Joseph Sarrail

Joseph Sarrail, known as the "Iron Man of Hanoi," is a highly distinguished senior officer in the French Army who currently commands the French Army of the Oder. He has served in over half a dozen conflicts, most notably the Spanish Civil War, Great Pacific War, and Chinese Civil War and cemented his reputation as one of Europe's most capable field commanders and military organizers.

Sarrail first entered the military as a infantry lieutenant upon the outbreak of the Great War in 1914. He served with distinction and was awarded the Croix de Guerre for leading his platoon in a defensive action during Verdun, in the process suffering wounds from both gunfire and shrapnel. Promoted to Captain, he led a company of shock troops during the Allied Rhine Offensive in 1919 which resulted in a negotiated end to the war. With the war ending, Sarrail agreed to remain in the post-war French military.

In 1920 he was attached to the French Military Mission to Poland as part of France's effort to support Poland against invading Soviet troops. He trained Polish troops in shock tactics and remained in country until 1923 when he returned to France. Sarrail assumed the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and served as executive officer of a mountain infantry regiment. This regiment was deployed to Morocco as part of the Rif War from 1925-1926 where it fought in bitter warfare against local tribes. For roughly ten years he had a fairly uneventful career, being promoted to command of his own regiment in 1931 based in Reims.

As the Great Depression deepened and France slid into disorder, Sarrail's regiment was ordered to Paris in May 1935 to control street demonstrations. On May 17th a major worker's uprising took place in Lyon and Picardie, with its leaders demanding political power to be assumed by the "proletariat". The government was paralyzed and did nothing as some 40,000 armed insurgents marched towards Paris. The Orleanist and Action Francaise parties, two of the largest and most influential right-way parties in France, conspired to install Prince Jean of Orleans as leader to put down the rebellion and stabilize France. A significant part of the French officer corps were right-wing and wished for a strong government, including Sarrail.

On May 29th the Orleanist Restoration began with garrisons in dozens of French cities declaring their allegiance to Jean. Sarrail's regiment engaged in street-fighting with small numbers of loyalist troops and republican militias in Paris for less than two days before the capital was secured.