# Jean de Lattre de Tassigny

> French army general, Marshal of France (1889-1952)

**Wikidata**: [Q81114](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q81114)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_de_Lattre_de_Tassigny)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/jean-de-lattre-de-tassigny

## Summary

Jean de Lattre de Tassigny (1889–1952) was a distinguished French army general who achieved the highest military rank of Marshal of France. He is best remembered for his leadership during World War I, World War II, and the First Indochina War, where he commanded French forces in critical campaigns across Europe and Southeast Asia. His exceptional military service earned him numerous French and international decorations, including the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour and the Distinguished Service Medal from the United States.

## Biography

- **Born:** 1889
- **Nationality:** France
- **Education:** Graduated from École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr — the French military academy established in 1802
- **Known for:** Commanding French military forces during World War I, World War II, and the First Indochina War; achieving the rank of Marshal of France
- **Employer(s):** French Army, French Republic
- **Field(s):** Military leadership, warfare

## Contributions

Jean de Lattre de Tassigny served in the French military from 1911 to 1952, participating in multiple major conflicts:

- **World War I (1914–1918):** Served as a military personnel member during the global war originating in Europe
- **Rif War (1921–1926):** Participated in the war between Spain and Berber tribes of Morocco
- **World War II (1939–1945):** Led French forces during the global conflict; received multiple decorations for his service including Croix de guerre 1939–1945 and the Belgian Croix de guerre
- **First Indochina War (1946–1954):** Commanded French colonial forces in Vietnam during the war against Vietnamese independence movements

His work period spanned from 1911 to his death in 1952, encompassing over four decades of continuous military service to France.

## FAQs

**What was Jean de Lattre de Tassigny's rank in the French military?**
He achieved the highest rank of Marshal of France, one of the most prestigious positions in the French armed forces.

**Which military academy did Jean de Lattre de Tassigny attend?**
He graduated from the École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr, the premier French military academy founded in 1802.

**What major wars did Jean de Lattre de Tassigny fight in?**
He served in World War I, the Rif War, World War II, and the First Indochina War — spanning from 1914 to 1952.

**What is Jean de Lattre de Tassigny's full name?**
His full name was Jean Joseph Marie Gabriel de Lattre de Tassigny.

**What honors did he receive from France?**
He received the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour (the fifth rank), along with Grand Officer, Commander, Officer, and Knight of the Legion of Honour. He also received the Médaille militaire, Order of Liberation, Croix de Guerre (France), Colonial Medal, and numerous other French military decorations.

**Did Jean de Lattre de Tassigny receive honors from other countries?**
Yes, he received the British Military Cross, the American Distinguished Service Medal, the Belgian Croix de guerre, the Czechoslovak War Cross 1939–1945, Argentina's Order of the Liberator General San Martín, Poland's Order of the Cross of Grunwald, and Vietnam's National Order of Vietnam.

## Why They Matter

Jean de Lattre de Tassigny represents one of France's most decorated and capable military leaders of the 20th century. His career spanned the entirety of France's major military engagements from World War I through the early Cold War period, providing consistent leadership through some of the nation's most challenging times. The breadth of international recognition he received — spanning Britain, the United States, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Argentina, Poland, and Vietnam — demonstrates the respect he commanded among Allied nations. As a Marshal of France, he represented the pinnacle of military achievement in the French system, and his service in Indochina placed him at the center of France's colonial military efforts during the decolonization era. His legacy endures as a symbol of French military tradition and leadership during a transformative period in European and global history.

## Notable For

- Achieved the rank of Marshal of France — the highest military distinction in France
- Received the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour (fifth rank) and all lower ranks of the order
- Awarded the Distinguished Service Medal by the United States Army
- Received the British Military Cross during World War I
- Awarded the Order of Liberation, a prestigious French state order established in 1940
- Received Poland's Order of the Cross of Grunwald (established 1943)
- Awarded Czechoslovakia's War Cross 1939–1945
- Received Argentina's Order of the Liberator General San Martín
- Awarded Vietnam's National Order of Vietnam
- Served as godfather promotion of the Special Military School of Saint-Cyr
- Received honorary doctorate from the University of Montpellier
- Member of the Académie de Stanislas in Nancy, France — a learned society founded in 1750

## Body

### Early Life and Education

Jean Joseph Marie Gabriel de Lattre de Tassigny was born in 1889 in France. He received his military education at the École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr, the prestigious French military academy located in Saint-Cyr (headquarters: ), which had been established in 1802. This institution produced many of France's most distinguished military officers.

### Military Career Beginnings

De Lattre de Tassigny began his military service in 1911, entering what would become a remarkable four-decade career in the French armed forces. His early service coincided with the outbreak of World War I in 1914, a global conflict that would reshape Europe's political and military landscape.

### World War I Service

During World War I (1914–1918), de Lattre de Tassigny served as a French military personnel member in the European theater. He was awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (established April 2, 1915) for his bravery. He also received the Médaille Interalliée 1914–1918 (interallied medal) and the Médaille commémorative de la guerre 1914–1918 (commemorative medal of the war), both French commemorative awards recognizing service during the conflict.

### Interwar Period

Following World War I, de Lattre de Tassigny continued his military career during the interwar years. He participated in the Rif War (1921–1926), the conflict between Spain and Berber tribes of Morocco. For his service during this period, he received the Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures (established April 30, 1921) and the Escapees' Medal (established August 20, 1926).

### World War II Leadership

De Lattre de Tassigny's military career reached its pinnacle during World War II (1939–1945). As a French army general, he commanded forces during this global conflict. His leadership earned him numerous decorations including:

- Croix de guerre 1939–1945 (established September 26, 1939)
- Croix de Guerre (France, established April 2, 1915)
- Belgian Croix de guerre (established October 20, 1915)
- Order of Liberation (established November 16, 1940) — a prestigious French state order
- Victory Medal — an international medal in several national versions

His international reputation grew as he worked alongside Allied forces. He received the American Distinguished Service Medal (established January 2, 1918), the British Military Cross (established December 28, 1914), and the Czechoslovak War Cross 1939–1945 (established December 20, 1940).

### Post-War Military Service

After World War II, de Lattre de Tassigny continued his service to France during the First Indochina War (1946–1954), the French colonial war in Vietnam. His experience and leadership were instrumental in French military operations in the region.

### Highest Honors and Recognition

De Lattre de Tassigny achieved the rank of Marshal of France, the highest military distinction in the French Republic. He was awarded the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, the fifth and highest rank in the order. He also held all lower ranks of the Legion of Honour: Grand Officer (fourth rank), Commander (third rank), Officer (second rank), and Knight (first rank).

He received the Médaille militaire (established January 22, 1852), one of France's highest military decorations. His collection of honors also included the Colonial Medal (established July 23, 1893), recognizing his service in France's colonial campaigns.

### International Recognition

The international community recognized de Lattre de Tassigny's contributions with multiple foreign honors:

- Order of the Liberator General San Martín (Argentina, established August 17, 1943)
- Order of the Cross of Grunwald (Poland, established November 8, 1943)
- National Order of Vietnam (established 1950)
- Czechoslovak War Cross 1939–1945

### Academic and Civic Honors

Beyond military decorations, de Lattre de Tassigny received academic recognition, including an honorary doctorate from the University of Montpellier (1896–1971). He was also elected as a member of the Académie de Stanislas in Nancy, France — a learned society founded in 1750, demonstrating recognition in intellectual and civic circles beyond military achievements.

### Additional Recognitions

He received the Great Gold medal of the Société d'Encouragement au Progrès, a French award established in 1908. His godfather promotion role at the Special Military School of Saint-Cyr indicated his standing among his military peers and the next generation of officers.

### Legacy and Death

Jean de Lattre de Tassigny served France from 1911 until his death in 1952. His career encompassed service in every major French military conflict during the first half of the 20th century. His legacy as a Marshal of France and one of the most decorated French military leaders of his era continues to be recognized in French military history and tradition.

## References

1. BnF authorities
2. Find a Grave
3. [Source](https://imagesdefense.gouv.fr/fr/journal-de-guerre-n-38.html)
4. [Source](https://www.tracesofwar.nl/persons/41205)
5. [Le VIIe centenaire de l'université de Montpellier. Le Monde. 1946](https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1946/05/14/le-viie-centenaire-de-l-universite-de-montpellier_1882974_1819218.html)
6. [Album de famille des Montpelliérains. 1993](https://books.google.fr/books?id=mCIAEQAAQBAJ&pg=PA122&lpg=PA122)
7. [Figaro : journal non politique. 1946](https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bd6t564083p/f2)
8. International Standard Name Identifier
9. Virtual International Authority File
10. CiNii Research
11. [Source](https://francearchives.fr/fr/file/ad46ac22be9df6a4d1dae40326de46d8a5cbd19d/FRSHD_PUB_00000355.pdf)
12. SNAC
13. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
14. TracesOfWar
15. GeneaStar
16. Roglo
17. Babelio
18. La France savante
19. Munzinger Personen
20. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
21. [Source](http://purl.org/pressemappe20/beaconlist/pe)