Jean Compagnon
Encyclopedia
Jean Compagnon was a French Army
officer and later General. He served in both World War II
and the First Indochina War
as one of the officers serving with Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque
. Under Leclerc, Compagnon helped liberate
Paris
from German forces commanded by Dietrich von Choltitz
.
, and entered the Saint Cyr military academy aged 18, in 1934-1936, where he was in the class of Alexander I of Yugoslavia
. He graduated in 1936 as a sous-lieutenant, joined the 4e régiment de hussards
and remaining with that unit until it was disbanded on 1 September 1940.
. He fought in the Lorraine front, but was wounded in Picardy
, leading a motorcycle
cavalry unit. After the surrender, and disbandment of 4RH, Compagnon escaped to North Africa
where he served with the 2e régiment de dragons, until transferred to the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment
until 1943, when he was promoted to Captain on 25 June. In 1944, he made his way to London
to serve with Charles De Gaulle
and the 2nd Armored division.
, but left Southhampton on July 29, 1944, and the division played an important role in the Allied breakout from Normandy
, notably at the Falaise Pocket
, when it destroyed the 9th Panzer Division. The division then was part of the liberation of Paris. In the push to the Rhine, Compagnon led the first French tank unit into Strasbourg
where it fell on 23 November. In January 1945, Compagnon was wounded, but recuperated by the time the division reached the Berghof
above Berchestgadsen on 4 May, along with the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division.
. During Algerian War, Compagnon commanded the 1st Parachute Hussars from 1958–60, served as military attache
in Washington, D.C.
, Chief of staff
of French forces in Germany and was the military governor of Rennes
. He retired in 1976 as a four-star general.
, a university lecturer . He was awarded the Grand-croix de la Legion d'honnoeur.
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
officer and later General. He served in both World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the First Indochina War
First Indochina War
The First Indochina War was fought in French Indochina from December 19, 1946, until August 1, 1954, between the French Union's French Far East...
as one of the officers serving with Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque
Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque
Philippe François Marie, comte de Hauteclocque, then Leclerc de Hauteclocque, by a 1945 decree that incorporated his French Resistance alias Jacques-Philippe Leclerc to his name, , was a French general during World War II...
. Under Leclerc, Compagnon helped liberate
Liberation of Paris
The Liberation of Paris took place during World War II from 19 August 1944 until the surrender of the occupying German garrison on August 25th. It could be regarded by some as the last battle in the Battle for Normandy, though that really ended with the crushing of the Wehrmacht forces between the...
Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
from German forces commanded by Dietrich von Choltitz
Dietrich von Choltitz
General der Infanterie Dietrich von Choltitz was the German military governor of Paris during the closing days of the German occupation of that city during World War II...
.
Early life
Compagnon was born in the French town of St. Germain-en-Laye. When he was born, Compagnon's father, Marcel, was serving in the Battle of the Somme. Compagnon went to school in VesoulVesoul
Vesoul is a commune in the Haute-Saône department in the region of Franche-Comté in eastern France.The town is the capital of the department, its inhabitants are known in French as Vésuliens.-Notable people:...
, and entered the Saint Cyr military academy aged 18, in 1934-1936, where he was in the class of Alexander I of Yugoslavia
Alexander I of Yugoslavia
Alexander I , also known as Alexander the Unifier was the first king of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia as well as the last king of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes .-Childhood:...
. He graduated in 1936 as a sous-lieutenant, joined the 4e régiment de hussards
4th Hussar Regiment (France)
The 4th Hussar Regiment was a hussar regiment in the French Army, set up in 1783 and still in existence.-History:...
and remaining with that unit until it was disbanded on 1 September 1940.
World War Two
As the war began, Compagnon was serving with the 4e régiment de hussards, serving from horseback during the Battle of FranceBattle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
. He fought in the Lorraine front, but was wounded in Picardy
Picardy
This article is about the historical French province. For other uses, see Picardy .Picardy is a historical province of France, in the north of France...
, leading a motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
cavalry unit. After the surrender, and disbandment of 4RH, Compagnon escaped to North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
where he served with the 2e régiment de dragons, until transferred to the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment
1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment
The 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment is the only armoured cavalry regiment in the French Foreign Legion. It is one of two cavalry regiments of the 6th Light Armoured Brigade....
until 1943, when he was promoted to Captain on 25 June. In 1944, he made his way to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to serve with Charles De Gaulle
Charles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
and the 2nd Armored division.
the Liberation
2e DB and Compagnon did not see action on D-DayD-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
, but left Southhampton on July 29, 1944, and the division played an important role in the Allied breakout from Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, notably at the Falaise Pocket
Falaise pocket
The battle of the Falaise Pocket, fought during the Second World War from 12 to 21 August 1944, was the decisive engagement of the Battle of Normandy...
, when it destroyed the 9th Panzer Division. The division then was part of the liberation of Paris. In the push to the Rhine, Compagnon led the first French tank unit into Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
where it fell on 23 November. In January 1945, Compagnon was wounded, but recuperated by the time the division reached the Berghof
Berghof
Berghof or Berghoff may refer to:* Herbert Berghof, founder of HB Studio in New York City* Berghof , Adolf Hitler's home in the mountains of Bavaria* Berghof Foundation for Conflict Studies* The Berghoff , Chicago...
above Berchestgadsen on 4 May, along with the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division.
Post War service
He was wounded in 1946 during the First Indochina WarFirst Indochina War
The First Indochina War was fought in French Indochina from December 19, 1946, until August 1, 1954, between the French Union's French Far East...
. During Algerian War, Compagnon commanded the 1st Parachute Hussars from 1958–60, served as military attache
Military attaché
A military attaché is a military expert who is attached to a diplomatic mission . This post is normally filled by a high-ranking military officer who retains the commission while serving in an embassy...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, Chief of staff
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
of French forces in Germany and was the military governor of Rennes
Rennes
Rennes is a city in the east of Brittany in northwestern France. Rennes is the capital of the region of Brittany, as well as the Ille-et-Vilaine department.-History:...
. He retired in 1976 as a four-star general.
Post Army life
He started a new career as a historian and an author, publishing a biography of LeClerc in 1989, wrote accounts of the Normandy landings, and his memoir. He became a correspondent for Ouest-FranceOuest-France
Ouest-France is a provincial daily French newspaper known for its emphasis on local news and events. The paper is produced in 47 different editions covering events in different French départments within the régions of Brittany, Lower Normandy and Pays de la Loire...
, a university lecturer . He was awarded the Grand-croix de la Legion d'honnoeur.