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The bloodiest day in French history took place 109 years ago today...
Posted on 8/22/23 at 3:03 pm
Posted on 8/22/23 at 3:03 pm
August 22, 1914. The Battle of the Frontiers.
In the early weeks of the First World War, the French Army - under the leadership of Marshal Joseph Joffre - enacted Plan XVII, which called for a massive assault into the Franco-German border regions. Clad in bright-colored uniforms and marching in Napoleonic formations, tens of thousands of French soldiers met their end in some of the most horrific fighting of World War I.
German soldiers, entrenched on high ground and armed with machine guns and artillery, mowed down the endless columns of French troops as they advanced bravely toward the German positions.
Of these bloody days of August, none was bloodier than August 22. On this day in 1914, some 27,000 French soldiers would be killed in action - with the majority being killed in the Ardennes Forest - in fruitless frontline assaults for absolutely no gain. In fact, in just the first month of fighting, the French Army would lose nearly 330,000 men killed and wounded. The battles of August-October 1914 would be actions that the French would never truly recover from. But it was on August 22, 1914 - 109 years ago today - that the French truly had their blackest of days.
Map of the Battle of the Frontiers - August 1914
In the early weeks of the First World War, the French Army - under the leadership of Marshal Joseph Joffre - enacted Plan XVII, which called for a massive assault into the Franco-German border regions. Clad in bright-colored uniforms and marching in Napoleonic formations, tens of thousands of French soldiers met their end in some of the most horrific fighting of World War I.
German soldiers, entrenched on high ground and armed with machine guns and artillery, mowed down the endless columns of French troops as they advanced bravely toward the German positions.
Of these bloody days of August, none was bloodier than August 22. On this day in 1914, some 27,000 French soldiers would be killed in action - with the majority being killed in the Ardennes Forest - in fruitless frontline assaults for absolutely no gain. In fact, in just the first month of fighting, the French Army would lose nearly 330,000 men killed and wounded. The battles of August-October 1914 would be actions that the French would never truly recover from. But it was on August 22, 1914 - 109 years ago today - that the French truly had their blackest of days.
Map of the Battle of the Frontiers - August 1914
This post was edited on 8/22/23 at 3:04 pm
11
Posted on 8/22/23 at 3:05 pm to RollTide1987
27,000 in one day. US lost 68,000 total in Vietnam. That's just an astounding number.
Posted on 8/22/23 at 3:07 pm to RollTide1987
Had von Moltke sent Kluck and Bulow's armies on a wider swing towards the Channel, or not siphoned off their reserve divisions to the East, the world would be a very different place.
Posted on 8/22/23 at 3:13 pm to glassman
quote:
27,000 in one day. US lost 68,000 total in Vietnam. That's just an astounding number.
And considering that the bloodiest day in American history (September 17, 1862) saw 3,675 men killed in action, it gives you an idea of just how crazy big those numbers are.
Posted on 8/22/23 at 3:13 pm to Indefatigable
French military history is such a grab bag
Posted on 8/22/23 at 3:34 pm to glassman
The senselessness and tragedy of WWI is impossible to get your arms around. To this day, Europe hasn’t recovered.
Posted on 8/22/23 at 3:36 pm to RollTide1987
The only thing that keeps Europe at peace is its lack of manpower.
Posted on 8/22/23 at 3:37 pm to SloaneRanger
That’s why people are so ridiculous when they undermine the fighting spirit and toughness of the French. Americans can’t even fathom losing that many men in a day
They “rolled over” in WWII because they literally almost lost an entire generation worth of men to be able to fight
They “rolled over” in WWII because they literally almost lost an entire generation worth of men to be able to fight
This post was edited on 8/22/23 at 3:38 pm
Posted on 8/22/23 at 3:44 pm to RollTide1987
quote:
And considering that the bloodiest day in American history (September 17, 1862) saw 3,675 men killed in action,
But we won the Battle of Hiroshima 107,000 to 12.
Posted on 8/22/23 at 3:48 pm to RollTide1987
Blind Patriotism is such a fricked up thing.
Posted on 8/22/23 at 3:54 pm to SloaneRanger
Those are unbelievable numbers of dead. Amazing anyone on either side had enough able bodies by the end of that war.
On the other hand, if you were a dude and survived, it was a pretty good dating scene back home in Paris during the 20s.
On the other hand, if you were a dude and survived, it was a pretty good dating scene back home in Paris during the 20s.
This post was edited on 8/22/23 at 3:55 pm
Posted on 8/22/23 at 3:57 pm to RollTide1987
and our nation relied on a Frenchman to bring us a win in our war for independence
Posted on 8/22/23 at 3:58 pm to lsupride87
quote:
They “rolled over” in WWII because they literally almost lost an entire generation worth of men to be able to fight
How is this different from German losses in WWI? I agree with you that it is ridiculous to say the French "rolled over" because they are cowards or unwilling to fight. The French have had problems with mostly inept military and political leadership since Napoleon.
Posted on 8/22/23 at 3:59 pm to RollTide1987
People imagine WW1 as trench warfare but like 1/3 of the deaths happened in 1914 before the trench network was settled in. Case in point this post.
Posted on 8/22/23 at 4:03 pm to lsupride87
The US is very lucky to be between 2 oceans. Other countries in the world wars suffered casualty numbers that would be unfathomable to us today.
Posted on 8/22/23 at 4:03 pm to glassman
US lost 68,000 total in Vietnam.
—-58,000. First US soldier died in ‘59. He was from Baton Rouge. Last died in ‘75
—-58,000. First US soldier died in ‘59. He was from Baton Rouge. Last died in ‘75
Posted on 8/22/23 at 4:05 pm to cypresstiger
quote:
-58,000. First US soldier died in ‘59. He was from Baton Rouge. Last died in ‘75
That's even worse.
Posted on 8/22/23 at 4:07 pm to RPC4LSU
quote:I think the mindset of defending and “winning the first war”/ vs the mindset of being the aggressor and rallied around a reason like hitler brought into the Germans due to what the Allie’s levied on the Germans for losing the war makes a huge difference
How is this different from German losses in WWI?
Posted on 8/22/23 at 4:10 pm to RPC4LSU
quote:
The French have had problems with mostly inept military and political leadership since Napoleon.
This. Their leadership failed them badly in May-June 1940.
In all three wars they fought against Germany in the 70 years between 1870 and 1940, the French leadership made almost the same mistakes. Poor positioning, constantly tailoring doctrine towards the last war, ignoring intelligence, etc.
The BEF was basically the only reason WW1 didn't end with Germany encircling the French Army and taking Paris in a few weeks, as they did in 1870 and 1940.
This post was edited on 8/22/23 at 4:12 pm
Posted on 8/22/23 at 4:11 pm to lsupride87
quote:
I think the mindset of defending and “winning the first war”/ vs the mindset of being the aggressor and rallied around a reason like hitler brought into the Germans due to what the Allie’s levied on the Germans for losing the war makes a huge difference
There really wasn't anything wrong with the French Army in 1940, other than how it was led. They just got hit in the mouth and were too outflanked to recover.
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