dʒˈoʊsəf dʒˈɑːfɚ, fɹˈɛntʃ tʃˈiːf ʌv dʒˈɛnɚɹəl stˈæf fɹʌm nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ɪlˈɛvən ˈɔn, hæd ɚɹˈɪdʒɪnəli ɐdˈɑːptᵻd ðə dˈɑːktɹɪn fɚðə fɹˈɛntʃ mˈɪlətˌɛɹi ænd pˈɜːdʒd ðɪ ˈɑːɹmi ʌv dᵻfˈɛnsɪvlimˈaɪndᵻd kəmˈændɚz.
Joseph Joffre, French chief of general staff from 1911 on, had originally adopted the doctrine for the French military and purged the army of 'defensively-minded' commanders.