Paul Ély

Paul Ely
Gen Paul Ely 1959
Born (1897-12-17)December 17, 1897
Salonica
Died January 16, 1975 (1975-01-17) (aged 77)
Allegiance France
Service/branch French Army
Years of service 1919-1961
Battles/wars World War II
First Indochina War

Paul Ely (December 17, 1897 – January 16, 1975) was a French General and former Chief of the Defence Staff.

Early life and education

He was the son of Henri Ely, a civil servant and Therese (née Coste). He attended the Lycée de Best.

Army career

Ely attended the Ecole Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr and was commissioned as a lieutenant in 1919. He was promoted to captain in 1930 and then commandant in 1938. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the Free French forces in 1942 and full colonel in 1944. In 1946 he was promoted to general. [1]

Post Indochina

Ely was appointed as the first Chief of the Defence Staff and served in this role from August 1953 to June 1954. He was reappointed as Chief of Staff in March 1956. Ely was sympathetic to the putschists during the May 1958 crisis in France and on 16 May 1958 submitted his resignation which was accepted the next day.[2]

Ely was reappointed as Chief of Staff in June 1958 after Charles de Gaulle assumed power and established the Fifth Republic. In July 1958 at de Gaulle's instigation he purged the army of some of the extremist elements who had led the May revolt. [2]:437

Ely retired from the Army in 1961.

Later life

Ely died on January 16, 1975.

Notes

  1. ↑ Corfield, Justin (2013). Historical Dictionary of Ho Chi Minh City. Anthem Press. p. 100. ISBN 9780857282354.
  2. 1 2 Jonathan, Fenby (2010). The General Charles de Gaulle and the France he saved. Simon & Schuster. p. 387. ISBN 9781847394101.
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