 He was promoted General de Brigade (brigadier-general) on 27 October 1914, then acting General de Division (equivalent to the Anglophone rank of major-general) on 12 March 1915 with the rank confirmed on 28 September 1916.He commanded the French Tenth Army between December 1916 and December 1917.Duchêne is best known for his command of the French Sixth Army from December 1917 to June 1918.