When war broke out in 1914 French commander in chief General Joseph Joffre recalled General Pau from retirement to command the "Army of Alsace" to participate in attacks called for by the doomed French Plan XVII. Although initially successful, Pau was defeated at Morhange-Sarrebourg and when it was clear to Joffre that French hopes for a quick victory in Alsace had faded and that France now faced the real possibility of quick defeat, Pau's army was broken up and sent north to join the Sixth Army in time to participate in the First Battle of the Marne.