February 1916, Joffre is sixty-four years old. He was general and commander-in-chief at the dawn of the Battle of Verdun. When the threat of the biggest German offensive arrives, Joffre ignores the warnings he receives, deeming the Battle of the Somme more important, his priority. He only reacts after the storm has delayed the German offensive, and brings in reinforcements. From this moment, all permissions are suspended in order to have a maximum of soldiers in the front lines.
As early as February 21, 1916, Joffre ordered that any leader giving an order to retreat be brought before a council of war. He is ready to sacrifice many men to hold on, and above all to save the road to Paris. He affirmed as early as the Battle of the Marne:“A troop that can no longer advance will have to keep the conquered ground at all costs and be killed on the spot rather than retreat. »
Philippe Pétain, whom Joffre appointed to defend Verdun and whom he joined in Souilly on March 10, 1916, demanded more and more men and means to resist the enemies, but Joffre supported less and less these constant requests. This is the reason why he sends him to the head of the arms of the center and thus takes him away from him. On May 1, 1916, Robert Nivelle replaced Pétain at Joffre's request. He called for fewer men, but considered quality artillery in large quantities just as important as his predecessor.
On June 22, the English and the French prepare to attack on the Somme:the bombardments cause many deaths on the side of the English, among whom the natives of their colonies have fought. But an eternal supporter of "the offensive at all costs", Joffre was challenged by his superiors. The country has been bruised by repeated offensives and immediately lost ground gains for more than two years. In December 1916, Clemenceau refuses to let the soldiers be crushed in this way:Nivelle becomes the new commander-in-chief, successor to Joffre, while the latter is named Marshal of France.