Written by René Piegard Translated by Portia Craig August 17, 1916 Dear papa, In the letter that I wrote to mama, I told her how happy we were to find ourselves all in one piece, after the odds of that happening were so against us, thanks to a piece of metal. Finding ourselves alive seems crazy:…Continue Reading Lettre à papa
Written by Maurice Maréchal Translated by Lydia Gilliam Sunday, September 27, 1914 Oh, it’s long and monotonous and depressing. We’ve been staying in a place for fifteen days already. In 1870, as much as I remember, there were formidable battles where the armies would truly bash into one another with dedication! We talk everyday about…Continue Reading Carnet de guerre de Maurice Maréchal
Written by Paul Perin Translated by Elda Hricko From the start of the attack, the 165th Infantry Regiment was sent to the inferno, the Caures woods, to try to hold back the German divisions moving forward one against ten. Several years after the battle, the soldier Paul Perin relives his traumatic experience of the pounding…Continue Reading Carnet de guerre de Paul Perin
Written by Raoul Pinat Translated by Anna Mykytyn War diary April 22nd, 1917 The dugout collapsed. There are still living soldiers under it. Despite the bombing, I run to search for my pickaxe at the bottom of my pile of clothes and, between two salvos, I run toward the dugout. Lepeule takes a shovel. Hurrying,…Continue Reading Carnet de guerre de Raoul Pinat
Written by Marcel Garrigues Translated by Alexandra Quental Saturday July 31, 1915 My dear wife, I would’ve liked to write to you yesterday, but I was so tired and my head was a mess, that I did not have the strength to take care of it. I’m going to tell you some details of the…Continue Reading Lettre à sa femme
From Bataille de Verdun Written by Lucien Gissinger Translated by Rachel Tate March 3 (1914) 3 o’clock threat. Departure immediately to the 75 forces. We fear a German attack and we wait if need be. After an hour of waiting, we change location; we will occupy the right-most wood (La Caillette). These woods are significantly…Continue Reading From Bataille de Verdun
Written by Charles-René Menard Translated by Evelyn Atwood Charles-René Menard was an architect from Nantes. He was 42 years old when the armistice happened. Of poor health and a father of three daughters, he had been mobilized in 1914 in the auxiliary service, but had not yet been sent to the front. When he…Continue Reading Lettre de Charles-René Menard
From A Woman in the Fray Written by Marcelle Capy Translated by Khandi Garraway After moving for thirty hours, the train stops in the concourse of the station. The travelers leave the train cars as parcels pile up in mountains on the platform, which soon offers a most colorful sight. Seated on their suitcases, on carts…Continue Reading Refugees
Written by Colette Translated by Kara Dobrolsky March 1915 “The bombing began immediately and without prior warning. One quarter, left unscathed, was pillaged and burned with oil. An old woman was looking after her paralytic husband there; they chased her with the butts of their rifles and set the bed of the ill man on…Continue Reading The Same Ones
Written by Léon Hugon Translated by Jamie Fesinstine Wounded by shrapnel during the first battle of the Marne on September 9, 1914, Léon Hugon was sent to the hospital at Tulle, where he died of tetanus on September 22, 1914, the day of his wife’s 25th birthday, Sylvanie, who was left alone with a small…Continue Reading Lettre du soldat Léon Hugon
From In Slavery: The Journal of Two Deportees Published by Henriette Celarié Translated by Brandy Shrawder with help from Dr. Lynn Palermo “Hickel put his plan into effect. Nearly every day, under the pretext of making his rounds, he comes to the Hamlet of V, and, frequently, he comes to ‘Chalet lillois.’ “As soon as I…Continue Reading Hickel’s Visits
Written by Désiré Edmond Renault Translated by Amanda DuCharme The son of a laundress and a laborer, Désiré Edmond Renault was born May 12, 1891 in Esmans, in the Montereau section in Seine-et-Marne. He was a baker and was mobilized for his military service for three years. Then, during the war, he was a member…Continue Reading Lettres du soldat Désiré Edmond Renault