I was skimming through the internet on photos for the Battle of Verdun, but I found these set of pics instead which amazed me on how much is still preserved even after all these years.
Made me think of the stark reality on the horrible outcomes of war.
Here are two more videos about Verdun, and the memorial. The second is in German, but you can see a lot of the new memorial. And our French users can understand what the French interviewed persons say.
The French have invited the Germans to create the Memorial with them, or at least to make their own contributions, to show the whole of the terrible madness. And if we leave the leaders and governements aside for a moment, then we see that it must have been the same terrible hell for the common man on either side.
Inviting the Germans did not go undisputed - no wonder after all that had happened. But I find it makes hope, that old wounds may be healing over time. Like grass and trees are growing again, where abiotic craters of mud, water and & blood had been. Thank you, France, for opening your heart like that.
Vice-President of the BOC (Barmy OFFers Club) Member of the 'Albatros Aviators Club' - "We know how to die with Style!"
#4265208 - 05/29/1606:10 PMRe: OT 100 years since Battle of Verdun
[Re: OldHat]
The best exemple of the "Guerre des Mines" (Underground War) is the Butte de Vauquois (NW of Verdun). A village (Vauquois) stood here one century ago. Since, the village has been rebuilt south of the hill.
Photo from 1917:
The same place some years ago:
There is nine destroyed village in Verdun sector, "dead for France", still existing without a citizen. But a lot of villages has been destroyed during the great war, all over the front. Some has been rebuilt. Some not, like those were standing on nowadays Suippes army base. France has given their names to nearby villages, Souain became Souain-Perthe-lès-Hurlus for exemple.
