1-157-460 - Ann Ronan Picture Library/Heritage-Images

Joseph Jacques Cesaire Joffre, French soldier, 1917. Instrumental in stopping the German advance at the Battle of the Marne in 1914, Joffre (1852-1931) was made Commander-in-Chief of French forces in 1915. His pursuit of a strategy of trying to break through the German lines at whatever cost led to the French army sustaining ruinous casualties, and he was relieved of command after the Battle of Verdun in 1916. He was made a Marshal of France, but his duties were largely ceremonial.