FRANCHET D'ESPEREY - FRENCH GENERAL AND SERB DUKE

BIJELJINA, JULY 7 /SRNA/ – First World War French General Louis Franchet d'Espèrey /1856–1942/, honorary Serb duke who commanded the Allied breakthrough of the Salonika Front and regarded Serbian soldiers as the best in the Great War, passed away on July 8, 1942.

Franchet d'Espèrey commanded the French army until April 29, 1918, as well as a group of armies on the French front, and from June 9 of the same year until the end of the war, he served as the supreme commander of the Allied armies on the Salonika Front.

Under Franchet d'Espèrey's command, the breakthrough of the Salonika Front was carried out, driving out German-Austrian-Bulgarian forces, after which an agreement was signed for the capitulation of the Bulgarian army and Serbia was liberated.

Franchet d'Espèrey entered military school in October 1874 and upon graduation was commissioned as an infantry second lieutenant.

He was promoted to captain in 1885, colonel in 1903, brigadier general in 1908, divisional general in 1912, and Marshal of France in 1921.

That same year, he was also awarded the honorary title of Serb duke.