914. Under its new commander, it participated in the victory at the First Battle of the Marne.

Among its units in 1915 was an air squadron, Escadrille 12.

World War II

During the Battle of France in 1940, the Fifth Army was part of the Second Army Group. It was responsible for the defense of the Maginot Line sector in Lower Alsace, from the Rhine to the Vosges mountains.

Order of Battle (10 May 1940)

At the start of the German offensive, the Fifth Army was commanded by Général d'armée Victor Bourret. Its headquarters was located at Wangenbourg.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Gregory, Adrian (2014). A War of Peoples 1914-1919. Oxford University Press. p. 34. ISBN 978-0-19-954257-4.
  2. ↑ Mansoor, Peter R.; Murray, Williamson (2016). Grand Strategy and Military Alliances. Cambridge University Press. p. 113. ISBN 978-1-107-13602-1.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Les Grandes Unités Françaises de la Guerre 1939-1945, Vol. 1, Service Historique de l'Armée de Terre (SHAT), Vincennes, 1967.