![]() ![]() We have reorganized the disposition of tank forces between this new battlegroup and the existing 79th Guards Tank Division. For the Warsaw Pact, the armored and heavy-hitting Soviet 119-y Otdelniy Tankoviy Polk, also known as the 119th Independent Tank Regiment, will be introduced.Augmented with additional American and West German units and firepower, this new division excels in RECON, TANK, and HELO assets. As the premier screening force at the Inner German Border, this formation took the brunt of the Warsaw Pact offensive at Fulda in the opening stages of our World War III. ![]() For NATO, the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment sees the light of day.What can you play with in today’s update? With our brief history lesson done, let’s get back to the matters at hand: WARNO’s LEFEBVRE milestone. Too old (and too popular) to be punished after the ultimate downfall, he was left in retirement until his death in 1820. Lefebvre remained with Napoleon until the end of 1814, even when all was lost, and he was one of the first to rally to him when he briefly returned in 1815. He created a new Imperial nobility, with the Lefebvre couple being the first one elevated to ducal status, an obvious message to the rest of the court. An unexpected ally was Napoleon himself, who grew fond of her frankness, even when it was directed at him. Her plain language, Germanic accent and directness resulted in no fans with the old nobility who despised her. Thanks to the Revolution and Napoleon’s connection, she became part of the nobility, but she never forgot her origins. While few remember the origin of the turn of the phrase, in France to this day, she is known as “Madame Sans-Gêne” (meaning “Lady Shameless” or “Lady Brazenness”) for her outspokenness, combining her modest upbringing with a very sharp wit.Īn illiterate laundrywoman when she married Lefebvre, she was a sharp contrast with the imperial court, who likewise came from a humble upbringing. Despite his military shortcomings, he and his wife were adored by Napoleon, thanks to the commander’s good nature and his wife's rather colorful character.īringing us to an ever-interesting footnote: for Catherine Huebscher, Lefebvre’s wife, went on to achieve a greater posterity than her military husband. Like many Napoleonic Marshals, a true corps’ command exceeded Lefebvre’s capacities. A prestigious position, but with no real initiative, as the Guard was only sent into combat by Napoleon himself. The old commander was kept in the rear, training and organizing new levies, but Napoleon entrusted him with a campaign posting in 1806, giving him command of the Old Guard infantry. Lefebvre was rewarded for his support by Napoleon, but instead of retiring, he returned to active service. During the so-called Coup of 18 Brumaire in 1799, Lefebvre saved Napoleon and his brothers when they were about to be outlawed as the coup started to go awry, restoring order in the process, and ensuring Napoleon ousted the Revolutionary politicians. In this capacity, he played a vital role during the bloodless coup d'état that brought Napoleon to power and ended the French Revolution, which almost didn’t succeed. ![]() Wounded in 1799, Lefebvre resigned from active service, holding only territorial commands, including being the military governor of Paris. Popular among his men in the period of the haphazardly organized revolutionary armies, he then quickly made general. With Napoleon’s new rank, he was also made “senator for life,” with these old warrior commanders now benefiting from a precious golden retirement napping on the (mostly useless) French Senate’s benches.īorn in the mid-18th century, Lefebvre enlisted in 1773 and had risen to the rank of sergeant, the best a low-born commoner could achieve, by the time of the French Revolution in 1789. François Joseph Lefebvre was one of the latter. The same honorary rank he also bestowed on four older, inactive generals who were commanders in chief during the Revolutionary Wars. When Napoleon restored the dignity of being a marshal, he granted it to eighteen active généraux de division. Our latest marshal wasn’t initially a regular one. ![]()
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