At the outbreak of the First World War, General Joseph Joffre was the commander-in-chief of the French Army. The first weeks of the war did not go well for France and for Joffre, but Joffre managed to halt the German advance at the First Battle of the Marne. While initially a very popular leader, his popularity declined as the war dragged on, and on December 13, 1916, he was replaced as commander-in-chief by General Robert Nivelle. Joffre was promoted to Marshal on December 26; however, this post was mostly ceremonial. He was appointed head of military missions to Romania and the United States. Joffre retired in 1919.
