Battles of the First World War Podcast

@ww1podcast

The Battles of the First World War Podcast connects the men & women who fought, died in, & survived the battles of the Great War of 1914-1918 to our world, and keeps their memory alive. Member @GreatWarGroup

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Battles of the First World War Podcast@ww1podcast· 13d

Of all of the incredible places and things that both I did on my own and with Mrs. BFWWP when she joined me, I think the most heartwarming was just hanging out with Roger, Rosie, and the great group of people that is the New Ypres League.

Battles of the First World War Podcast@ww1podcast· 13d

To help share and spread interest in WW1 the New Ypres League has issued a revised and updated recreation of the original Ypres League Map of the Ypres Salient. This fold-out map is a real treat, and if you're like me you will spend a good deal of time looking at it.

Battles of the First World War Podcast@ww1podcast· 19d

Hard to read in the sun, but from this tiny commune of 232 souls in 1911, 8 would die during the Great War of 1914-1918. The loss of these men must have been felt keenly in this small community. #wewillrememberthem #wwi #greatwar #premiereguerremondiale #firstworldwar #grandeguerre #worldwarone

Battles of the First World War Podcast@ww1podcast· 19d

While there I wondered if there was any WW1 connection here, and yes there was: in the tiny cemetery is Mont Saint-Michel’s Monument aux Morts.

Battles of the First World War Podcast@ww1podcast· 19d

A ways away from the WW1 battlefields, but still connected to them. Yesterday Mrs. BFWWP and I visited the famous Mont Saint-Michel abbey.

Battles of the First World War Podcast@ww1podcast· 21d

The break in the trees along the embankment is about where the famous photograph was taken. (Many years ago the embankments were reduced in size.) A small journey comes full circle, but because of it we speak his name: Jules Héme.

Battles of the First World War Podcast@ww1podcast· 21d

A small stone structure has been built to house a small plaque to Jules. “In memory of Sergent Jules Héme of the 359th Infantry Regiment and his comrades of the 49th and 297th Infantry Regiments who died for France on this road, on the 11th of June 1918.”

Battles of the First World War Podcast@ww1podcast· 21d

Hey Folks, This was not a journey I expected to make this year: I was able to visit the road where French Army Sergent Jules Héme died on 11th June, 1918. #wwi #greatwar #premiereguerremondiale #firstworldwar #grandeguerre #worldwarone #worldwar #ersteweltkrieg #thegreatwar #grandeguerra

Battles of the First World War Podcast@ww1podcast· 26d

US Marine Ming Fei happened to be visiting Belleau Wood while we were. Ming had previously served in 1-6 Marines & was making the pilgrimage. How lucky were we?!! We could watch an actual Marine drink from the fountain. #usmc #USMCHistory #devildog #americanexpeditionaryforce #aef #WW1 #ww1

Battles of the First World War Podcast@ww1podcast· 29d

Early morning walks through Ypres have been a great time to feel the morning chill and to think. Grateful to have the Menin Gate to myself for a moment on this morning’s stroll.

The Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium.

Early morning walks through Ypres have been a great time to feel the morning chill and to think.

Grateful to have the Menin Gate to myself for a moment on this morning’s stroll.

Battles of the First World War Podcast@ww1podcast· Jul 17

The Cloth Hall in Ypres is always a sight to behold. …So is the local brew. 😁

Battles of the First World War Podcast@ww1podcast· Jul 17

Part of bringing the Meuse-Argonne Offensive to life was opening a WW1 field dressing kit. What an experience getting to open this box and handle the contents packed nearly 110 years ago. #greatwar #premiereguerremondiale #firstworldwar #grandeguerre #worldwar #thegreatwar #doughboy #aef #WW1

Battles of the First World War Podcast@ww1podcast· Jul 16

This year we worked to make the Meuse-Argonne WW1 battlefield come alive for the guests. This repro German protective mask was part of that experience—and dang, it was not very comfortable. #ww1 #greatwar #firstworldwar

Battles of the First World War Podcast@ww1podcast· Jul 11

Our tour brought us to La Sartelle Farm, where US Marines of the AEF’s 2nd Division staged in order to cross the River Meuse on 10th November 1918. This is an important site that few know about, and even fewer visit. #ww1

Battles of the First World War Podcast@ww1podcast· Jul 10

A short article written for the Doughboy Foundation brought us into contact and friendship with Alfons Philippi, the German gentleman in the middle. (Read the alt text)

Battles of the First World War Podcast@ww1podcast· Jul 7

A set of stairs in the Vauquois tunnels. These are on the German side.

Battles of the First World War Podcast@ww1podcast· Jul 7

Working our way through the tunnels underground.

Battles of the First World War Podcast@ww1podcast· Jul 6

Entering the German tunnels at Vauquois.

Battles of the First World War Podcast@ww1podcast· Jul 5

Crossing the craters from the French trenches to the German ones.

Battles of the First World War Podcast@ww1podcast· Jul 5

An idea of the dim light inside the Vauquois tunnels. #ww1

Battles of the First World War Podcast@ww1podcast· Jul 4

The Ossuary on the Verdun battlefield.

Battles of the First World War Podcast@ww1podcast· Jul 4

In the German front lines near Bois des Caures.

Battles of the First World War Podcast@ww1podcast· Jul 2

We came across an interesting piece of UXO (unexploded ordnance): a French trench mortar shell known as a “Crapouillot” by the Poilus (it references a toad).

Battles of the First World War Podcast@ww1podcast· Jun 30

Bunker hunting on the Côte de Chàtillon this afternoon. This is on the back side of the hill fought for so desperately by the Doughboys of the 42d “Rainbow” Division.

Battles of the First World War Podcast@ww1podcast· Jun 28

A Sunday brocante in Samogneux, France. For folks in the US, our equivalent to a brocante is a flea market (hopefully that’s not just a northern name for it).

Battles of the First World War Podcast@ww1podcast· Jun 28

Sunday morning at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery in Romagne-sous-Montfaucon. Grateful to be the only one here at the time, it allowed me to be quiet and take in the weight of this beautiful but tragic garden of peace. #wwi #greatwar #premiereguerremondiale #firstworldwar

Battles of the First World War Podcast@ww1podcast· Jun 27

The map belowshows GEN Charles Mangin’s French 10th Army shaping operations conducted from 28th June 1918 until the German offensive began on 15th July. Source: Armees Francaises dans La Grande Guerre

The map above shows GEN Charles Mangin’s French 10th Army shaping operations conducted from 28th June 1918 until the German offensive began on 15th July.

Source: Armees Francaises dans La Grande Guerre

Battles of the First World War Podcast@ww1podcast· Jun 19

New episode is out! Talking The War To End All Wars, New Jersey's Role in World War One with LTC (Ret.) Richard Wasserman A concise history revealing New Jersey’s vital industrial, military, and civilian contributions to America’s World War I effort.

New Jersey’s Role in World War I - with LTC (Ret.) Richard Wasserman

***Technical note: My apologies on the audio reverb that may be heard in this episode.

A concise history revealing New Jersey’s vital industrial, military, and civilian contributions to America’s World War I effort.

During World War I, New Jersey played a prominent role in the manufacturing of war-related munitions, created the infrastructure necessary to train and mobilize troops, and supplied a portion of the manpower necessary to fight overseas.

Without the support of New Jersey’s industrial base, the war effort of the United States may very well have failed. Contributions from New Jersey ranged from artillery rounds from Amatol, fuses from Bloomfield, shells from Lyndhurst, gun carriages (Singer), aircraft engines (Duesenberg), Handley Page Bombers from Elizabeth, and ship building (New York Shipbuilding and ELCO).

Over 140,000 New Jerseyans served during the war, and the state was home to 38 military installations by the end of the war, including Camp Dix. Troops from New Jersey included National Guard units activated and assigned to the 29th Division that trained at Camp McClellan, Alabama, and National Army soldiers (draftee) assigned to the 78th Division that trained at Camp Dix. New Jersey-based units from the 29th and 78th Infantry Divisions would fight in the Meuse-Argonne offensive. Women, too, underwent training in New Jersey, in preparation to serve in the Army Signal Corps, while women from the state volunteered to serve with aid organizations including the Red Cross, and raised money for the war effort.

Where to buy: https://www.brooklinebooks.com/9781955041478/the-war-to-end-all-wars/

Battles of the First World War Podcast@ww1podcast· Jun 11

Photo 3 of the series of 4 mentioned in the episode. This photo is the subject of the episode. Alt text has a longer description. I was unable to locate Photo 4 of the set.

“The photograph was taken in a sunken lane, and to me what caught my eye immediately was the Poilu looking back at the camera. He is a bit hunched over, dressed in his Casque Adrian helmet, wearing his long coat and carrying some of his web gear. He’s looking back at the camera wearily, and you could imagine he was wondering what someone was doing taking photographs at a time like then. Because a second after I saw him my eyes widened out to take in the rest of the photograph.

The sunken lane is a scene of horror. To the left or right of the Poilu, depending on how the photo was printed, amongst gear of all sorts lay four or five dead Frenchmen piled like broken dolls along the road embankment. The Poilu looking at the camera–look at his feet and you see another pair of boots by his side. Another dead Poilu. Further down the road a group of four or five Poilus stand against the embankment, with one looking up at the sky. Just beyond them you can see the legs of other dead Frenchmen. Across from this group another dead Frenchman lays on the other side of the road.

By now your eye should be picking up a strange lump at the bottom of the photograph, and here is the true horror of it. In the foreground of the photo, away from the embankment and in the road, lies another dead French soldier. He is on his back, with his facial features, his closed eyes, his mustache, and his hand clearly visible. It is also clearly visible that both of his legs have been brutally severed at the upper thighs, and a closer look shows that the ground near the stumps of his legs has been soaked dark with blood.”

Photo credit: https://forum.pages14-18.com/viewtopic.php?t=6535

Battles of the First World War Podcast@ww1podcast· Jun 11

Photo 2 of the series of 4 mentioned in the episode. Alt text has a longer description.