Edmond Lebœuf
Edmond Lebœuf , also Le Bœuf , (born December 5, 1809 in Paris , † June 7, 1888 in Bailleul ) was Marshal of France and Minister of War . He fought in the Crimean War , the Sardinian War and the Franco-German War .
Life
Lebœuf received his training at the École polytechnique , entered the artillery in 1832 , served with distinction from 1837 to 1841 in Algeria and in 1848 became second in command of the École polytechnique. From 1854 he took part in the Crimean War as a colonel and artillery chief of staff, where he excelled in the battle of the Alma and in the artillery attack on Sevastopol , which he had been a brigadier general since November 1854 .
After the end of the Crimean War he was sent to Kinburn , where he was in command until 1856 . He then received command of the Guards Artillery , became a division general in 1857 and took an excellent part in the Sardinian War in 1859. In January 1869 he was commanding general of the VI. Army Corps in Toulouse and Minister of War on August 21, 1869.
Lebœuf was a brave soldier and an excellent artillery general, but incapable of leading a large administration. He also lacked judgment and knowledge of France's military strength in relation to Germany's military strength. Leboeuf believed that everything was in the best possible order and assured Emperor Napoléon III. Before the assembled Council of Ministers, France was "archipret" ("ore ready") for war. Napoleon III put such confidence in his abilities that he appointed him Marshal on March 24, 1870 and, when the Franco-Prussian War broke out, he was also his chief of staff ( major général ).
Lebœuf's plan of offensive operations immediately turned out to be impracticable due to the army's poor readiness for war . After the defeats of 6 August Lebœuf came under moral pressure from the general indignation at his inability August 12 from his post and took it instead Bazaine command of the III. Corps, which he led excellently. He took an excellent part in the battles of Vionville , Gravelotte and Noisseville , where he sought death in vain. He fell into German captivity with the Rhine Army on October 29, 1870.
When he returned to France at the end of 1871, he was honest enough to openly admit his fatal errors to the investigative commission concerned, and thereupon withdrew entirely from public life.
literature
- Lebœuf, Edmond . In: Encyclopædia Britannica . 11th edition. tape 16 : L - Lord Advocate . London 1911, p. 351 (English, full text [ Wikisource ]).
Web links
| predecessor | Office | successor |
|---|---|---|
| Charles Rigault de Genouilly |
Minister of War of France August 21, 1869 - July 20, 1870 |
Pierre Charles Dejean |
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Lebœuf, Edmond |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Le Boeuf |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | French general and statesman, Marshal of France |
| DATE OF BIRTH | December 5, 1809 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Paris |
| DATE OF DEATH | June 7, 1888 |
| Place of death | Bailleul (Orne) |