Robert Altmayer

Marie-Robert Altmayer (born July 30, 1875 in Bordeaux , † February 11, 1959 in Paris ) was a French lieutenant general .

Life

Altmayer, son of Major General Victor Joseph Altmayer and his wife Marie Jeanne Esther De La Ruelle, began officer training at the Ecole Spéciale Militaire in 1893 and joined the 9th Dragons Regiment (9e Régiment de Dragons) in October 1895 as a lieutenant (sous-lieutenant ) a. There he was in October 1897, Lieutenant (Lieutenant) promoted and undertook subsequent to spahi -Schwadron (Escadron de spahis du Soudan) by French Sudan before it in July 1900. 2. Spahis Squadron (2e Escadron de spahis sénégalais) was transferred to Senegal . In September 1902 he was transferred to the 10th Dragons Regiment (10e Régiment de Dragons) and in March 1904 to the 5th Dragons Regiment (5e Régiment de Dragons) . In April 1904 he was transferred to the 8th Hussar Regiment (8e Régiment de Hussards) and promoted to captain (Capitaine) there in March 1906 . In May 1906 he was transferred to the 9th Cuirassier Regiment (9e Régiment de cuirassiers) , then to the staff of VI. Army Corps (6e Corps d'Armée) and then to the 26th Dragons Regiment (26e Régiment de Dragons) . In April 1911 he was transferred as a captain to the 12th Hussar Regiment (12e Régiment de Hussards) and in January 1913 to the staff of the occupation forces in French Morocco .

At the beginning of the First World War , Altmayer was promoted to major (Chef d'Escadrons) in September 1914 and transferred to the staff of the 5th military region (5e Région militaire) in Orléans in December 1914 . In April 1915 he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Legion of Honor . In April 1916 his transfer was followed by the 9th Rifle Regiment (9e Régiment de tirailleurs) before moving to his promotion to lieutenant colonel (lieutenant-colonel) in November 1916, the 125th Infantry Regiment (Régiment d'125e infantry) was seconded. In July 1917 he became an officer in the staff of the 3rd Army (3e armée (France) | 3e Armée) and then in April 1918 an officer in the 5th Cuirassier Regiment (5e Régiment de cuirassiers) . After March 27, 1919 Colonel (Colonel) was promoted, he took over in April 1919 the post of commander of the 5th Cuirassiers (5e Régiment de cuirassiers) and 1920 as commander of the 8th Hussars (8e Régiment de Hussards) . In June 1920 he was also awarded the Officer's Cross of the Legion of Honor.

Post-war period and World War II

After five years of service there, Altmayer was promoted to command of the 4th Regional Cavalry Group (4e Groupement Régionel de Cavalerie) in Montauban on May 22, 1925 and promoted to Brigadier General (Général de Brigade) on November 10, 1925 . After his promotion to major general (Général de Division) on January 7, 1929, he served between January 7 and October 17, 1929 commander of the cavalry in Algeria . He was then from October 17, 1929 to October 9, 1931 commander of the 1st Cavalry Division stationed in Lyon (5th Division de cavalerie) . During this time he also became Commander of the Legion of Honor in July 1930 .

On October 9, 1931, Altmayer was promoted to Lieutenant General (Général de Corps d'Armée) and was subsequently commanding general of the 9th Military Region (9e Région militaire) in Tours between October 9, 1931 and October 14, 1932, and then from October 14, 1932 to October 5, 1936 General Inspector of the Cavalry (Inspecteur Général de la cavalerie) . During this time he was awarded the Officer's Cross of the Ordre des Palmes Académiques in December 1932 . He also became a Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor in December 1935 . After he was at special disposal from October 5, 1936 to July 30, 1937, he retired from active military service on July 30, 1937.

After the beginning of the Second World War , Lieutenant General Altmayer was recalled on September 2, 1939 and acted between September 2 and 15, 1939 as commanding general of the 10th military region (10e Région militaire) in Strasbourg . After he was transferred to the reserve again on September 15, 1939, he resigned from military service on September 26, 1939. During the campaign in the west , he was ordered back into active military service on May 21, 1940 and acted between May 24 and June 1, 1940 initially as the commanding general of the Army Group Altmayer named after him and then from June 1 to 19 1940 as commander of the 10th Army ( 10e Armée ) operating on the Somme and later near Rennes . On June 19, 1940, he was taken prisoner by Germany , from which he was released on December 23, 1941. He formally retired on February 26, 1942.

Due to his many years of service, Altmayer was also awarded the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor in September 1950 .

Web links

• Entry in generals.dk
• Entry on the homepage of the National Archives (Legion of Honor)
• Entry in geneanet.org