The Price of Glory
Page 46
Lebrun, Gen., 240, 249, 257
Lebrun, President, 339
Lefebvre-Dibon, Maj., 238-40
Léger, Sgt., 79-80
Les Eparges, 48
Lewal, Gen., 4
Leyrand, Lt.-Col., 298
Liddell Hart, Capt. B. H., 33, 53, 330
Liebknecht, Karl, 191-2, 214
limogeage, 23, 129
‘Line of Panic’, 145
Lloyd George, David, 199, 231, 280, 321
Lochow, Gen. von, 59, 219, 303; and see III (Brandenburger) Corps
Loos, 25
Lotterer, Gen., 151
Louis Napoleon, 3
Louvemont, 101, 102, 317
Ludendorff, Gen. Erich, 1, 15, 25, 35, 279, 280, 304; Ludendorff Offensive (1918), 325
Lufbery, Raoul, 199, 210-11
Lusitania, 27
Luttwitz, Gen. von, 303
Luxeuil, 209, 211
Lyautey, Marshal, 233
McConnell, James, 173-4, 210, 211
Mackensen, Gen. von, 163, 280-1
Macker, Lt.-Col., 158-9
MacMahon, Marshal, 3
Madelin, Louis, 271
Maginot, ex-Sgt., 274-5, 338 Maginot Line, 2
Malancourt, 75, 162, 165
Mallcray, Lt.-Col. de, 164
Malvy (ex-Minister of Interior), 196
Mangin, Gen. Charles: character and career, 232-4; 235, 238-41, 292-3, 304, 308, 310, 316-18, 320, 322, 332-3
Manstein, F.M. Erich von, 5, 165, 342
Marc, Franz, 44, 150
Marne, First Battle of the, 1, 18-19
marraines de guerre, 64, 197
Mata Hari, 196
Matin, Le, 18, 126
Maud’huy, Col. de, 136
Max of Baden, Prince, 328, 331
‘May Cup’, 246-66
Mazenod, Lt. Pierre de, 286-7, 340
medical services, see French Army
Méléra, Sgt.-Maj. César, 178, 265-6, 334
Mellenthin, H.H. von, 252, 295
Metz, 3, 333
Meuse, River, 5, 154-6
Meusien, 146
Meyer, Pte., 301
Michel, General, 12
Millaud, Ensign, 271-2
Miribel, Gen., 4
Mistinguett, 194
Moltke, F.M. Baron von, 14
Moltke, Gen. H. J. L. von, 14-15, 31, 33, 282
Mons, 105
Montenegro, 279, 280-1
Montgomery, F.M. Viscount, 21, 130
Montherlant, Henri de, 339
Morimont, 43
Mormont, 74
Morocco, 10
Mort Homme, Le, 156-8, 161-72, 324, 343, 350
motor transport, French, 146-8
Moulainville, Fort, 48, 145, 236, 247-8, 287
Mudra, Gen. von, 165, 218, 219
Muenier, Pierre-Alexis, 102-4
Müller, Lt. Werner, 263-4
Mutinies, French, 322-5
Nancy, 127
Navarre, W.O. Jean, 202, 204, 205
New York Times, 245
Nicolai, Maj., 315, 317n
Nikolai Nikolaievich, Grand Duke, 29
Nivelle, Gen. Robert: character and career, 9, 230-1; the triumvirate, 213-4; commands Second Army, 234-5, 236, 241, 243, 265, 271; relations with Pétain, 273, 289, 292, 308-9; triumph, 318, 320-1; downfall, 322, 332
Noailles, Anna de, 339
Noailles, 132
Nordhoff, Charles, 210
Noria system, 228, 235, 269
Nungesser, Lt. Charles, 203-4, 205
Operation Gericht, 38-9, 41-55, 218, 336
Ornes, 59; Jumelles d’, 247
Palat, Gen., 124, 163
Pan-German faction, 223
Paris, 193-5
Passaga, Gen., 316
Pastre, Lt. Gaston, 180
Paulus, Oberleutnant (later F.M.) Friedrich, 288, 342
Pénélon, Gen., 24, 122
Pepper Hill, 98, 101, 122
Percin, Gen., 12n, 99n
Pericard, J., 119
Perreau, Cpl. Robert, 326
Pétain, Marshal Philippe: character and career, 132-41; opposes de Grandmaison’s doctrine, 12, 131; at Arras, 24-5; transfer to Verdun, 125, 129; takes over at Verdun, 142-9; moved to Army Group Centre, 227-30, 234-5, 240-1, 242-3, 266; the Joffre-Nivelle nutcracker, 272-4, 275-6, 288-9, 293; Prepares counter-attack, 304-5, 308-9, 318; passed over, 320-1; le Médécin de l’Armiée, 324-5; subsequent career, 337-8, 341, 343-6, 352
Philadelphia Enquirer, 244-5
phosgene, see poison gas
Piau, Sgt., 238
Pieri, Ensign, 91-2
Pierrefeu, Jean de, 128, 133, 140, 229, 319-20
Plan XVII, 14
Poincaré, President Raymond, 10, 55, 134-5, 227, 320
poison gas, 32, 65, 159, 285-7, 291, 298, 336
Pot, Cpl., 79-80
Pour le Mérite, 30n
Prince, Norman, 209, 212
Prittwitz, Gen. von, 31
Prollius, Capt., 75, 94
Pujo, Capt., 75, 94
Quatre Cheminées, 287
Quintin, Sgt.-Maj., 80, 96
Rackow, Lt., 255-7
Radtke, Lt., 114-15, 116, 120-1, 124
rail communications, 146
Ravin de la Vauche, 101
Ravine des Hospices, 285
Ravine des Vignes, 287
Raynal, Maj. Sylvain-Eugène, 252-64, 334, 337. 351
Regneville, 157
Reichs Archives, 121, 148, 159, 164, 170, 248, 284, 292, 326, 328, 341
Renouard, Col., 68
Renouard, Maj., 89
Repington, Col., 128, 139, 192-3
Retranchement 1 (R.1.), 249-50, 259-60
Revigny, 146
Rhineland, occupation of, 333
Richard, Maj., 146-8
Richthofen, Manfred von, 202
Riemann, Gen., 157
Ritter, Hans, 208
Rivières, Gen. Serré de, 5, 48, 106, 155
Robin, Lt., 79, 81, 86, 87-8
Rockwell, Caporal Kiffin, 209, 210, 212
Romagne, 43, 54
Roman, Maj., 301-2
Rommel, F.M. Erwin, 342
Roosevelt, Theodore, 233
Roques, Gen., 275
Rose, Marquis de, 203, 207
Rosendahl, Maj., 312
Ruberg, Lt., 255-6
Rumania, 303-4, 334
runners, 181
Rupprecht of Bavaria, Crown Prince, 39, 155, 156, 217, 225
Russia, 18n, 24-5, 27, 35, 280, 282
Sadowa (1886), 278
Ste. Ménéhould, 119, 130, 146
St. Michel, Fort, 180
St. Mihiel, 47-8, 146
St. Privat, 96
Salins, Gen. Guyot de, 309, 310
Samogneux, 75, 98-9
Sarrail, Gen., 47
Saumur Cavalry School, 230
Savy, Col., 265
Schenck, Gen. von, 59; and see XVIII Corps
Schlieffen Plan, 14-15
Schneider-Creusot works, 323
Sedan, 3, 342-3
Séguin, Capt., 79, 87
Senegalese troops, 148, 309
Serbia, 27, 280-1
Serrigny, Capt., 132-3, 140, 142-4, 344
’75 (French field-gun), 13
Shackleton, Sir Ernest, 214
Simplizissimus, 225, 274
Social Democrats, 38
socialism, international revolutionary, 197
Somme Offensive, 29, 229-30, 269, 276, 288; launched, 293-4, 295, 319, 327, 330
Souilly, 143, 349
Soumazzannes Farm, 80-1
Souville, Fort, 48, 94, 145, 216, 246, 248, 284, 296-7, 299-300
Spears, E. L., 20
Spincourt, Forest of, 41, 54
Stalingrad, 2, 327
Stenay-sur-Meuse, 56, 349
Stephane, Cpl., 70-1, 74, 79, 87-8
Stollen, 45, 54, 57-8
Stülpnagel, Gen. Karl-Heinrich von, 347
submarine warfare, 32, 154, 217
Sussex (packet-steamer), 214, 217
‘système D’, 195
Tabourot, Capt., 254
Tägliche Rundschau, 169
Talou Ridge, 98, 122, 152
Tappen, Col., 33, 39-40
Tardivel, Sgt. Elie, 178
Tavannes: Fort, 48, 145, 216, 262; Tunnel, 298, 305-7
territorials, French, 84
Thaw, William, 210, 211
Thellier de Poncheville, Abbé, 186
Thenault, Capt., 209
Thiaumont, 207; ossuaire, 267, 339, 340-1, 350; ouvrage de, 216, 246, 267-8, 284, 287, 293, 301, 314
Thomasson, Lt.-Col. de, 125, 131
Thouzelier, Maj., 22, 320
Tirpitz, Grand Admiral von, 225
Tourtay, Lt., 288
Tranchée des Baïonnettes, 268-9
trench warfare, 61, 174-6
Troisième Bureau (Operations), 11, 24
‘Trouée de Charmes’, 5
Tyrol, 281
U-boat campaign, see submarine warfare
Union Sacrée, 10, 197, 274
United States of America, 1, 27, 213, 217-18, 295, 325, 331-2; and see American Ambulance Field Service; Lafayette Squadron
Vacherauville, Fort, 99
Valéry, Paul, 242
Vauban, Sébastien de, 5, 48, 106
Vaulet, Col., 90, 95, 97-8
Vauquois, 48
Vaux, 102, 160, 351; Fort, 48, 155-6, 246, 248-9; lost, 252-66, 267; recaptured, 317, 318, 338, 343
Verdun, City of, 46-91 preparations at (1916), 49-55; post-war, 349
Vichy France, 344
‘Vie Douce, La’, 7
Villa Poiret, 126, 319-20
Ville, 59; Bois de, 75, 87
Villers-Cotterets, Forest of, 333
Vimy Ridge, 137
Vincent, Maj., 89
Viollette, Deputy, 275
Vittarville, 75-6
Voie Sacrée, 148, 349
Voigt, Lt., 116
Waldau, Lt.-Col. Hoffman von, 220
Waldersee, Count von, 31
Wavrille, Bois de, 96
Weber Pasha, Maj.-Gen., 254
Wehrmacht, 278
Wendt, Hermann, 39-40, 208, 329-40
Wetzell, Maj., 220
Wienskowski, Capt. von, 89
William II, Kaiser, 9-10, 33, 36-8, 99, 191, 217-18, 222-5, 303-4
William, Crown Prince of Germany, 17, 56, 75-6, 153-5, 171-2, 214-20, 243, 300-1, 321, 328-9, 331; character, 222-5, 264; relations with Knobelsdorf, 38-40, 220-2, 225, 282, 302-3
Wilson, Woodrow, 214, 217
Woevre, Plain of, 41, 125, 151
women of France, 64, 197-8
wounded, care of, see French Army (medical services)
Wurtemberg, Duke of, 225
Ypres, 32
Zeppelins, 45, 55, 68, 201, 208
Zwehl, Gen. von, 38, 58, 77, 82, 84, 86, 95, 153, 157, 215
Zweig, Arnold, 284, 308
INDEX OF ARMY UNITS
ALLIED GERMAN
(French unless otherwise indicated)
ARMY CORPS
III, 230, 233-4, 323n I Bavarian, 246, 287
XII, 270 III (Brandenburger), 59, 87, 190-1; and see 24th Brandenburger Regiment
XX, 18, 103-4, 113, 143-4, 148-9
XXX, 59-60, 103 V Reserve, 59
XXXIII, 24 VI Reserve, 155
VII Reserve, 58, 77-8, 82, 84-6, 97, 152, 215
X Reserve, 220, 246
XV, 59, 246
XVIII, 59, 82, 83, 86-7, 96, 152
XXII Reserve, 165
Alpine, 284, 28718, 299
DIVISIONS
5th, 232, 240, 323n 11th Bavarian, 163
14th, 59 22nd Reserve, 157
21st, 270, 322-3 50th, 254, 296
26th U.S.A., 325
29th, 163
37th African, 59, 97-8, 100-3, 149, 304
38th, 309, 314
51st, 59, 96
52nd, 271
67th, 157-8
72nd, 59-60, 91, 95-100
129th, 286, 287
130th, 285, 287
I33rd, 316
Russian, 323-4
OTHER UNITS
33rd Regt., 149 12th Grenadiers, 106, 109
95th Regt., 118-19, 149 24th Brandenburger Regt., 75, 105-6, 109, 114-20, 149
Chasseurs, 52, 60; 121st, 288
Régiment d’infanterie Coloniale du Maroc, 265-6, 315 Leib Regt., 288, 291, 297, 298
Jäger troops, 84; 2nd (Prussian), 288; 3rd, 296, 298
Tirailleurs, 60; and see 37th African Division
Zouaves, 60; 2nd, 265-6; and see 37th African Division
1 Of this ‘fatal doctrine of the conservation of ground’ a French general wrote after the war: ‘the humblest company, the humblest battalion in the front line had the order to retake any ground lost. Was it not essential, they said, to maintain the impetus of the soldier? This doctrine distracted our leaders from the manœuvre that consists of withdrawing a few kilometres in order to lure the enemy out of his positions, and lead him to fall disorganised under our fire and under our counter-offensives.” (Percin; Le Massacre de Notre Infanterie). It will be seen later with what force the above applied to the Battle of Verdun.
1 Contrary to popular belief, the super long-range gun that shelled Paris in 1918 was not called ‘Big Bertha’. The true ‘Big Berthas’ (named after the Krupp heiress) were short-barrelled mortars with only limited range.
1 Russia’s contribution to making the ‘Miracle’ possible at all should never be forgotten. Without waiting to complete her own mobilisation, she had attacked unexpectedly in East Prussia, with the result that — at the most critical moment of the campaign in France — Moltke had been forced to transfer two badly needed army corps from the West to the East. As will be seen later, it was not the last time that Russia would come to France’s rescue.
1 The Pour le Mérite, Germany’s highest decoration, was instituted by Frederick the Great, preferring a French title as he despised his mother language.
1 My italics.
1 In both the French and German armies units tended to be commanded by lower ranks than in the British forces; thus a Battalion Commander is usually a Major (or Commandant), while a Regiment would be commanded by a Colonel, but more often in practice by a Lt.-Colonel.
1 In 1916 a German Army Corps generally consisted of only two infantry divisions; a division of two brigades; a brigade, two regiments; and a regiment, two or three battalions, each of about 1,000 men. The French establishment was similar, except that there were sometimes three divisions to a corps.
1 Under Driant’s defensive scheme, there was no continuous line of trenches in the Bois des Caures. On the outskirts of the wood was a chain of small outposts, and behind them the Grandes Gardes, each an independent stronghold containing a platoon or more of men. Further back came the support, or ‘S’, line; and at the rear the ‘R’ line of concrete redoubts, in which lay Driant’s own Command Post.
1 6 a.m. French time = 7 a.m. German time. Henceforth all times given are French.
1 Later it was estimated that 80,000 heavy shells had fallen in a rectangle 500 by 1,000 yards.
1 In the French Army, cadets in the last stage of training were sent to command a detachment at the front before actually being awarded their commission.
1 Through faulty communications and poor artillery liaison disasters such as Samogneux occurred with dismal regularity throughout the First War. One French expert, General Percin (Le Massacre de Notre Infanterie) estimates that 75,000 French troops alone were ‘mown down’ by their own artillery in the course of the war.
1 Demoralisation among the North Africans is largely corroborated by German intelligence reports on the French prisoners taken; ‘The Zouaves and Turkos particularly give one an impression of complete breakdown. The prisoners complain loudly and without moderation of their officers and senior commanders, and spit at the captured officers of other French regiments’ (von Klüfer, p. 73).
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br /> 1 Where GQG was lodged.
1 Éloge to the Academic Française on his election to the seat left vacant by the death of Marshal Pétain.
1 His son, also General Gouraud, was among the army leaders imprisoned for their part in the 1961 Algerian revolt.
1 RFV = Région Fortifiée du Verdun.
1 But at least the Germans learned, which could all too rarely be said of the Allied commanders; much of their success in the 1918 breakthrough was due to Ludendorff’s provision of portable ramps and heavy duck-boards so that the artillery could be rushed forward over the shell ground.
1 The original: ‘Nos ennemis, fussent-ils pendus aux nuages, nous les aurons! Et nous les bouterons hors de France.’
1 See previous chapter.
1 To us this kind of futile sacrifice symbolises the First War mentality. Yet one must always remember the dilemma facing the French at Verdun, once de Castelnau had picked up the German gauntlet. By 1916 both sides had already experimented successfully with ‘thinning out’ the forward areas to reduce shell-fire casualties. But in the cramped space at Verdun where the loss of a hundred yards might lead to the loss of the city the risk of any such thinning out could not be taken by the French. Similarly the Germans, always attacking, could not avoid a permanent concentration of men in the forward lines.
1 Though emotions were more violent, with members of the two arms coming to blows when they met on leave.
1 On the other side, the Germans also suffered (though, because of the greater imaginativeness of the French writers, perhaps not quite to the same extent); typical of German ‘bourrage de crane’ were the reports at the beginning of the war that French shells did not explode and their bullets tended to go clean through one without causing excessive damage!
2 Whereas on the home front in 1914-1915 strikes had been negligible, in 1916 there were 314 (most of them in the last quarter of the year), and in 1917, the year of the Army mutinies, 696.
1 Qualification of an ‘ace’ was five victories, later it was advanced to ten.
1 That Falkenhayn was equally prey to excessive optimism is revealed by the fact that he considered the French had already lost 200,000 men by the beginning of April; and even up to the publishing of his memoirs in 1919, he still deluded himself that, during the March fighting ‘for two Germans put out of action, five Frenchmen had to shed their blood ‘, a ratio that the previously cited casualty returns show to have been complete delusion.