HENRI NAVARRE

Navarre had fought in both the first and second World Wars before taking overall command of French forces in the First Indochina War from 1953 as the war appeared to be unravelling for the French. His task was to stabilise events so that a peace agreement could be made with the Viet Minh, however he risked an offensive in Dien Bien Phu, which ultimately brought about France’s defeat.