Gamelin, Maurice Gustave

Gamelin, Maurice Gustave ( 1872 – 1958 )
French general. As a staff officer in World War I he helped to plan the successful Battle of the Marne ( 1914 ) and served with distinction through the war. In World War II as commander-in-chief of the Allied forces, he was unprepared for the German thrust through the Ardennes which resulted in disaster for his forces. In mid- May 1940 Gamelin was replaced by General Weygand .