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Les conséquences du rajeunissement du haut commandement militaire pendant la Grande Guerre amenèrent le blocage de l’avancement vers le généralat dans les années 1920-1930. Cela entraîna une chape de plomb sur l’évolution de l’armée et une sclérose de la pensée qui aboutirent au désastre de 1940.

A consequence of the reduction in age of the higher military command during the Great War was a blockage in promotions to field rank in the 1920s. (The Magistère bleu horizon refers to the mass of blue-uniformed, young general officers who then held many of the senior ranks and positions). That in turn acted as ball and chain, hindering development of the army and ossifying thinking: the result was the disaster of 1940.