Quelque Chose De Vieux
(Something Old)
Fakebook (1)
Quelque Chose De Nouveau
(Something New)
On February 21, 1916, more than 1,220 guns around an eight-mile perimeter opened fire. It was the sort of drenching shell storm that would make the Battle of Verdun legendary. Verdun did act as a “suction cup” because three fourths of the French Western Front divisions would eventually serve there. But even from the start, the “Meuse Mill” did not achieve the five-to-two kill ratio Falkenhayn had predicted. The attackers soon forgot this object. Orders went out to take French positions “without regard to casualties.” At the end of the first week, the Germans had advanced six miles; a few men walked into an almost undefended Fort Douaumont and took it. The French, marked the low point. Fighting decreased into isolated struggles for shell holes, forcing the French into an impromptu but successful defense-in-depth. At the beginning of June, the Germans took another key stronghold, Fort Vaux, after hideous subterranean melees. Many of their troops actually reached a point from which the twin towers of Verdun cathedral were visible, two miles away. Then, on July 14, the Germans called off their offensive. Falkenhayn was dismissed shortly after his failure at Verdun. (2)
La Trêve De Noël
(The Christmas Truce)
Attention!! Attention!! Starting on Christmas Eve, many German and British troops sang Christmas carols to each other across the battle lines, and at certain points there was joyous singing. On the dawn of Christmas day, some German soldiers emerged from their trenches and began to walk toward no-man's-land, yelling "Merry Christmas" in English. The English soldiers at first thought that the German soldiers were just tricking them. The Germans were unarmed and they climbed out of their trenches and shook hands with their enemy, the English soldiers. The men exchanged gifts. They exchanged cigarettes and plum pudding; they even sang Christmas carols! The soldiers even played soccer with one another. Very few soldiers used this time to retrieve all of the bodies of their fellow fallen soldiers. The Christmas Truce of 1914 started only five months after the war began in Europe and was one of the last examples of the outdated notion of chivalry between enemies in a time of war. This is the only ceasefire that has been in the war. More ceasefires need to follow! (3)
- (4)
Quelque Chose Emprunté
(Something Borrowed)
No one exactly know how many soldiers died, were wounded, or went missing during the Battle of Verdun. The official French war history that was published estimates the French deaths at Verdun were 377,231. Out of this number, 162,308 were dead or went missing. A reliable reporter, said that the German deaths were nearly 337,000 of which 100,000 dead, wounded or missing. The total amount of casualties would then be: 714,231 of which 262,308 dead, wounded or missing! (5)
Quelque Chose De Bleu
(Something Blue)
John Caspar Wister was the acting First Sergeant of the Advance Ordnance, Depot 4, Haute Marne, France. He wrote a memoir book about his experience in the Great War. Wister's book was quite unusual. He was a serviceman who was never at the front, never heard gunfire, and he never saw an enemy soldier. His detailed memoirs give extensive reports of military life. His book also gives many people strong personal feelings about the possible resurgence of Germany in times to come. Wilster loved flowers and plants. He had the opportunity to visit England's Kew Gardens during his term of service. He served in the Great War from 1914-1918. (6)
Footnotes:
1. "Philippe Petain (French General)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Accessed December 16, 2014.
2. "The Battle of Verdun." The Battle of Verdun. Accessed December 10, 2014.
3. "The Battle of Verdun." The Battle of Verdun. Accessed December 10, 2014.
4. "New German Attacks at Verdun: Battle of the Flanks." History.com. Accessed December 15, 2014.
5. "The Battle of Verdun 1916 - the Greatest Battle Ever." The Battle of Verdun 1916 - the Greatest Battle Ever. Accessed December 10, 2014
6. "Experiencing War (World War I: The Great War): Stories from the Veterans History Project (Library of Congress)." Experiencing War (World War I: The Great War): Stories from the Veterans History Project (Library of Congress). Accessed December 15, 2014. (primary)
*disclaimer- the first 5 sources are secondary
1. "Philippe Petain (French General)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Accessed December 16, 2014.
2. "The Battle of Verdun." The Battle of Verdun. Accessed December 10, 2014.
3. "The Battle of Verdun." The Battle of Verdun. Accessed December 10, 2014.
4. "New German Attacks at Verdun: Battle of the Flanks." History.com. Accessed December 15, 2014.
5. "The Battle of Verdun 1916 - the Greatest Battle Ever." The Battle of Verdun 1916 - the Greatest Battle Ever. Accessed December 10, 2014
6. "Experiencing War (World War I: The Great War): Stories from the Veterans History Project (Library of Congress)." Experiencing War (World War I: The Great War): Stories from the Veterans History Project (Library of Congress). Accessed December 15, 2014. (primary)
*disclaimer- the first 5 sources are secondary