Minister of Defence (France)

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Minister of Defence (France)

The Minister of Defence (Ministère de la Défense) is the French government

Government

Government is the body within any organization that has the authority to make and the power to enforce laws, regulations, or rules. Typically, the government refers to a civil government -- local, provincial, or national -- but commercial, academic, religious, or other formal organizations are also administered by governing bodies....
cabinet member

French government ministers

The Council of Ministers of France is a body of top administration members of the Prime Minister of France's cabinet. In French language, the word gouvernement generally refers to the "Administration", but in a narrower sense to the cabinet....
charged with running the military of France

Military of France

The Military of France encompasses an French Army, a French Navy, an French Air Force and a National Gendarmerie . The President of the French Republic heads the armed forces, with the title of "chef des arm?es" - "chief of the military forces"....
.

A "Secretary of State for War

Secretary of State for War (France)

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Encyclopedia

The Minister of Defence (Ministère de la Défense) is the French government

Government

French government ministers

Military of France

Secretary of State for War (France)

The Secretary of State for War was one of the four or five specialized Secretary of State in France during the Ancien R?gime in France. The position was responsible for the French Army and for overseeing French border Provinces of France....
" was one of the four specialised secretaries of state established in France in 1589. This Secretary of State was responsible for the Army. In 1791, the Secretary of State became "Minister of War". Along with the other ministerial positions, it was abolished in 1794 and restored the next year. In the 1930s, the position was frequently named "Minister of War and of National Defence". After the Second World War, the War Ministry merged with the Ministry of the Marine, with a Minister of National Defence (from 1974 simply Minister of Defence) directing the entire military.

The current Minister of Defence is Hervé Morin

Hervé Morin

Herv? Morin is a France Normandy politician and the French Minister of Defence ....
.

Secretaries of State for War, 1643–1791

Secretary	Began	Ended
Michel le Tellier Michel le Tellier Michel le Tellier, marquis de Barbezieux, seigneur de Chaville et de Viroflay was a France statesman....	1643	1666
François Michel le Tellier, marquis de Louvois François-Michel le Tellier, Marquis de Louvois Fran?ois Michel le Tellier, Marquis de Louvois , was the France Secretary of State for War for a significant part of the reign of Louis XIV of France....	1666	16 July 1691
Louis-François le Tellier de Louvois, marquis de Barbezieux Louis François Marie Le Tellier Louis Fran?ois Marie Le Tellier Marquis of Barbezieux was a French statesman....	16 July 1691	5 January 1701
Michel Chamillart Michel Chamillart Michel Chamillart or Chamillard was a France statesman, a minister of King Louis XIV of France.He was born in Paris of a family recently raised to the nobility....	5 January 1701	9 June 1709
Daniel Voysin de la Noiraye	9 June 1709	14 September 1715
Claude Louis Hector de Villars Claude Louis Hector de Villars Claude Louis Hector de Villars, Prince de Martigues, Marquis and Duc de Villars and Vicomte de Melun was the last great general of Louis XIV of France and one of the most brilliant commanders in Military history of France, one of only six Marshal of France that have been promoted to Marshal General of France....	1 October 1715	24 September 1718
Claude le Blanc Claude le Blanc Claude Le Blanc was a French royal official of the ancien regime. He was an intendant in several provinces and was twice Secretary of State for War ....	24 September 1718	1 July 1723
François Victor le Tonnelier de Breteuil François Victor Le Tonnelier de Breteuil Fran?ois Victor Le Tonnelier de Breteuil was a French nobleman. He was Minister of Defence twice under Louis XV. He was also chancellor of France, Garde des sceaux de France and commander, provost and grandmaster of ceremonies to the order of the Holy Spirit ....	1 July 1723	19 June 1726
Claude le Blanc Claude le Blanc Claude Le Blanc was a French royal official of the ancien regime. He was an intendant in several provinces and was twice Secretary of State for War ....	19 June 1726	1728
Nicolas Prosper Bauyn d'Angervilliers	July 1728	February 1740
François Victor le Tonnelier de Breteuil François Victor Le Tonnelier de Breteuil Fran?ois Victor Le Tonnelier de Breteuil was a French nobleman. He was Minister of Defence twice under Louis XV. He was also chancellor of France, Garde des sceaux de France and commander, provost and grandmaster of ceremonies to the order of the Holy Spirit ....	February 1740	7 January 1743
Marc Pierre de Voyer de Paulmy, comte d'Argenson	7 January 1743	1 February 1757
Marc-René de Voyer, marquis de Paulmy Marc-René de Voyer de Paulmy d'Argenson (1722-1787) Marc Antoine Ren? de Voyer, marquis de Paulmy and 3rd marquis d'Argenson , 22 November, 1722 at Valenciennes ? 13 August, 1787, was the only son of Ren?-Louis de Voyer de Paulmy, marquis d' Argenson....	1 February 1757	3 March 1758
Charles Louis Auguste Fouquet, duc de Belle-Isle	3 March 1758	27 January 1761
Étienne François, duc de Choiseul Étienne François, duc de Choiseul ?tienne-Fran?ois, duc de Choiseul was a France military officer, diplomat and statesman.He was the eldest son of Fran?ois Joseph de Choiseul, marquis de Stainville , and bore in early life the title of comte de Stainville....	27 January 1761	24 December 1770
Louis François, marquis de Monteynard	26 January 1771	27 January 1774
Emmanuel Armand de Vignerot du Plessis de Richelieu, duc d'Aiguillon	27 January 1774	2 June 1774
Louis Nicolas Victor de Félix d'Ollières, comte du Muy	5 June 1774	10 October 1775
Claude Louis, Comte de Saint-Germain Claude Louis, Comte de Saint-Germain Claude Louis, Comte de Saint-Germain , France general, was born on the 15th of April 1707, at the Ch?teau of Vertamboz.Educated at Jesuit schools, he intended to enter the priesthood, but at the last minute obtained from Louis XV of France an appointment as sub-lieutenant....	27 October 1775	27 September 1777
Alexandre Marie Léonor de Saint-Mauris de Montbarrey	27 September 1777	19 December 1780
Philippe Henri, marquis de Ségur Philippe Henri, marquis de Ségur Philippe Henri, marquis de S?gur was a marshal of France.Son of Henri Fran?ois, comte de S?gur, and his wife Anglique de Froissy, he was appointed to the command of an infantry regiment at eighteen, and served under his father in Italy and Bohemia....	23 December 1780	29 August 1787
Louis Charles-Auguste le Tonnelier, baron de Breteuil	29 August 1787	23 September 1787
Athanase Louis Marie de Loménie, comte de Brienne	23 September 1787	30 November 1788
Louis Pierre de Chastenet, comte de Puységur	30 November 1788	13 July 1789
Victor François, Duc de Broglie	13 July 1789	16 July 1789
Jean-Frédéric de la Tour du Pin-Gouvernet	4 August 1789	16 November 1790
Louis le Bègue du Presle Duportail	16 November 1790	7 December 1791

Ministers of War, 1791–1940

Minister	Began	Ended
Louis, comte de Narbonne-Lara Louis, comte de Narbonne-Lara Louis Marie Jacques Amalric, comte de Narbonne-Lara was a France soldier and diplomat.He was born at Colorno, in the duchy of Parma, the son of one of the ladies-in-waiting of Elizabeth, duchess of Parma, and his father was either a Spanish nobleman or?as has been alleged?Louis XV of France himself....	7 December 1791	9 March 1792
Pierre Marie de Grave	9 March 1792	9 May 1792
Joseph Marie Servan de Gerbey	9 May 1792	13 June 1792
Charles Dumouriez	13 June 1792	18 June 1792
Pierre August Lajard	18 June 1792	23 July 1792
Charles Franqueville d'Abancourt	23 July 1792	10 August 1792
Joseph Marie Servan de Gerbey	10 August 1792	3 October 1792
Pierre Henri Hélène Marie Lebrun-Tondu	3 October 1792	18 October 1792
Jean-Nicolas Pache Jean-Nicolas Pache Jean-Nicolas Pache was a French politician.Pache was born in Verdum, but grew up in Paris, of Swiss parentage, the son of the conci?rge of the hotel of Marshal de Castries....	18 October 1792	4 February 1793
Pierre Riel de Beurnonville	4 February 1793	1 April 1793
Pierre Henri Hélène Marie Lebrun-Tondu	1 April 1793	4 April 1793
Jean Baptiste Noël Bouchotte Jean Baptiste Noël Bouchotte Jean Baptiste No?l Bouchotte was a minister in the Government of France. He was born in Metz.At the outbreak of the French Revolution he was a captain of cavalry, and his zeal led to his being made colonel and given the command at Cambrai....	4 April 1793	20 April 1794
none	20 April 1794	3 November 1795
Jean-Baptiste Aubert-Dubayet	3 November 1795	8 February 1796
Claude Louis Petiet	8 February 1796	15 July 1797
Lazare Hoche Lazare Hoche Louis Lazare Hoche was a France soldier who rose to be general of the Revolutionary army.Born of poor parents near Versailles, he enlisted at sixteen as a private soldier in the Gardes Fran?aises....	15 July 1797	22 July 1797
Barthélemy Louis Joseph Scherer Barthélemy Louis Joseph Schérer Barth?lemy Louis Joseph Sch?rer , born in Delle, near Belfort was a France general.Sch?rer served in the Austrian army before the French Revolution, but defected to France in 1775....	22 July 1797	21 February 1799
Louis Marie de Milet de Mureau Louis Marie de Milet de Mureau Louis Marie Antoine Destouff de Milet de Mureau baron was a French politician. He served as Minister of Defence from 21 February to 2 July 1799 under the French Directory....	21 February 1799	2 July 1799
Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte Charles XIV John of Sweden Charles XIV & III John , born Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, later renamed Jean-Baptiste Jules Bernadotte was King of Sweden and King of Norway from 1818 until his death....	2 July 1799	14 September 1799
Edmond Louis Alexis Dubois-Crancé Edmond Louis Alexis Dubois-Crancé Edmond Louis Alexis Dubois-Cranc? was a France soldier and politician....	14 September 1799	10 November 1799
Louis-Alexandre Berthier	11 November 1799	2 April 1800
Lazare Carnot Lazare Carnot File:Lazare Nicolas Marguerite Carnot00.jpgLazare Nicolas Marguerite, Comte Carnot , the Organizer of Victory in the French Revolutionary Wars, was a France politician, engineer, and mathematician....	2 April 1800	8 October 1800
Louis-Alexandre Berthier, prince de Neuchâtel	8 October 1800	19 August 1807
Henri Clarke, duc de Feltre Henri Jacques Guillaume Clarke Henri-Jacques-Guillaume Clarke, 1st Comte d'Hunebourg, 1st Duc de Feltre , born in Landrecies, was a Marshal of France and French politician of Ireland descent....	19 August 1807	1 April 1814
Pierre-Antoine, comte Dupont de l'Étang	3 April 1814	3 December 1814
Nicolas Jean de Dieu Soult, duc de Dalmatie Nicolas Jean de Dieu Soult Nicolas Jean-de-Dieu Soult, 1st Duc de Dalmatia , the Hand of Iron, was a France general and statesman, named Marshal of the Empire in 1804....	3 December 1814	11 March 1815
Henri Clarke, duc de Feltre Henri Jacques Guillaume Clarke Henri-Jacques-Guillaume Clarke, 1st Comte d'Hunebourg, 1st Duc de Feltre , born in Landrecies, was a Marshal of France and French politician of Ireland descent....	11 March 1815	20 March 1815
Louis Nicolas Davout, duc d'Auerstadt Louis Nicolas Davout Louis-Nicolas d'Avout , better known as Davout, 1st Duc d'Auerstaedt d'Auerstedt, 1st Prince d'Eckm?hl, was a Marshal of France during the Napoleonic Era....	20 March 1815	7 July 1815
Laurent, comte de Gouvion de Saint-Cyr	7 July 1815	26 September 1815
Henri Clarke, duc de Feltre Henri Jacques Guillaume Clarke Henri-Jacques-Guillaume Clarke, 1st Comte d'Hunebourg, 1st Duc de Feltre , born in Landrecies, was a Marshal of France and French politician of Ireland descent....	26 September 1815	12 September 1817
Laurent, marquis de Gouvion de Saint-Cyr	12 September 1817	19 November 1819
Marie Victor Nicolas de Fay, marquis de La Tour-Maubourg	19 November 1819	14 December 1821
Claude Victor, duc de Bellune Claude Victor-Perrin, duc de Belluno Claude Victor-Perrin, 1st Duc de Belluno was a Marshal of France of France during the French Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic Wars.He was born at La Marche in the Vosges, son of Charles Perrin and wife Marie Anne Floriot, paternal grandson of Charles Perrin and wife Gabrielle Guerin, born in 1696, and great-grandson of Pierre Perr...	14 December 1821	23 March 1823
Alexandre, vicomte Digeon	23 March 1823	15 April 1823
Claude Victor, duc de Bellune Claude Victor-Perrin, duc de Belluno Claude Victor-Perrin, 1st Duc de Belluno was a Marshal of France of France during the French Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic Wars.He was born at La Marche in the Vosges, son of Charles Perrin and wife Marie Anne Floriot, paternal grandson of Charles Perrin and wife Gabrielle Guerin, born in 1696, and great-grandson of Pierre Perr...	15 April 1823	19 October 1823
Ange Hyacinthe Maxence, baron de Damas	19 October 1823	4 August 1824
Aimé, duc de Clermont-Tonnerre Aimé, duc de Clermont-Tonnerre Aim?-Marie-Gaspard, comte de Clermont-Tonnerre was a France general and statesman.Son of Gaspard-Paulin, vicomte de Clermont-Tonnerre and Anne-Marie-...	4 August 1824	4 January 1828
Louis Victor de Blacquetot de Caux	4 January 1828	8 August 1829
Louis-Auguste-Victor, Count de Ghaisnes de Bourmont	8 August 1829	31 July 1830
Étienne Maurice, comte Gérard Étienne Maurice Gérard ?tienne Maurice G?rard, comte G?rard was a France general and statesman. He served under a succession of French governments including the ancien regime monarchy, the Revolutionary governments, the Restorations, the July Monarchy, the First French Republic and Second French Republic, and the First French Empire , becoming Prime Min...	31 July 1830	17 November 1830
Nicolas Jean de Dieu Soult, duc de Dalmatie Nicolas Jean de Dieu Soult Nicolas Jean-de-Dieu Soult, 1st Duc de Dalmatia , the Hand of Iron, was a France general and statesman, named Marshal of the Empire in 1804....	17 November 1830	18 July 1834
Étienne Maurice, comte Gérard Étienne Maurice Gérard ?tienne Maurice G?rard, comte G?rard was a France general and statesman. He served under a succession of French governments including the ancien regime monarchy, the Revolutionary governments, the Restorations, the July Monarchy, the First French Republic and Second French Republic, and the First French Empire , becoming Prime Min...	18 July 1834	10 November 1834
Simon Bernard Simon Bernard Baron Simon Bernard was a France general of engineers. Born in Dole, Jura, Simon Bernard was educated at the ?cole polytechnique, graduating as second in the promotion of 1799 and entered the army in the corps of engineers....	10 November 1834	18 November 1834
Édouard Adolphe Casimir Joseph Mortier, duc de Trévise	18 November 1834	12 March 1835
Henri Gauthier, comte de Rigny	12 March 1835	30 April 1835
Nicolas Joseph, marquis Maison Nicolas Joseph Maison Nicolas Joseph Maison, 1st Marquis Maison , born in ?pinay-sur-Seine, was a Marshal of France and Minister of War....	30 April 1835	6 September 1836
Simon Bernard Simon Bernard Baron Simon Bernard was a France general of engineers. Born in Dole, Jura, Simon Bernard was educated at the ?cole polytechnique, graduating as second in the promotion of 1799 and entered the army in the corps of engineers....	6 September 1836	31 March 1839
Amédée Louis Despans-Cubières	31 March 1839	12 May 1839
Antoine Virgile Schneider	12 May 1839	1 March 1840
Amédée Louis Despans-Cubières	1 March 1840	29 October 1840
Nicolas Jean de Dieu Soult, duc de Dalmatie Nicolas Jean de Dieu Soult Nicolas Jean-de-Dieu Soult, 1st Duc de Dalmatia , the Hand of Iron, was a France general and statesman, named Marshal of the Empire in 1804....	29 October 1840	10 November 1845
Alexandre Pierre Chevalier Moline de Saint-Yon	10 November 1845	9 May 1847
Camille Alphonse Trézel Camille Alphonse Trézel Camille Alphonse Tr?zel was a French g?n?ral de division, minister of Defence and peer of France during the July Monarchy. He was Assistant Chief of the General Staff on the Morea expedition....	9 May 1847	24 February 1848
Marie Alphonse Bedeau	24 February 1848	25 February 1848
Jacques Gervais, baron Subervie Jacques Gervais, baron Subervie Jacques Gervais, baron Subervie was a France general and politician....	25 February 1848	20 March 1848
Louis Eugène Cavaignac Louis Eugène Cavaignac Louis-Eug?ne Cavaignac , French general, second son of Jean Baptiste Cavaignac and brother of Eleonore Louis Godefroi Cavaignac, was born at Paris, France....	20 March 1848	5 April 1848
François Arago François Arago Fran?ois Jean Dominique Arago was a France Northern Catalonia mathematician, physicist, astronomer and politician....	5 April 1848	11 May 1848
Jean-Baptiste Adolphe Charras	11 May 1848	17 May 1848
Louis Eugène Cavaignac Louis Eugène Cavaignac Louis-Eug?ne Cavaignac , French general, second son of Jean Baptiste Cavaignac and brother of Eleonore Louis Godefroi Cavaignac, was born at Paris, France....	17 May 1848	28 June 1848
Louis Juchault de Lamoricière	28 June 1848	20 December 1848
Joseph Marcelin Rulhières	20 December 1848	31 October 1849
Alphonse Henri, comte d'Hautpoul Alphonse Henri, comte d'Hautpoul Alphonse Henri, comte d'Hautpoul was Prime Minister of France from 31 October 1849 to 10 April 1851 during the French Second Republic....	31 October 1849	22 October 1850
Jean-Paul, comte de Schramm	22 October 1850	9 January 1851
Auguste Étienne, comte Régnault de Saint-Jean d'Angély	9 January 1851	24 January 1851
Jacques Louis Randon Jacques Louis Randon Jacques Louis C?sar Alexandre Randon, 1st Comte Randon was a French military and political leader, also Marshal of France and governor of Algeria....	24 January 1851	26 October 1851
Jacques Leroy de Saint Arnaud Jacques Leroy de Saint Arnaud File:Armand Jacques Leroy de Saint-Arnaud.jpgArmand-Jacques Leroy de Saint-Arnaud was a France soldier and Marshal of France during the 19th century....	26 October 1851	11 March 1854
Jean-Baptiste Philibert Vaillant Jean-Baptiste Philibert Vaillant Jean-Baptiste Philibert Vaillant, 1st Comte Vaillant , born in Dijon, was a Marshal of France.Vaillant entered the French army in 1809 in the corps of engineers....	11 March 1854	5 May 1859
Jacques Louis Randon Jacques Louis Randon Jacques Louis C?sar Alexandre Randon, 1st Comte Randon was a French military and political leader, also Marshal of France and governor of Algeria....	5 May 1859	20 January 1867
Adolphe Niel Adolphe Niel Adolphe Niel was a France General and Statesman, also Marshal of France.He was born at Muret and entered the ?cole Polytechnique in 1821. Niel entered the engineer school at Metz, became lieutenant in the Engineers Corps in 1827, and captain in 1833....	20 January 1867	13 August 1869
Charles Rigault de Genouilly Charles Rigault de Genouilly Pierre-Louis-Charles Rigault de Genouilly was a nineteenth-century French admiral. He fought with distinction in the Crimean War and the Second Opium War, but is chiefly remembered today for his command of French and Spanish forces during the opening phase of the Cochinchina campaign , which inaugurated the French conquest of Vietnam....	13 August 1869	21 August 1869
Edmond Leboeuf Edmond Leboeuf Edmond Leboeuf was a marshal of France. He was born at Paris, passed through the ?cole polytechnique and the school of Metz, and distinguished himself as an artillery officer in Algerian warfare, becoming colonel in 1852....	21 August 1869	20 July 1870
Pierre Charles Dejean	20 July 1870	10 August 1870
Charles Cousin-Montauban, Comte de Palikao Charles Cousin-Montauban, Comte de Palikao Charles Guillaume Marie Appollinaire Antoine Cousin Montauban, comte de Palikao was a France general and statesman....	10 August 1870	4 September 1870
Adolphe Charles Le Flô	4 September 1870	5 June 1871
Ernest Courtot de Cissey Ernest Courtot de Cissey Ernest Louis Octave Courtot de Cissey was a France general.He was born in Paris, educated at the Prytan?e National Militaire, and after passing through ?cole Sp?ciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr, entered the army in 1832, becoming captain in 1839....	5 June 1871	25 May 1873
François Claude du Barail	29 May 1873	22 May 1874
Ernest Courtot de Cissey Ernest Courtot de Cissey Ernest Louis Octave Courtot de Cissey was a France general.He was born in Paris, educated at the Prytan?e National Militaire, and after passing through ?cole Sp?ciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr, entered the army in 1832, becoming captain in 1839....	22 May 1874	15 August 1876
Jean Auguste Berthaud	15 August 1876	23 November 1877
Gaétan de Grimaudet de Rochebouët	23 November 1877	13 December 1877
Jean-Louis Borel	13 December 1877	16 May 1878
Henri François Xavier Gresley	16 May 1878	28 December 1879
Jean Joseph Frédéric Adolphe Farre	28 December 1879	14 November 1881
Jean-Baptiste Campenon	14 November 1881	26 January 1882
Jean-Baptiste Billot Jean-Baptiste Billot Jean-Baptiste Billot - 31 May 1907, Paris) was a French general and politician....	30 January 1882	29 January 1883
Jean Thibaudin	31 January 1883	9 October 1883
Jean-Baptiste Campenon	9 October 1883	3 January 1885
Jules Louis Lewal	3 January 1885	6 April 1885
Jean-Baptiste Campenon	6 April 1885	7 January 1886
Georges Boulanger Georges Boulanger Georges Ernest Jean-Marie Boulanger was a France general and reactionary politician. During the early days of the newly formed Third Republic, he was the first in a French political scandals that tarnished the Republic known as the Boulanger Affair between 1885-89....	7 January 1886	30 May 1887
Théophile Adrien Ferron	30 May 1887	12 December 1887
François Auguste Logerot	12 December 1887	3 April 1888
Charles de Freycinet Charles de Freycinet Charles Louis de Saulces de Freycinet was a French statesman and President of the Council during the Third Republic , part of the Opportunist Republicans faction....	3 April 1888	11 January 1893
Julien Léon Loizillon	11 January 1893	3 December 1893
Auguste Mercier	3 December 1893	24 January 1895
Émile Zurlinder	28 January 1895	1 November 1895
Godefroy Cavaignac	1 November 1895	29 April 1896
Jean-Baptiste Billot Jean-Baptiste Billot Jean-Baptiste Billot - 31 May 1907, Paris) was a French general and politician....	29 April 1896	28 June 1898
Godefroy Cavaignac	28 June 1898	5 September 1898
Émile Zurlinden Émile Zurlinden ?mile Zurlinden was List of Defense Ministers of France between 5 September 1898 and 17 September 1898. He succeeded Godefroy Cavaignac. A general, he was previously governor of Paris, and he accepted the vacant post of minister of war at the personal request of the president of the republic....	5 September 1898	17 September 1898
Charles Chanoine Charles Chanoine Charles Sulpice Jules Chanoine was a French military officer who played an important role in the Far East, and later became Minister of War....	17 September 1898	25 October 1898
Édouard Locroy	25 October 1898	1 November 1898
Charles de Freycinet Charles de Freycinet Charles Louis de Saulces de Freycinet was a French statesman and President of the Council during the Third Republic , part of the Opportunist Republicans faction....	1 November 1898	6 May 1899
Camille Krantz	6 May 1899	22 June 1899
Gaston, marquis de Gallifet	22 June 1899	20 May 1900
Louis André Louis André For the French born Jesuit missionary to Canada, see Louis Andr? .Louis Andr? was France's Minister of War from 1900 until 1904. Loyal to the laicite Third Republic, he was anti-Catholic, militantly anticlerical, a Catholicism and Freemasonry and was implicated in the Affaire Des Fiches, a scandal in which he received reports from Free...	20 May 1900	14 November 1904
Maurice Berteaux	14 November 1904	12 November 1905
Eugène Étienne	12 November 1905	25 October 1906
Georges Picquart Georges Picquart File:Picquart.jpgMarie Georges Picquart , was a French army officer and Minister of War. He is best known for his role in exposing the truth in the Dreyfus Affair....	25 October 1906	24 July 1909
Jean Brun	24 July 1909	23 February 1911
Aristide Briand Aristide Briand Aristide Briand was a France statesman who served several terms as Prime Minister of France and won the Nobel Peace Prize....	23 February 1911	2 March 1911
Maurice Berteaux	2 March 1911	21 May 1911
François Louis Auguste Goiran	27 May 1911	27 June 1911
Adolphe Messimy	27 June 1911	14 January 1912
Alexandre Millerand Alexandre Millerand Alexandre Millerand was a France socialism politician. He was President of France from 23 September 1920 to 11 June 1924 and Prime Minister of France 20 January to 23 September 1920....	14 January 1912	12 January 1913
Albert Lebrun Albert Lebrun Albert Lebrun was a France politician, President of France from 1932 to 1940, and as such was the last president of the French Third Republic. He was a member of the center-right Democratic Republican Alliance ....	12 January 1913	21 January 1913
Eugène Étienne	21 January 1913	9 December 1913
Joseph Noullens	9 December 1913	9 June 1914
Théophile Delcassé Théophile Delcassé Th?ophile Delcass? was a French statesman....	9 June 1914	13 June 1914
Adolphe Messimy	13 June 1914	26 August 1914
Alexandre Millerand Alexandre Millerand Alexandre Millerand was a France socialism politician. He was President of France from 23 September 1920 to 11 June 1924 and Prime Minister of France 20 January to 23 September 1920....	26 August 1914	29 October 1915
Joseph Gallieni Joseph Gallieni Joseph Simon Gallieni was a French soldier, most active as a military commander and administrator in the French colonial empires and finished his career during the World War I....	29 October 1915	16 March 1916
Pierre Roques Pierre Roques Pierre Auguste Roques was a French general and creator of the French air force.Born to a modest family, his lively intelligence earned him a study grant that allowed him to prepare for the entrance examinations to the ?cole Polytechnique, where he became a friend of Joseph Joffre....	16 March 1916	12 December 1916
Hubert Lyautey Hubert Lyautey Louis Hubert Gonzalve Lyautey was a French Army general, the first Resident-General in Morocco from 1912 to 1925 and from 1921 Marshal of France....	12 December 1916	14 March 1917
Lucien Lacaze	14 March 1917	20 March 1917
Paul Painlevé Paul Painlevé Paul Painlev? was a France mathematician and politician. He served twice as Prime Minister of France of the French Third Republic: 12 September – 13 November 1917 and 17 April – 22 November 1925....	20 March 1917	16 November 1917
Georges Clemenceau Georges Clemenceau Georges Benjamin Clemenceau was a French statesman, physician, and journalist. He served as the List of Prime Ministers of France from 1906-1909 and 1917-1920....	16 November 1917	20 January 1920
André Lefèvre	20 January 1920	16 December 1920
Flaminius Raiberti	16 December 1920	16 January 1921
Louis Barthou Louis Barthou Jean Louis Barthou was a France politician of the French Third Republic....	16 January 1921	15 January 1922
André Maginot André Maginot Andr? Maginot was a France civil servant, soldier, and Member of Parliament. He is undoubtedly best known for his advocacy for the string of forts that would be known as the Maginot Line....	15 January 1922	14 June 1924
Charles Nollet	14 June 1924	17 April 1925
Paul Painlevé Paul Painlevé Paul Painlev? was a France mathematician and politician. He served twice as Prime Minister of France of the French Third Republic: 12 September – 13 November 1917 and 17 April – 22 November 1925....	17 April 1925	29 October 1925
Édouard Daladier Édouard Daladier ?douard Daladier was a France Radical-Socialist Party politician, and Prime Minister of France at the start of the Second World War....	29 October 1925	28 November 1925
Paul Painlevé Paul Painlevé Paul Painlev? was a France mathematician and politician. He served twice as Prime Minister of France of the French Third Republic: 12 September – 13 November 1917 and 17 April – 22 November 1925....	28 November 1925	23 June 1926
Adolphe Guillaumat Adolphe Guillaumat File:Fernand de Langle de Cary.jpgFile:Bundesarchiv Bild 102-10035, Mainz, Abzug franz?sischer Truppen.jpgMarie Louis Adolphe Guillaumat was a French Army general during World War I....	23 June 1926	19 July 1926
Paul Painlevé Paul Painlevé Paul Painlev? was a France mathematician and politician. He served twice as Prime Minister of France of the French Third Republic: 12 September – 13 November 1917 and 17 April – 22 November 1925....	19 July 1926	3 November 1929
André Maginot André Maginot Andr? Maginot was a France civil servant, soldier, and Member of Parliament. He is undoubtedly best known for his advocacy for the string of forts that would be known as the Maginot Line....	3 November 1929	21 February 1930
René Besnard	21 February 1930	2 March 1930
André Maginot André Maginot Andr? Maginot was a France civil servant, soldier, and Member of Parliament. He is undoubtedly best known for his advocacy for the string of forts that would be known as the Maginot Line....	2 March 1930	13 December 1930
Louis Barthou Louis Barthou Jean Louis Barthou was a France politician of the French Third Republic....	13 December 1930	27 January 1931
André Maginot André Maginot Andr? Maginot was a France civil servant, soldier, and Member of Parliament. He is undoubtedly best known for his advocacy for the string of forts that would be known as the Maginot Line....	27 January 1931	6 January 1932
André Tardieu André Tardieu Andr? Pierre Gabriel Am?d?e Tardieu was three times Prime Minister of France and a dominant figure of French political life in 1929-1932....	14 January 1932	20 February 1932
François Piétri François Piétri Fran?ois Pi?tri was a minister in several governments in the later years of the French Third Republic and was French ambassador to Spain from 1940 to 1944 under the Vichy France....	20 February 1932	3 June 1932
Joseph Paul-Boncour Joseph Paul-Boncour Augustin Alfred Joseph Paul-Boncour was a French politician of the French Third Republic....	3 June 1932	18 December 1932
Édouard Daladier Édouard Daladier ?douard Daladier was a France Radical-Socialist Party politician, and Prime Minister of France at the start of the Second World War....	18 December 1932	30 January 1934
Jean Fabry	30 January 1934	4 February 1934
Joseph Paul-Boncour Joseph Paul-Boncour Augustin Alfred Joseph Paul-Boncour was a French politician of the French Third Republic....	4 February 1934	9 February 1934
Philippe Pétain Philippe Pétain Henri Philippe Benoni Omer Joseph P?tain , generally known as Philippe P?tain or Marshal P?tain , was a France general who reached the distinction of Marshal of France, later Head of state of Vichy France , from 1940 to 1944....	9 February 1934	8 November 1934
Louis Maurin	8 November 1934	7 June 1935
Jean Fabry	7 June 1935	24 January 1936
Louis Maurin	24 January 1936	4 June 1936
Édouard Daladier Édouard Daladier ?douard Daladier was a France Radical-Socialist Party politician, and Prime Minister of France at the start of the Second World War....	4 June 1936	18 May 1940
Paul Reynaud Paul Reynaud Paul Reynaud was a France politician and lawyer prominent in the interwar period, noted for his stances on economic liberalism and militant opposition to Germany....	18 May 1940	16 June 1940
Maxime Weygand Maxime Weygand Maxime Weygand was a France military commander in World War I and World War II. Though not as infamous as Philippe Petain, Weygand is remembered for initially fighting the Battle of France, then surrendering to and collaborating with the Germans as part of the Vichy France regime.... (National Defense) and Louis Colson (War)	16 June 1940	6 September 1940
Charles Huntziger Charles Huntziger Charles Huntziger was a French Army general during World War I and World War II.He was born at Lesneven . He graduated from ?cole sp?ciale militaire de Saint-Cyr in 1900 and joined the colonial infantry....	6 September 1940	11 August 1941
François Darlan François Darlan Fran?ois Darlan was a France naval officer. Darlan rose through the French Navy, ultimately becoming Admiral of the Fleet, and was a major figure of the Vichy France regime during World War II....	11 August 1941	18 April 1942
Eugène Bridoux	18 April 1942	20 August 1944

Commissioners for War, 1941–1944

Commissioner	Began	Ended
Paul Legentilhomme Paul Legentilhomme Paul Legentilhomme was an officer in the French Army during World War I and World War II. After the fall of France in 1940, he joined the forces of the Free French....	24 September 1941	9 November 1943
André Le Troquet	9 November 1943	4 April 1944
André Diethelm	4 April 1944	10 September 1944

Ministers of National Defence, 1944–1974

Minister	Began	Ended
André Diethelm	10 September 1944	21 November 1945
Edmond Michelet Edmond Michelet Edmond Michelet was a French politician.He helped many victims of the Nazis in occupied France, including Catholic philosopher Dietrich von Hildebrand....	21 November 1945	24 June 1946
Félix Gouin Félix Gouin F?lix Gouin was a France Socialist politician, member of the SFIO....	24 June 1946	16 December 1946
André Le Troquer André Le Troquer Andr? Le Troquer, was a French politician, socialist lawyer, and president of the National Assembly from January 12, 1954 to January 10, 1955, and a second time from January 24 1956 to October 4, 1958....	16 December 1946	22 January 1947
François Billoux	22 January 1947	4 May 1947
Yvon Delbos Yvon Delbos Yvon Delbos was a France Radical Party politician who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Popular Front governments of L?on Blum and Camille Chautemps....	4 May 1947	22 October 1947
Pierre-Henri Teitgen Pierre-Henri Teitgen Pierre-Henri Teitgen was a France attorney at law, professor and politician.Teitgen was born in Rennes, Brittany. Made prisoner of war in 1940, he played a major role in the French Resistance....	22 October 1947	26 July 1948
René Mayer	26 July 1948	11 September 1948
Paul Ramadier Paul Ramadier Paul Ramadier was a prominent France SFIO of the French Third Republic and French Fourth Republic Republics. Mayor of Decazeville starting in 1919, he served as the first Prime Minister of France of the Fourth Republic in 1947....	11 September 1948	28 October 1949
René Pleven René Pleven Ren? Pleven was a notable French politician of the French Fourth Republic. A member of the Free French, he helped found the Democratic and Socialist Union of the Resistance , a political party that was meant to be a successor to the wartime Resistance movement....	29 October 1949	12 July 1950
Jules Moch Jules Moch Jules Salvador Moch was a France politician....	12 July 1950	11 August 1951
Georges Bidault Georges Bidault Georges-Augustin Bidault was a France politician. During World War II, he was active in the French Resistance. After the war, he served as foreign minister and prime minister on several occasions before he joined the Organisation arm?e secr?te....	11 August 1951	8 March 1952
René Pleven René Pleven Ren? Pleven was a notable French politician of the French Fourth Republic. A member of the Free French, he helped found the Democratic and Socialist Union of the Resistance , a political party that was meant to be a successor to the wartime Resistance movement....	8 March 1952	19 June 1954
Marie Pierre Koenig Marie Pierre Koenig Marie Pierre K?nig was a French Army. He commanded a Free French Brigade at the Battle of Bir Hakeim in North Africa in 1942.Marie Pierre K?nig was born on 10 October 1898, in Caen, France....	19 June 1954	14 August 1954
Emmanuel Temple	14 August 1954	20 January 1955
Jacques Chevallier Jacques Chevallier Jacques Chevallier was a liberal pied noir mayor of Algiers who governed the city at the head of a coalition of pied noir and Moslem representatives.... (National Defense) and Maurice Bourgès-Maunoury Maurice Bourgès-Maunoury Maurice Jean Marie Bourg?s-Maunoury was a French Radical Party politician who served as Prime Minister of France in the French Fourth Republic during 1957.... (Armed Forces)	20 January 1955	23 February 1955
Marie Pierre Koenig Marie Pierre Koenig Marie Pierre K?nig was a French Army. He commanded a Free French Brigade at the Battle of Bir Hakeim in North Africa in 1942.Marie Pierre K?nig was born on 10 October 1898, in Caen, France....	23 February 1955	6 October 1955
Pierre Billotte	6 October 1955	1 February 1956
Maurice Bourgès-Maunoury Maurice Bourgès-Maunoury Maurice Jean Marie Bourg?s-Maunoury was a French Radical Party politician who served as Prime Minister of France in the French Fourth Republic during 1957....	1 February 1956	13 June 1957
André Morice	13 June 1957	6 November 1957
Jacques Chaban-Delmas Jacques Chaban-Delmas 'Jacques Chaban-Delmas' was a France Gaullism politician. He served as Prime Ministers of France under Georges Pompidou from 1969 to 1972. In addition, for almost half a century, he was Mayor of Bordeaux and a deputy for the Gironde d?partement in France....	6 November 1957	14 May 1958
Pierre de Chevigné	14 May 1958	1 June 1958
Charles de Gaulle Charles de Gaulle Charles Andr? Joseph Marie de Gaulle , , was a French people 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 of France from 1959 to 1969.... (National Defense) and Pierre Guillaumat Pierre Guillaumat Pierre Guillaumat was a Minister of National Education and Minister of Defence under French President Charles De Gaulle and founder of the Elf Aquitaine oil company in 1967.... (Armies)	1 June 1958	8 January 1959
Pierre Guillaumat Pierre Guillaumat Pierre Guillaumat was a Minister of National Education and Minister of Defence under French President Charles De Gaulle and founder of the Elf Aquitaine oil company in 1967....	1 June 1958	5 February 1960
Pierre Messmer Pierre Messmer Pierre Joseph Auguste Messmer was a France Gaullist politician. He served as Minister of Armies under Charles de Gaulle from 1960 to 1969 — a time-record since Louvois under Louis XIV — and then as French Prime Minister under Georges Pompidou from 1972 to 1974....	5 February 1960	22 June 1969
Michel Debré Michel Debré Michel Debr? was a French Gaullism politician. He is considered the "father" of the current Constitution of France, and was the first List of Prime Ministers of France of the French Fifth Republic....	22 June 1969	4 April 1973
Robert Galley	4 April 1973	28 May 1974

Ministers of Defence, 1974–present

Minister	Began	Ended
Jacques Soufflet	28 May 1974	1 February 1975
Yvon Bourges	1 February 1975	2 October 1980
Joël Le Theule	2 October 1980	14 December 1980
Robert Galley	22 December 1980	22 May 1981
Charles Hernu Charles Hernu Charles Hernu was a French people politician, most notably serving as Minister of Defense from 1981 to 1985, until forced to resign over the bombing of a Greenpeace ship in New Zealand....	22 May 1981	20 September 1985
Paul Quilès Paul Quilès Paul Quil?s is a French Socialist Party politician.Deputy of Tarn, France d?partement of France, close to Laurent Fabius, he was Defense Minister from 1985 to 1986, after the Rainbow Warrior scandal....	20 September 1985	20 March 1986
André Giraud	20 March 1986	12 May 1988
Jean-Pierre Chevènement Jean-Pierre Chevènement Jean-Pierre Chev?nement is a French politician. He was Minister of Defense from 1988 to 1991 and Minister of the Interior from 1997 to 2000. He has been a member of the Senate of France since 2008....	12 May 1988	29 January 1991
Pierre Joxe Pierre Joxe Pierre Joxe is a former France socialism politician and has been a member of the Constitutional Council of France since 2001.Whereas his father, Louis Joxe, was Justice Minister of Charles de Gaulle, Pierre Joxe joined Fran?ois Mitterrand's team in the Convention of the Republican Institutions and joined the Socialist Party in 1971....	29 January 1991	9 March 1993
Pierre Bérégovoy Pierre Bérégovoy Pierre Eug?ne B?r?govoy was a France French Socialist Party politician of Ukraine origin. He served as Prime Minister of France under Fran?ois Mitterrand from 1992 to 1993....	9 March 1993	29 March 1993
François Léotard François Léotard Fran?ois Gerard Marie L?otard is a retired French politician. He is the brother of singer/actor Philippe L?otard.Member of the Republican Party , the liberal-conservative component of the Union for French Democracy , he appeared in the foreground of the political scene in the 1980s....	29 March 1993	18 May 1995
Charles Millon Charles Millon Charles Marie Philippe Millon, born on November 13, 1945 in Belley, Ain, is a France politician. A member of the Union for French Democracy , he was member of the french parliament for Ain and President of the regional council of Rhone-Alpes....	18 May 1995	4 June 1997
Alain Richard Alain Richard Alain Richard, born on August 29, 1945, in Paris, is a France politician. An alumnus of the Ecole nationale d'administration, he was mayor of Saint-Ouen-l'Aum?ne and member of the French parliament, elected in Val d'Oise....	4 June 1997	7 May 2002
Michèle Alliot-Marie Michèle Alliot-Marie Mich?le Jeanne Honorine Alliot-Marie is the France Minister of the Interior and Overseas Territories; she is the first woman to hold that position and the first woman to lead a major French political party....	7 May 2002	15 May 2007
Hervé Morin Hervé Morin Herv? Morin is a France Normandy politician and the French Minister of Defence ....	18 May 2007