Paul Ély
Paul Ely | |
---|---|
Gen Paul Ely 1959 | |
Born |
Salonica | December 17, 1897
Died | January 16, 1975 (aged 77) |
Allegiance | France |
Service/ | 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.