There were two military legends in 1920s France: Pétain and Foch. Each represented a different approach to the war. Ferdinand Foch was the arch-exponent of the offensive and the believer in the importance of will as a key to victory; Pétain was known for his emphasis on the need for meticulous preparation. Pétain had become a national icon for his tenacious defence of Verdun in 1916
