The imperturbable “Papa” Joffre
Joffre, Marshal Joseph (18521931). Fr. The son of a cooper, Joffre served with distinction as an engineer officer in France’s colonies before being nominated as a member of the Conseil Superieur de Guerre in 1910. Regarded as a methodical soldier with no embarrassing political connections, he was appointed cgs the following year, also becoming c-in-c designate in the event of war. Plan XVII, with which France went to war in 1914, reflected Joffre’s belief in the superiority of the offensive but underestimated the German strength and use of reservists. However, in contrast to the mercurial Sir John French and the nervous Moltke, Joffre remained calm during the crisis of August 1914 and, even as Plan XVII collapsed, cleverly transferred troops from his right wing to help form fresh armies on the threatened left. It has been argued that the Allied victory on the Marne owed more to Gallieni’s vision than to Joffre’s tactical judgement, yet it was Joffre who bore the awesome responsibility of potential failure. After the Marne his reputation was at its zenith and his position seemingly impregnable. Known as “Papa” Joffre, his bulky figure and imperturbable demeanour reassured compatriots and Allies alike. Nevertheless, with the advent of the trench deadlock, his lack of tactical imagination became more apparent and, considering that he was an engineer, he was slow to adapt his methods to what were essentially siege warfare conditions. His offensives in Champagne and Artois achieved little and weakened the French army, while at Loos in September 1915 and on the Somme in 1916 he imposed an unsuitable choice of ground for attack upon his British
Allies. Disenchantment with him grew, and although he survived an attempt by Gallieni to dilute his power, he was blamed for the neglect of Verdun’s defences. Ironically, during the defensive phase of the 1916 battle at Verdun, Joffre again acted as a steadying influence, deploying his reserves with skill, but in the end Nivelle and Petain emerged with the lion’s share of the credit. Joffre was finally replaced by Nivelle in December 1916 and took no further part in the war. PJS.
Johnson, Air Vice-Marshal James Edgar (“Johnnie”)
(b. l915). Br. The officially accredited top-scoring British fighter pilot of World War II with 38 kills. He also served in the Korean War.
Johnson, President Lyndon Baines (1908-73). US. Succeeded Kennedy upon the latter’s assassination in November 1963. Guided by advisers retained from the Kennedy Administration, Johnson committed the United States to war in Vietnam by obtaining the Tonkin Gulf Resolution from Congress, ordering retaliatory strikes on North Vietnam, and approving the deployment of over half a million American ground forces for offensive action. He was reluctant to mobilize further for fear of impact on domestic programmes. When the 1968 Tet offensive discredited claims of imminent victory, Johnson turned for advice to advocates of compromise, announced a unilateral halt to the bombing of North Vietnam, accepted negotiations, and declared his intention not to run for re-election. WST.
Johnson, Lt Col Robert S
(b. l920). US. Having joined the usAAF in November 1941, he flew P-47s from the UK with the US 56th Fighter Group, April 1943-May 1944, completing 100 missions and scoring 27 confirmed victories. Johnson was a test pilot with Republic Aviation after World War II.
Joint Chiefs of Staff. The American professional heads of the Navy, Army and, after they became separate services, the Air Force and Marines, acting together to advise the government.
Joint Surveillance and Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS). An American airborne radar system that can survey the situation on the ground deep into hostile territory, detecting, locating and classifying slow-moving targets such as tanks in order to give warning of attack and to target various deep-strike systems. Such surveillance capability is a prerequisite for fofa (Follow On Forces Attack). The system is carried on a variant of the Boeing 707, the EC-18c, and combines synthetic aperture radar technology with advanced computer processing. Targeting information is passed digitally to army and air force commanders, jstars promises a major breakthrough in the ability to see behind enemy lines on a “real-time” basis.
Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS). An
American joint service information system under development that will allow automatic interchange of coded digital data between surveillance and combat platforms, both in the air and on the ground. The system fires information in short bursts with rapid changes of frequency and is virtually invulnerable to hostile ECM. JTIDS will give e. g. combat pilots a complete “real time” picture of the developing operational environment and their own location in relation to both friendly and hostile forces.
Jones, Lt Col H, VC, (1939-82). Br. Officer commanding 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment (2 Para) during the Falklands War of 1982. Killed in action near Goose Green. Before going into battle, he threatened to sue the Secretary of State for Defence, John Nott, if any of his men died in the engagement; this was due to the announcement, probably originating from the Ministry of Defence and broadcast on BBC World Service on May 27, that 2 Para was within 5 miles (8km) of Darwin Settlement. Posthumously awarded the VC.
Jones, Professor R V (b. l911). Br. Of all the scientists employed to aid the British war effort in World War II, Jones was one of the most brilliant. He was unusual, and perhaps unique, in retaining the complete confidence of Tizard and Cherwell and he was able to bring the fruit of his brilliant deduction to bear directly upon Churchill himself. Among his most important divinations was the German system of beam navigation used in the attack on Coventry.
Joubert de la Ferte, Air Chief Marshal Sir Philip (1887-1965). Br. Joined the Royal Flying Corps in 1913 and served throughout World War I, transferring to the RAF in 1918. Subsequently Commandant of the RAF Staff College, 1930—34. In 1939 made Assistant Chief of the Air Staff, with particular responsibility for radar and maritime air warfare — hitherto a neglected area. In 1941 he was appointed to Coastal Command, where he created a highly effective anti-submarine force which eventually played a decisive role in the Battle of the Atlantic. Retiring in 1943, he was immediately reemployed on Mountbatten’s staff in Southeast Asia Command as Deputy Chief of Staff with responsibility for Information and Civil Affairs. MH.
Joy, Vice Adm Charles Turner
(1895-1956). US. Commander, US Naval Forces Far East, when the Korean War began. Joy was nominated by Gen Ridgway to head the un Command armistice delegation in July 1951, an experience he often found frustrating. He asked to be relieved, April 1952, and was replaced by Lt Gen Harrison.
Joyce, William (“Lord Haw-Haw”) (1906-1946). Born in the USA of Anglo-Irish parentage, Joyce spent World War II in Germany, becoming notorious for antiBritish propaganda broadcasts in a pretentiously genteel accent. Charged with treason against Britain in 1945, he claimed US citizenship, but the fact that he had held a British passport - albeit obtained by a false declaration — from 1933 until July 1940 was sufficient to send him to the gallows.
Juin, Marshal Alphonse (1888
1967). Fr. Graduated with distinction from the St Cyr Military Academy in 1912 and received early combat experience with a colonial unit in Morocco. Served on the Western Front for much of World War I; wounded and decorated for bravery. In October 1919 entered staff college, then returned to North Africa, where he took part in the Rif War. During the 1920s and ’30s held various staff appointments in France and Africa. With the outbreak of World War II, returned to active command, leading the 15th Motorized Infantry Division with conspicuous success during the Battle of France. However, he and his men were amongst the force obliged to surrender at Lille on May 30 1940. Released from captivity to command the Vichy forces in Morocco and, after Weygand’s dismissal, all French army units in North Africa. Never an adherent of the Vichy regime, he helped to engineer the largely peaceful response to the Allied landings of November 1942. He soon took an active role in fighting German units in Tunisia, and in September 1943 formed the French Expeditionary Corps. This force, largely made up of North African units, fought well in Italy and participated in the capture of Rome. When the French divisions were switched to the invasion of Southern France, Juin was appointed Chief of Staff of National Defence. He continued to serve in the postwar French army and held several senior posts in nato. MS.
July Plot (1944). Gestapo distinguished among Hitler’s opponents a group of senior staff officers and diplomats who disapproved of both his morality and his methods. Their leading figure was Gen Ludwig Beck (1880—1944), Chief of Army Staff 1935—38; backed by Ulrich von Hassell, former ambassador in Rome; K F Goerdeler, former mayor of Leipzig; H B Gise-vius, vice-consul in Zurich; and Hans Oster, deputy to Adm Ca-naris. A group of younger officers centred on Count Helmuth von Moltke. Col Count Claus Schenk Stauffenberg (1907-44) emerged as architect of a detailed planned attempt on Hitler’s life, and overrode his colleagues’ objections that they had sworn an oath of fealty to Hitler on their regimental colours. He had been severely wounded in Tunisia, so was an unlikely suspect. He managed to plant a bomb containing a kilogram of son’s plastic explosive (provided by Oster) in a briefcase close to Hitler’s ankle at a conference at Rasten-burg on July 20 1944; he made an excuse to leave the room and saw the bomb explode. He concluded, wrongly, that Hitler was dead, flew to Berlin, and initiated operation “Walkiire”; but Hitler was only debagged and shaken. The Fuhrer and Himmler exacted a fierce revenge: Beck and Stauffenberg were dead before the night was out, and most of their colleagues died after torture in the next few months. Hitler seized the chance to rid himself of the core of the Prussian officer class. MF.
“Junction City” Operation
(1967). Led by American forces in the Vietnam War to search for and destroy the Central Office of South Vietnam (cosvn) and other communist installations located in War Zone C. Lasting from February 22 to May 14 1967, “Junction City”, the largest operation of the war to that date, involved 22 US and South Vietnamese battalions. The operation mauled the 9th Division of the People’s Liberation Armed Force (plaf) and destroyed large stocks of weapons and supplies, but it failed to uncover COSVN and had no more lasting effect than to make the 9th Division shift its base across the border into Cambodia.
Junkers Ju 52/3m (German, WWII). Bomber/transport/glider tug; crew 3/4. First flew in commercial form 1932; military version produced for Luftwaffe 1934; 450 supplied 1934—35. Extensively used in Spanish Civil War as bomber. With Luftwaffe very widely used throughout World War II as transport, paratroop carrier, glider tug, ambulance and minesweeper. Production 1934-44 totalled 4,845; continued postwar in France and Spain. Three BMW 132T engines; max. speed 165mph (264kph); 1,1021b (500kg) bombs, one 13mm and two 7.9mm machine guns.
Sent to Spain December 1937, more in 1939. Devastatingly employed against Poland, autumn 1939, but no match for effective fighters. Later used in Russia, Italy, eastern Mediterranean and North Africa; Ju 87G anti-tank version in service to end of war. One l,800hp Junkers Jumo 211J-1 engine; max. speed 255mph (408kph); 3,9681b (1,800kg) bombs, three 7.9mm machine guns; Ju 87G, two 37mm cannon.
Junkers Ju 88 (German, WWII). Dive-bomber/night fighter; crew 4. One of the most versatile and successful aircraft of its war, in many sub-types. Originally designed to 1935 specification for high-speed bomber; prototype flew December 21 1936; orders for 1,060 Ju 88s had been placed by spring 1938; first operational sortie September 26 1939. Progressively modified and developed: torpedo, ground-attack, shipping-strike and night-fighter versions followed. Production, about 15,000 (all variants). Two 1,340/1,725hp Junkers Jumo or l,730hp BMW 801G-2 engines; max. speed (Ju 88S-1) 379mph (OlOkph); 7,9351b (3,600kg) bombs, up to 16 machine guns in ground-attack form or single 50mm anti-tank cannon.
Junkers Ju 188 Racher (Avenger) (German, WWII). Medium bomber developed from Ju 88; crew 4. Prototype flew September 1941; first production deliveries March 1943; photographic-reconnaissance version used Russian front; high-altitude variants with pressure cabin developed 1944. Production, total 1,076, apparently ended
1944. Two l,677hp BMW 801C-2 engines; max. speed 338mph (544kph); 6,6141b (3,000kg) bombs, one 20mm cannon, two 13mm and twin 7.9mm machine guns.
Juno beach see normandy, invasion OF (1944).
Jutland, Battle of (May 31 1916). North Sea naval engagement. On the evening of May 30 1916 the British Grand Fleet steamed from its bases upon receiving word that the German High Seas Fleet was about to move into the North Sea. Adm Jellicoe exercised overall command and direction of the main body, which consisted of 24
Dreadnought battleships and three battlecruisers, while Vice Adm Beatty led the Battlecruiser Fleet, which contained six battlecruisers and four fast battleships. Adm Scheer commanded the German fleet as a whole and the main body directly, which included 16 dreadnought and six pre-dreadnought battleships, while Vice Adm Hip-per led the scouting force, with five battlecruisers. Both sides deployed cruiser scouts and many screening cruisers and destroyers.
In the late afternoon of May 31, the battlecruiser forces of both sides — positioned ahead of their respective main bodies - encountered one another, the Germans turning to retire towards their advancing battleships. During the British pursuit (the “Run to the South”), which involved heavy action, two British battlecruisers were sunk. The British reversed course upon sighting the German main body, retreating in the - direction of their own main body (the “Run to the North”), drawing the German forces into contact with Jellicoe’s battleships and battlecruisers in the early evening. Just before the main forces engaged, German fire sank one of Jellicoe’s scouting armoured cruisers and battered another, which would later sink, while Jellicoe’s battlecruisers smashed a light cruiser. Severe damage was inflicted on the German fleet in the ensuing fighting but skilful retreats and Jellicoe’s unwillingness to pursue given the risk of losses to torpedo attack enabled Scheer and Hipper to exploit poor visibility conditions and disengage; during this period, a third British battlecruiser was sunk, and a German battlecruiser damaged fatally. Intermittent exchanges of fire occurred at dusk, and in brief encounters during the night the British lost a third armoured cruiser, while the Germans lost a pre-dreadnought battleship and three light cruisers. Good fortune, failures to communicate vital information to Jellicoe, and British misjudgments enabled the German fleet to escape. Over the course of the battle, the British lost eight destroyers, the Germans five. The failure to achieve a decisive victory, concern over material defects and heavy losses left the British deeply dissatisfied; the Royal Navy’s dominance of the North Sea, however, remained undiminished. JTS.
World History
