Joseph de Goislard de Monsabert
| Joseph de Goislard de Monsabert | |
|---|---|
Personal flag of Monsabert, 3rd Algerian Infantry Division
|
|
| Born | 30 September 1887 Libourne |
| Died | 13 June 1981 (aged 93) Dax, Landes |
| Allegiance |
 France
|
| Service/branch | French Army |
| Years of service | 1911-1946 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands held | 9th Algerian Tirailleurs 81st Brigade 81st African Division Corps Franc d'Afrique 3rd Algerian Infantry Division II Corps French Forces in Germany |
| Battles/wars |
World War I World War II |
| Awards |
Grand Cross of the Légion d'honneur Companion of the Liberation Médaille militaire Croix de guerre 1914-1918 Croix de guerre 1939-1945 |
| Other work | Politician |
Joseph de Goislard de Monsabert (Libourne 30 September 1887 – Dax, 13 June 1981), was a French general who served during the Second World War.
Monsabert graduated from Saint-Cyr military academy and was commissioned as a lieutenant in 1911. He initially served with the 44th Infantry Regiment and then was moved to the 3rd Moroccan Rifle Regiment, with which he first saw combat in 1912. Assigned to the 1st Mixed Rifle and Zouaves Regiment and then the 9th Zouaves March Regiment in the First World War, he finished the war at the head of a battalion and as a holder of the Legion of Honor.
Promoted to Colonel in 1937, he was made a Brigadier in August 1941. This promotion was followed by promotion to Major General in March 1943. He was promoted again to Lieutenant General in August 1944, and then to General in September 1946.
Monsabert commanded first the Corps Franc d'Afrique and then the reserve elements of the XIX Corps (France) during the campaign for Tunisia.
Subsequently, he commanded the 3rd Algerian Infantry Division with the French Expeditionary Corps in the Italian Campaign. On 3 July 1944 his forces liberated Siena. To an artillery officer who was complaining about the sheer number of valuable monuments that were cluttering the maps, he issued the instruction "tirez où vous voulez, mais si vous tirez en-deçà du XVIIIeme siècle, on vous fera fusiller!" (Fire where you wish, but if you fire on anything before the 18th century we'll get you shot!).
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Wikipedia