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Hello dear friends! On July 28, 1914, following an international situation
tense for decades and the assassination of Archduke Franz
Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, WW1 broke out. This is
the beginning of a larger butcher in the history of humanity and on the occasion of
97 years of the armistice signed on November 11, 1918 I wanted to revisit some of
the French major battles that have marked this period. Let's go !
The battle of borders it is a well general name for all battles
which took place along the French-German border at the beginning of the war. If France does not fit
in war that August 3rd, 1914, movements of troops are prepared well in advance because
everyone knows that conflict is inevitable. Hundreds of thousands of men
already moved a few days earlier border under cover of an exercise
general mobilization.
The battlefield is huge, it stretches from Alsace to Lorraine through
the Belgian Ardennes and the Vosges. during two weeks, from 7 to 23 August 1914, the
conflicts arise from all sides. The french tactic is simple: go on the offensive
before being caught in a pincer movement. The Germans decided to apply on their side
Schlieffen plan, developed many years earlier, that involves declaring war on
Belgium, though neutral in the case, to invade their territory and move
on the flanks of the French army.
The Germans decided to attack first Liège to use bridges
to cross the Meuse and thus bypass the French. The city is protected by
12 forts and it's General Von Emmich who launches the assault on August 5, 1914. The day after
a Zeppelin flies over the city and proceeded to the first bombing of the Great War: the
city fall to the Germans, while as Antwerp and Brussels.
The Belgians asking France and the British to receive help, who set in motion.
If the bulk of the French forces take long-time to position further south, the forces
are already in place.
The first French action is to push into Alsatian territory, region lost during
the Franco-Prussian War in 1870. The General Joffre, who leads the French army,
ordered General Bonneau to take Mulhouse, which he did easily
with his 45,000 men. If the German army operates a strategic withdrawal in
first, it is only to received the reinforcement it expects from
Strasbourg. The counter-attack is fast and violent, General Bonneau is overrun
by the events. What, barely two days ago, was a great national victory,
becomes a total fiasco. Bonneau is relieved of his duties and that's the general
Pau who try again in Mulhouse. He meet the Germans in Dornach outskirts
of Mulhouse, these last tend electric wire in the city to slow
the French army. Pau wins and captures nearly a thousand men,
however, the situation turns sour in Lorraine and the general must again
leave the city to the Germans before being overwhelm again.
In Lorraine, the Germans have fortified their positions and wait the great French offensive
Their goal is to create a diversion and occupy the enemy enough
time for the troops of Kaiser Wilhelm II circumvent by Belgium.
On August 19, 1914, at the Battle of Morhange the French push without resistance into
the German lines which are in fact setting their trap. The Germans
gradually surround the French and set up artillery and machine guns
they have in large numbers. The French applying the famous tactical of "excessive offensive"
which is basically to run in the heap in ranks, are fully
annihilate. They retreat and the counter-offensive of the military leader Rupprecht in January 20
pushes them in Nancy, new goal of the German army in the region.
But then the French army managed to defend the city.
During that time, in the North, German advance by Belgium is still
increasingly strong. The French attempt block them in Charleroi, especially with
the help of Algerian troops and Zouaves but the generals are unable to revise
their tactics and losing ground. The British do better and win
a victory in Mons; However, they are alone and are forced to retreat before
being encirclement.
On 21 August 1914, the French attempt a massive counterattack deep into
the Ardennes to cross and cut the German army in two. The commander's plan
Joffre assumes that the massive Ardennes is only slightly provided with men
and that the crossing will not be too complicated. Unfortunately he is wrong and it is a
real ambush that awaits the French. Discovered they are at the mercy of the German
hid in the woods with their machine guns. On August 22, 1914 is therefore a
infamous date as it is the deadliest day in all history
of France. That's over 26,000 soldiers French who get killed in the Ardennes
in one day, 1 every 3 seconds.
The French army go from defeat to defeat and German pierce in the north.
If the commander Joffre and his troops not react quickly, German troops
will soon be in Paris ...
On August 24, the large retreat is set work: the French and the British
retreat south of the Marne and wait patiently for the Germans. During
this first phase of the Great War, thousands of civilians caught in the crossfire
died.
Ah the famous Battle of the Marne! And if I told you that, as the battle of
borders, it was not actually one battle, but five battles regrouped
under this "name"?
After the great retreat Joffre think he can to redeploy his men
to counter the German advance. He believes it so strongly and he's right because it's the last
opportunity for France to get it out. The Germans on the heels, marching on Paris,
Joffre decided to blame the first failure of the French offensive on its
General. He fire a lot of them and replaces them with new blood. However
the first redeployment is a failure too Germans are progressing rapidly.
Paris seems lost and the defense of the city is organized, the right wing
of the German army, commanded by General Kluck decides to continue further
south to try to inflict more damage to the British Army, and
This in stark contrast to the orders its hierarchy who wanted to take the capital
by wrapping from the west. A fatal mistake allowing the French to find
a second breath.
East of Paris is a 225km long arc composed of more than
one million soldiers ready to receive one million Germans walking
towards them. From Paris thousands of soldiers are sent to the front as reinforcements, as
whether by rail but also commandeered taxis to transfer several thousand infantrymen,
the famous "Taxis de la Marne".
This rapid redeployment is a success, while the French army turned around,
reinforcements arrive from the west under the orders of General Gallieni to break through
the German wing.
From September 5 to 12 clashes are everywhere from Paris to Verdun, here
French push the Germans on tens of kilometers, thereby forces
Empire take over. Whatever, the few German victories
are quickly followed by retreat because the lines are weakened
and army's sides are completely vulnerable. This is especially the case during the battle
of Ourcq, where the chief of staff Kuhll is obliged to sound the retreat despite
that his victory is certain.
Even if the French and British troops have the advantage, they can not pursue
the Germans because of exhaustion. The enemy's offensive doesn't materialize
but the emperor still has one foot in France.
This great battle of the 1st World War sees a huge number of losses for
both sides : First, more of 110 000 dead and missing on the French and English side
and about 80,000 dead and missing the German side. But what really marks
the end of the Battle of the Marne is the way the war will take afterward. Until there,
Armed intersect, collide, move dramatically, in short, movement of
troops is a particularly important. But with the battle of the
Marne is the end of the war of movement, the Germans retreated, dug trenches
and builds fortifications it is the beginning of a war of positions.
Although many events happened since the Battle of the Marne in 1914, as
the use for the first time of war gases, we jump a little further,
in 1916, in the heart of the famous battle Verdun.
If this battle is famous, it is not only for its extreme violence, but
also for its incredibly long 9 months, 3 weeks and 6 days.
until now the Germans tactics is purely defensive while the French
army coordinate with the British Army to make a breakthrough in the German front
at the Somme. However the Germans do not stay without doing anything and it seems
Verdun is easy prey. The French, too advanced on this position, have withdrawn
some of their guns to redeploy it elswhere are vulnerable on three fronts
and their supplies is very complicated compared to the army of the Emperor
who benefits on his side of the rail network.
The German command moves around 1200 guns, protects his men underground
and began to fire on French's positions continuously for weaken them
When we say continuously that is non-stop! almost 2 millions shells fired
in just two days.
It should be understood that during this period of positional warfare, virtually
everything depends on heavy artillery which pound the enemy, before sending
soldiers pick up the crumbs and the German army is much more efficient
at this; and to prove it here two photos of one of the largest
forts of Verdun before a bombardment, and after ...
In short, 60,000 German soldiers are sent to Verdun while cannons roar
always. So they thought the French troops were decimated, pockets of survivors
somehow resist and slow enormously the German army. French
Reinforcements arrive and artillery, although unless supplied, is installed to repel
the Germans.
General Pétain, yes the one who will lead the Vichy regime a few years
later, was sent to lead the French troops and reorganizes the entire battlefield.
He established a plan for logistics taking advantage of the only road
allowing to supply it by bringing thousands of trucks to transport men and
ammunition: the famous "sacred path". He also reorganizes the traffic on the
small railway track that passes not far from it, and oversees the construction of a
new railway that allows more futur logistics comfort. Petain
also becomes popular enough putting up a rolling system on the battlefield
To preserve the men he regularly replaces the troops by
news one that is again replaced by old, etc ... A tactic that involves that
70% of French soldiers of this period participate in the Battle of Verdun.
Finally, it sets up an air squadron primarily responsible for the recognition,
and if aviation also participates in fighting, the informations provided on the enemy
are very valuable for the French army.
Verdun, defended by strong reinforced fort for the battle is crossed by the Meuse
and both side of it, war rages. Soldiers advance and recede without
stops, the number of troops increases week after Week.
While the Germans tried an offensive that does not materialize, Pétain is sent
elswhere by the commander Joffre, but his work on the battlefield
make him very famous and place him on the political ladder of the after war.
Until 1 July 1916, the situation is still critical for the French Army
but overall it resists against the German army. At that time, the French
commandement decided to launch his major offensive on the Somme it prepares for months
and the Russians are doing the same on the eastern front. It is from there that the German army
gradually losing ground because part its troops and artillery are sent
on other fronts, weakening its defense.
The French are gradually gaining ground and just as the Germans they use
punctually gas to neutralize the enemy. In December it's the end of the battle,
German soldiers are returning to their starting point and France celebrates one of its
greatest defensive victories.
In total, nearly 60 million shells falling on the battlefield in a
little less than 10 months. 60 million shells which are responsible for the majority of
some of the 300 000 deaths in both camps and mark up today
the landscape of Verdun.
Since late 1915, the commander Joffre plans its offensive on the Somme before piercing
the German front. The operation is the very first Franco-British major action
and when Verdun begin French troops are mobilized, leaving
responsibility of the attack to the British.
For their part the Germans are extremely well positioned, they have many lines of
defense and have had time to build some real underground labyrinths.
As of June 24, 1916, the British install their guns and start pounding
the German positions: for a week that is 1.7 million shells which are dropped
on the invader. On July 1 the shelling suddenly increases while
the day is just rising, nearly 3,500 projectiles are sent per minute for one hour.
Following this final bombing, soldiers go to attack the enemy trenches,
but surprisingly they do it walking, which seems to us inconceivable.
Indeed, the commandment persuaded the Germans are destroyed, and not
wanting it's men to disperse and lose for nothing on 40 Km large front
instructs his soldiers to walk ... When in fact
the Germans are going rather well since they were hidden underground. It is therefore
a real butchering who sets up and the British are heartily welcome
with machine guns. In a few minutes just thousands dead are laying on the
battlefield and at the end of the day it is estimated that 20,000 British soldiers
are dead and 35,000 wounded. Like of August 22, 1914 for the French, 1
July 1916 is the deadliest day in the British military history.
During the summer, the soldiers are slowly toward the German lines that receive
the reinforcements from Verdun, and early autumn the first tanks
are used by the British. However, combining the atrocious weather blizzard, rain
and cold make difficult maneuvers either side. Gradually the Germans
withdraw slightly and military operations are canceled for lack
of optimal conditions to conduct it.
The troops are bogged down in the mud and the Franco-British offensive is coming to an end in
December 1916 without having managed to break the German front.
In the end, which in the end doesn't change anything in 4 months of
clashes: some 440,000 dead and 600 000 injured. Always absolutely inconceivable
numbers.
Following the Battle of the Somme, the commander Joffre was replaced by commander Nivelle.
He takes the same plans from his predecessor and organizes an ultimate
attempt to break with the British near the city of Rheims. However
the German, who interviewed French prisoners become aware of the maneuver
and decided to withdraw to have a less wide front to defend. The decision is
then taken to conduct two separate offensives, by the British at Vimy near Lens
on one side and the French on the other in Le Chemin des Dames, near Soissons
Nivelle establishes a bold plan to crush German forces: he plans to do
advance the artillery while the infantrymen progress in
the German lines. So the soldiers come pick bombing survivors
just after the impact of the shells, giving a great chance to defeat them.
To accomplish this mission Artillery however, must move 100m every
three minutes a completely amazing goal when we know that the set was
100m every 4 minutes in Verdun and that the French forces had failed. In addition, the
terrain is very unfavorable to the French army because it is on a slope and
it is the Germans who are at the top. For worse, it snowy and troops
have difficulties to fight against the cold, especially the Senegalese riflemen
who are not used to such climate.
At 6 am April 16, 1917, Nivelle launched the assault against the German forces. These ones
are holed up in a huge network of tunnels they built and do not suffer
much the bombing. The first wave infantry thus crushes against the German wall
and this is not new French aussault tanks that will change that.
Equipped with machine guns and moving 4km / h, around half these tanks
are destroyed by artillery and the other half just break down on the battlefield
because of their reduced autonomy.
The offensive continue and the first week French losses are already at
130 000 men. The soldiers are fed up at an unprecedented level and mutinies
multiply, men refuse to go in combat. A month later, the commander
Nivelle retire and leaves room for Philippe Petain.
For several months he tries to calm mutinies and several executions are
programmed; Germans try to take advantage of the situation by launching a
counter-attack that fails.
On October 24, after months internal and external conflicts, Petain launch an offensive
to take back the fort of Malmaison which opens the way on crucial German positions.
Using tanks again, this time to protect the infantry, he won
but unfortunately can't go further. The German defense held on
200 000 French soldiers are dead or wounded. It's an astonishing failure.
WW1 is an episode of History absolutely amazing history by
its horror. We have not talk about the Russian front, where many
battles took place, or African front which is also referred fairly,
but it seemed important to return on major French episodes to understand
how the military situation has evolved all these years in our territory.
1917 marks a turning point in the conflict since the Russian army stop fighting allowing
the Germans to switch all their strength on the eastern front. This is also the year
when Americans declare to war to the very aggressive naval German policy
The Kaiser knows he must act quickly to win the battle and launches
an enormous offensive which comes dangerously close to Paris. The second Battle of the Marne
and the countert-offensive from the French and also American, British, Canadian and Australian
allow the 8 August 1918 to launch an ultimate operation that break the German lines.
This is the defeat of the enemy army and the armistice was signed on November 11
1918. The war is over and it has done 18 million deaths, around half of them
civilians.
If you want to know a little more about this dark period of our history, I will
invites you to follow the live broadcast of the Videothèque d'Alexandrie to be held
from 21h Wednesday, November 11, 2015. I would be present with many other
friends, I put the link in the description and when the replay will be available simply
click on the small box just there !
If you feel like it, leave me a little upvote , and of course a comment
subscribe if it is not done already! See you next time.