A graduate of École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr, promotion of Tafilalet 1931–1933, he was assigned as a sous-lieutenant at Metz.

Promoted to Chef de Battaillon in June 1943 of the war, he assumed command of the 1st Battalion of the phalange magnifique.

His unit was part of 1st Free French Division and partook to the assault against the Gustave line in Italy in the spring of 1944, as well as to the disembarking in Provence in August 1944.

Promoted to colonel, he assumed command of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment 3e REI and participated to the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954.

He participated then to the Algerian War, first as chef d'état-major of 19th Military Region in Algiers, then as chief of the sector of Tiaret from May 1958 to October 1960.