Général Victor-Constant Michel was a French General officer. He led the French Army in 1911, but following his opposition to the French strategy for war with Germany was replaced by General Joseph Joffre in July 1911. In August 1914, he was the Military governor of Paris, but was replaced later that month by General Joseph Gallieni.
Early career
Michel was born in the village of Auteuil, the son of a policeman. He attended the École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr from 1867 to 1869. On 1 January 1870, he entered the École d'état-major, but the Franco-Prussian War made him leave school in October 1870 to join the 13th Army Corps and he served at the Siege of Paris as a Lieutenant. In November 1870, he was assigned to the 3rd Division of the 2nd Army of Paris as a Lieutenant. During the Battle of Villiers on 30 November 1870, he was wounded in the face. After the war, Michel was part of the forces that suppressed the Paris Commune. Michel was appointed Chevalier of the Legion of Honour in May 1871. He returned to Staff College becoming a Captain on 31 December 1873, he joined the headquarters of the 1st Infantry Division in February 1878, and the staff of 15th Corps in April 1880. In February 1882, he joined the staff of General Billot, then Minister of War. In January 1883, he joined the staff of the Military governor of Paris. He was appointed Battalion Chief of the 1st Infantry Regiment in April 1884, then the 43rd Infantry Regiment, he joined the staff of the 1st Corps in 1886, and the War College in 1888. Appointed Lieutenant-Colonel in 1890, he then returned to the 43rd Infantry Regiment. On December 13, 1893, he was appointed to the staff of the deputy head of the new Minister of War, General Mercier. Appointed Colonel on 26 February 1894, he received the command of the 67th Infantry Regiment. Appointed Brigadier on 28 December 1897, he commanded the 10th and then 22nd Infantry Brigades. Appointed Général de Division on 30 December 1902, he assumed command of the 42nd Infantry Division. On 26 March 1906, he was given command of the 2nd Army Corps. General Michel was appointed to the Superior War Council on 22 December 1907.
Chief of Staff
In May 1908, he was replaced in command of the 2nd Corps by General Joseph Joffre and was appointed Vice President High Council of War on 10 January 1911, making him Commander in Chief designate of the French Army. Soon after taking office Michel reviewed the current French Army mobilization and war plan in the event of a war with Germany. French planners predicted the main German offensive to come in Lorraine with a secondary attack through south-eastern Belgium and Luxembourg towards Mézières, to counter this the plan called for a French offensive to retake Alsace through two lines of advance, one on the right between the Vosges and the Moselle below Toul the other, on the left, north of a line Verdun–Metz. Michel correctly predicted the main elements of the German Schlieffen Plan, believing that the major German offensive must come through central Belgium, because of the obstacle of French defences in Lorraine, the terrain in eastern Belgium and German railway building. At a meeting of the Superior War Council on 19 July 1911 he presented these views and proposed a defensive strategy of deploying a million-strong French army on a line Verdun-Namur-Antwerp to counter the anticipated German offensive. In order to field an army of this size French reserve units would need to be integrated with the active army immediately on mobilisation. Michel's proposal was met with hostility by members of the Government and senior Generals as they did not believe the Germans would violate Belgium, and his defense against that ran against the offensive spirit of the Army. The War MinisterAdolphe Messimy described it in negative terms and on 28 July 1911 Messimy replaced Michel with General Joffre and dismissed him from the Supreme War Council. General Michel was then appointed Military governor of Paris.
Despite his vindication as to German intentions, General Michel's service in World War I was short - less than a month. On 26 August 1914, War Minister Messimy dismissed him as Military Governor of Paris, and replaced him with General Joseph Gallieni. He did not receive any command for the remainder of the conflict.
Later life
Michel retired to Meulan where he died on 8 November 1937.
