Pierre Ruffey

Pierre Xavier Emmanuel Ruffey (19 March 1851 – 1932) was a French Army general, that commanded the Third Army during the opening of World War I.

Biography

He was educated at Saint-Cyr, graduating 1873, and after that was posted to Madagascar. Following that he was a professor at the Ecole de Guerre. He was promoted to colonel in 1901, rising to divisional commander four years later and appointed to the French Supreme Council of War in 1913.

Ruffey was given command of the Third Army at the outbreak of World War I and charged with defeating the line from Montmedy to Rocroi. His army came under heavy German pressure in mid-August and forward, suffering a defeat at the Battle of the Ardennes, a part of the Battle of the Frontiers.

His army was forced to retreat to Verdun after heavy fighting; he was dismissed from command by French Commander-in-Chief Joseph Joffre and replaced by Maurice Sarrail. He held no other active commands during the war and died 1932.