The Military Activity of French General Henri Giraud 1879 – May 1942

The research aims to identify the early stages of General Henri Giraud's life, including his birth and education, his military activity during World War I, and to demonstrate France's colonial control over its North African colonies during the interwar period. It also aims to identify the justifications for France's entry into World War II and its impact on the appointment of General Henri Giraud as Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Supreme Council. The importance of the research lies in identifying the personality of General Henri Giraud and the period in which he played a pivotal military role, during which he had a clear impact on France's reality and political future. This is particularly true from the beginning of his military career, which began with the outbreak of World War I, his participation as a division commander, and his display of remarkable courage, all the way through to his military role during the interwar period. The research relied on descriptive historical research methods, analytical methods, and inductive methods in writing and presenting the ideas and details of the topic. The research structure included three main axes and a conclusion containing the most important conclusions. The first axis addressed the early stages of Henri Giraud's life and his role in World War I (1879–1918). The second axis examined General Henri Giraud's role in the Battle of France and his capture in May 1940. The third axis highlighted General Henri Giraud's escape from captivity and his joining the Vichy government during the period (May 1940–May 1942). The research reached several conclusions, the most important of which is that General Henri Giraud displayed a high patriotic spirit and great courage during his participation in the battles of World War I, and his dedication to defending his country, France, against its German enemies.