Verdun: 1916-2016
 

I often think that the UK has cornered the market in crass insensitivity, but this would indicate that we are not alone. I'm pleased that the French media picked it up. Mike
Attachment 149958

If he knew his history, he would know that the French poeple will not play games with traitors in their country.

France paid a very heavy price in casualties sustained during WW1.

Military Deaths:1,397.800
Military Wounded:4,266,000

Verdun was the longest ever Battle during the whole of WW1 and lasted from 1914-1918

I was told that 750,000 men died there, many more injured. This was the main reason why the British had to start their campaign on the Somme in 1916 when they did, as the French were running out of time & men. :(:(

Some people think they are clever, ..... but when the guns start to roar in France, where will the "French"-Guinean be standing ? Maybe on the end of a rope, .... with luck.
(Sing up Black-M) We can't hear you at the back of the crowd

I will stand shoulder to shoulder with my French allies.

FBK

Black M
 

I believe "tete de noeud" is the French for "knobhead".

One learns something new every day on the Forum! Mike

A period commemorative plate made in April 1916 in France, when Petain was still a French hero.

Strange the things you find in west wales.

French stamps commemorating Verdun, throughout the years. Unfortunately, I haven't got the 2016 issue to post alongside.
GTB

Actually, an official Franco-German commemoration of the battle should be held today, while the stamp in question is due to be issued tomorrow.
GTB

Hell'O

Regardless of the controversial personality of Mr Black M / Alpha Diallo, the real question would be :

> To commemorate the death of 300,000 people, is it really relevant to organize a festive event of any kind whatsoever ???

open question ..........

Hi
I don't really think that this commemoration is meant to be treated as a 'festive event'. On the contrary, I look at it as a memorial service, a tribute to the death of a generation and meant to portray the futility of killing each other for an ideal. Verdun was just one in the list of charnel houses that comprised the Western Front. We look upon WW1 with different eyes - we have the benefit of belonging to a generation that wasn't conditioned by national hysterical patriotism. Thanks no doubt to the lamentations that came later, when each country counted its dead.
GTB

"conditioned by national hysterical patriotism"?

Clarifying the quoted phrase with a few lines in this post won't do justice. There is a plethora of written material on the subject.

Basically, the nations' young manhood was gripped by a wild enthusiasm to enlist and participate in this war. One only needs to take a look at photos of the throngs in the capital cities of the belligerents and read the reports in the papers when general mobilisation was declared. Hindsight shows that much frenzy, jubilation, xenophobia, patriotism, etc was whipped up as propaganda, but at the time this was all enthusiastically welcomed. From what I have read the period surrounding the outbreak of war wasn't a subdued experience, but a wild eagerness of the nation's youth to enlist. Disillusionment came later, as did the loss of innocence by those who believed that this would be a typical, short adventurous war.

GTB

And here is the philatelic souvenir of the Battle of Verdun together with its accompanying engraved stamp sheet, respectively showing the memorial and a devastated battlefield.

GTB