Guillemot, Laurent Général Jouinot Gambetta

Vie et Mort d'un héros de Cavalerie

François Léon Jouinot-Gambetta (1870-1923) is a true legend among his men and an unsung hero of the First World War. At the age of 18, he joined the army as a simple soldier and began a modest military career in Algeria and Morocco. Despite unfavourable predictions and very mixed reviews, his bravery and leadership skills were eventually recognised. From then on, he began a meteoric rise that took him to the top of the cavalry of the Orient and to the rank of brigadier general at the age of 46. In September 1918, he was ordered to capture Uskub, the capital of Macedonia, at all costs. An intrepid leader, he sent his horsemen on an epic ride through mountains and valleys, in all weathers and without supplies. He courageously liberated numerous villages and broke through enemy lines until the victorious capture of Uskub. This achievement, which exceeded all expectations, led to Bulgaria's surrender. The brigade then advanced to the Danube, where it extended its control over the region. Despite a brilliant coup that hastened the final victory, General Jouinot-Gambetta's deeds remained unknown, and he himself was subsequently unjustly marginalised. With this biography, Laurent Guillemot restores Jouinot-Gambetta to his rightful place in military history. The book also sheds light on the Eastern and Balkan fronts and their significant impact on the First World War.