ri315e.bsky.social
Follow my daily tweets and follow in the footsteps of my Gt Grandfather and other 315e RI soldiers 1914-1917 ⚔️ #frontlinefriday #315eRI
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If you want to find out more, we go into more detail here on @ww1podcast.bsky.social podcast
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Petain is now in charge, recovering from illness
Yes, he brings a stable hand and puts in place the rotation of troops which is vital for moral
Do not forget, which Captain had a direct phoneline to Petain: Capt Doumenc
Who selected Petain & his staff to do the job: De Castelnau
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27th February - De Castelnau leaves Verdun and is his biography notes
“by 27th Feb, situation is stable enough, whilst having fixed the parameters of how this battle will be fought"
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Castelnau runs the Verdun defence, puts in place 4 key decisions
a. Defence of Verdun on the right bank of the meuse, no retreat at all costs
b. Centralise the command under Petain
c. Organsies a resistance line around villages and forts in the area
d. Gen Herr moved aside …. For being a bit tired
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Interesting side note, De Castelnau & Petain have previous, after a run in at 2nd Champagne, where Petain had delayed the attack, plus ignored advice which turned out to be crucial.
De Castelnau learnt from his and made sure everything he gave Petain were direct orders!
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Unofficially, he is selected because his Staff are loyal and known by De Castelnau and because Petain is the perfect scapegoat if Verdun goes wrong ....
WHAT! yes Petain was an outsider compared to many and would have been perfect person to pin the blame on!
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24th in the evening Petain selected by De Castelnau, (not by Joffre) to be put in charge of Verdun defence!
So why?
Its interesting topic & not enough space. Officially Petain is selected because he is seen to be calm under pressure, but above all be a details focused General
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First and importantly De Castelnau decides he needs to go to Verdun.
-He informs Joffre he is going - how this conversation plays out is debated.
-de Castelnau feels the need for leadership on the ground and troops need to see a senior officer - like Napoleon 100 years before
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Herr 📸and Lange de Cary are by now alarmed at the situation
24th Feb a crucial day for Petain, not because he was with his mistress in Paris...... but because it would change his career and French history
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-19th Feb: Created the Commission Regulatrice Automobile
Obj to move: 12,000 men & 2000 tons of good a day
-22nd Feb: Road was up and running and supplying Verdun
Still no Petain at this point, Battle is being run by Gen Herr who is now at breaking point and overwhelmed
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19th Feb and even the day before was another very niche decision, but one that exposes a Petain myth that he set it up
-18th Feb: Captiane Doumenc was put in charge of traffic logistics along a road from 'bar le duc to Verdun' Later known as: the Voie Sacree
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Lucky for the French the battle is delayed until 21st February, which gives the French more time.
19th February: next crucial decision
- 20e Corp sent to Verdun who play a pivotal role in stopping the Germans on the 25th Feb
Who sent them? Petain, no. It was De Castelnau
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Worth remembering Joffre📸 was never convinced by Verdun being the target, even post war!
-Even a couple of days before the battle Joffre told Haig, Verdun is not the main target
Wheels are now at least in motion... to start preparing Verdun (all be it slowly)
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What comes out of the visit
1. Pass RFV over to Army Centre (de Cary📸)
2. Order work to be done on right bank defences, plus add support positions on slopes
3. Tells commanders to reduce number of soldiers in frontlines
4. 2 new division sent to Verdun to help with work & 15 new artillery groups
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20th January 1916
-De Castelnau visits, where multiple decisions were made, but for me it was crucial for 2 reasons:
1. First it meant that somebody senior is taking the rumours now seriously (Joffre was not)
2. it got a senior officer on the ground
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Start of the Battle, even before it starts Petain is nowhere to be seen....
Did he go to Verdun in January to review defences? No
If this visit had not happened, Verdun would have never held long enough for the Petain story to happen.
What happened on 20th January 1916?
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First lets get it straight, there is no one saviour of Verdun, it is not: Petain, Nivelle, Mangin, De Castelnau, Driant, Herr, Doumenc etc
Its a collection of individuals, which is where Petain narrative post 1920s have taken over the reality and credited him with others work
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Ok - Below 🧵 means the thread below (donc le text) - if i had meant the photo I would have put 📸
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Je sais que je n'ai jamais dit que c'était le cas
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Thanks glad you liked it 👍
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14th February at 8h00
Eugen Joseph Albaud was shot at Chaudefontaine
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Verdict on 21st January was unanimous
Remarkably during his time in the army he spent 108 days in prison for his various offences ...
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Head of 315e RI Col Devaux had enough and a trial started
Head of 14e Compagnie LTN Chenal character description says a lot .....
Albaud simply was a "bad soldier" and a "with a violent character"
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20th January 1916 - straw that broke Camels back!
-Stealing food reserved for the next day
-6 litres of wine
-Causing a disturbance at night 3am
-Assaulting a Sergent and threating others with a rifle
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Albaud is then moved to the 23e Compagnie (cie) due to the risk he posed to that cie soldiers...
On 25th Sept 1915, did not take part in offensive due to “illness – bronchitus” on the 23rd September.
Then again on the 8th December 1915. Where he is then moved to the 14e Compagnie
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Now, things started to get out of hand and his record is going catch up with him:
6th Sept - Stealing
20th Sept - Attacked violently a fellow solider for no reason.
In addition insulted his 20e cie officer LTN Poliniere after stating
“he was making the compagnie stupid”
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But his Service Record is being generous in missing ....
2nd Feb 1915 - Drunk and throw his Kepi away (8 days)
Same day - arguing (extra 4 days)
15th March - missing roll call in the morning, reappeared at 17hrs (8 days)
Did he change after his 6th stay in Prison? No
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So no surprise when he was called up to the Army that drama would follow him!
21st May 1915: Abandoning his Post - sentenced to 5 years in prison, was reduced on appeal to 60 days in prison.
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One of these men was from 315e RI
Eugen Albaud shot 14th February 1916
Born 27th August 1880, at Keriado in the Morbihan
Pre-war would work around the country as a waiter
His pre-war Criminal Report was colourful....
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Firstly what is fusillé pour l'exemple?
French military phrase for a soldier executed after a decision by a military court. It literal sense means to be shoot as an example, a way to remind troops in stay in a state of obedience.
During the war 694 soldiers were shot
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I got out at midnight I took up position in the sap until 7am, how cold we were, it is unbelievable especially on our feet, 7 hours without moving our feet in the water and snow and I will have to start again tonight...."
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Indeed - costly period for
Both nations between March and November 1918