French General. He served in World War I and in the campaign in Morocco of 1925 and 1926. A commander in World War II, Giraud was captured by the Germans in May of 1940, but made a dramatic escape in 1942 to unoccupied France and from there to Gibraltar. He took part in the Allied landing in North Africa, where he was given command of all French armed forces. On the assassination of Admiral Darlan in December of 1942, Giraud succeeded as high commissioner of French North and West Africa. His conservatism earned him the opposition of the Free French Committee of General Charles DeGaulle. Giraud and DeGaulle met fruitlessly at the Casablanca Conference, but in June of 1943, a semblance of union was effected by the formation at Algiers of the French Committee of National Liberation, with the two generals as co-presidents. Despite strong backing by the United States, Giraud was soon removed in November of 1943 from the co-presidency. In April of 1944, he was virtually forced by DeGaulle to retire as commander in chief.
French General. He served in World War I and in the campaign in Morocco of 1925 and 1926. A commander in World War II, Giraud was captured by the Germans in May of 1940, but made a dramatic escape in 1942 to unoccupied France and from there to Gibraltar. He took part in the Allied landing in North Africa, where he was given command of all French armed forces. On the assassination of Admiral Darlan in December of 1942, Giraud succeeded as high commissioner of French North and West Africa. His conservatism earned him the opposition of the Free French Committee of General Charles DeGaulle. Giraud and DeGaulle met fruitlessly at the Casablanca Conference, but in June of 1943, a semblance of union was effected by the formation at Algiers of the French Committee of National Liberation, with the two generals as co-presidents. Despite strong backing by the United States, Giraud was soon removed in November of 1943 from the co-presidency. In April of 1944, he was virtually forced by DeGaulle to retire as commander in chief.
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