Joseph Joffre was born in 1852 and died in 1931. He had a nickname, he was known as "Papa Joffre". His first sight of service was in 1870-1871, during the seige of Paris during the Franco-Prussian War. After that he served in the French Colonies. In 1911 Joffre was appointed Chief of the General Staff with the recommandation from his mentor Joseph Simon Galleini.