Oscar Michiels
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General Oscar Michiels |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
July 24, 1881 Brussels, Belgium |
| Died | June 14, 1946 (aged 64) Brussels, Belgium |
| Allegiance |
 Belgium
|
| Service/branch | Belgian Army |
| Years of service | 1897-1945 |
| Rank | Lieutenant general |
| Commands held | Chief of the General Staff of the Belgian Army |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
Croix de Guerre (1915) Commander of the Legion of Honour |
François-Fidèle-Oscar Michiels (24 July 1881—14 June 1946) was a Belgian military officer who served in World War I and World War II.
Oscar Michiels was born in central Brussels on 24 July 1881. He enrolled in a military school aged 11. Three years later he attended cadet school in Namur, graduating in 1897 as a corporal. After being promoted to sergeant, he returned to the school in 1901. Finishing two years later, he was made a lieutenant.
In 1913 Michiels was stationed at the fortified position of Liège. On 1 August 1914 he was attached to the staff of the Third Division, where he would remain for the duration of World War I. Following the Battle of the Yser Michiels was promoted to the rank of captain. In September 1915 he was moved to the front lines, but was injured several weeks later in an accident and returned to the Third Division's headquarters. In November he became captain-commandant. On 20 July 1917 he was awarded the Croix de guerre. Following a successful operation at Merkem in April 1918, Michiels was made a Commander of the Legion of Honour by Ferdinand Foch.
In March 1919 Michiels became a professor at the Instruction Center of Staff (later the War College, part of the Royal Military Academy), where he would work for nearly 12 years. As a major, he would privately instruct Prince (later King) Leopold III on war studies. In 1927 Michiels was due to be transferred out of the school and given command of a battalion, but his commanding officer objected. He left his position at the college as a lieutenant colonel in June 1931 and became chief of staff of the First Army Corps. In March of the following year he was made colonel. Two years later he was made commander of the First Grenadiers Regiment. In June 1937 Michiels was promoted to major general and made head of the personnel department of the Defence Ministry.
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