The French Army in the First World War, a Discussion: Pt 7, Pt 1

The French Army in the First World War, a Discussion: Pt 7, Pt 1

Author: Mike Cunha April 16, 2026 Duration: 1:24:18

Part 7 of the ongoing discussion continues to look at the French Army in 1917. We look at the state of the French Army going into 1917, where the army itself was in good shape but its leadership was an entirely different story. The rising star of GEN Robert Nivelle and the politics around his ascension is discussed, as well as the offensive that bears his name and destroyed his career. 

 

The indiscipline of the French Army is visited through the question of "Were there mutinies in 1917, or were they more like military labor strikes?" The replacement of Nivelle with GEN Philippe Petain is reviewed as well, but we will get into his leadership of the army and approach to warfighting in the Pt 2 episode. Join us for a fascinating discussion. 

 

Joining us for this discussion are:

 

  • Steve Marsdin, a student and researcher of the 1914 Battle of the Frontiers and its effects,

  • Jim Smithson, author of "A Taste of Success: The First Battle of the Scarpe. The Opening Phase of the Battle of Arras 9-14 April 1917" and two guide books on the Arras battlefields

 

Suggested reading to expand on this episode - 

 

"Flesh and Steel During the Great War" by Michel Goya: https://www.casematepublishers.com/9781473886964/flesh-and-steel-during-the-great-war/



Great War Group: https://greatwargroup.com/

 

The BFWWP is on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BattlesoftheFirstWorldWarPodcast. 

 

Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com. Follow us on BlueSky at @WW1podcast.bsky.social:

 

https://bsky.app/profile/ww1podcast.bsky.social

 

and the BFWWP website, www.firstworldwarpodcast.com. Email me directly at verdunpodcast@gmail.com with any questions, comments, or concerns.

 


Hosted by Mike Cunha, Battles of the First World War Podcast is a dedicated exploration of the Great War’s defining confrontations. Each episode focuses on a single battle, moving beyond dates and maps to examine the intricate decisions, tactical realities, and human experiences that shaped these events. Cunha’s approach is to unpack the how and why, piecing together the sequence of command choices, logistical challenges, and frontline conditions that led to each clash’s outcome. Within this framework, the podcast gives voice to the individuals-soldiers, nurses, officers, and civilians-whose personal stories are woven into the larger narrative of this titanic twentieth-century struggle. Listening feels less like a lecture and more like a detailed, respectful reconstruction, where the scale of history is measured in both grand strategy and individual courage. For anyone seeking to understand the First World War beyond the textbook summaries, this series offers a thorough and compelling audio journey into the battles that changed the world.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Battles of the First World War Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Meuse Argonne - An Oppressive Silence [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:03
In the last days of the First World War, the Americans continued to pursue and batter German forces as they retreated behind the River Meuse. Even as armistice negotiations began, the AEF continued attacking. It kept doi…
Sir Philip Gibbs: A Conversation with Clint Heacock [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:51
Dr. Clint Heacock of the Mindshift Podcast joins us to discuss his second-favorite subject, the First World War. Today he talks to us about the life and experiences of Phillip Gibbs, a British war correspondent during th…
Meuse Argonne - A Total D–k Move [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:26
In the last days of WW1, some AEF commanders in the Meuse-Argonne embarked on a rash, dangerous, and deadly race for a coveted battlefield prize. Interested in the 2024 Lost Battalion Tours' Meuse-Argonne battlefield tou…
Forgotten Warriors: The US 7th Infantry at Belleau Wood [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:04
James Gregory and Steve Girard come on the podcast to discuss James' latest article in the US Army's Infantry journal "Cottonbalers in the Wood: The Forgotten Role of the 7th Infantry Regiment at Belleau Wood." Read the…
Meuse Argonne - "We Can Kill Them But We Can't Stop Them" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:42
LTG Hunter Liggett's patience, preparations, and plans all come together on November 1, 1918, when his new attack is launched. The AEF breaks through. The BFWWP is on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BattlesoftheFirstWor…
Meuse Argonne - Continuous Pressure [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:28
AEF 1st Army's corps shape the battlefield as they fight to secure jump-off points or divert enemy forces for LTG Hunter Liggett's next attack plan. The 78th, 89th, 3rd, and 26th Divisions fight sharp battles within thei…
Meuse Argonne - Wings Over the Meuse [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:32
A look at the American Air Service during the Meuse-Argonne offensive. The BFWWP is on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BattlesoftheFirstWorldWarPodcast. Any questions, comments or concerns please contact me through the…
The French Army in the First World War, a Discussion: Pt 3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:31:30
Part 3 of the ongoing discussion looks at the French Army in 1914: its readiness for a potential conflict with Germany, its underlying preparation and strategy for war, and its performance in the battles that raged in th…