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On 23 August 1914, the village of Arrancy-sur-Crusnes, with its remarkable geographical location, was encircled by German forces, which forced the French regiments to retreat gradually towards Constantine. The 12th Reserve Division, under the orders of General Herr, took up a defensive position and attacked the village at dawn on 24 August, under heavy artillery fire.
"From dawn, we were showered with projectiles and suffered heavy losses," reported a French soldier.
After fierce hand-to-hand fighting, the German forces entered Arrancy-sur-Crusnes at around midday. This terrible day saw 700 soldiers from both sides lose their lives on the battlefield. At 1 pm, the order was given to retreat, as the fighting moved further south. This battle is commemorated by an isolated memorial in the fields. Over 250 French soldiers are buried in the military cemetery.
On 27 August 1914, the Montmédy garrison, with its 2300 men, was ordered by General Joffre to leave the citadel and return to Verdun. On the morning of 28 August, most of the men were in the forest of Woëvre, near Mouzay. Patrols sent towards the south then received word that the detachment was facing significant German forces.
On the night of 28 - 29 August, the soldiers met a large German contingent in the woods of Brandeville. The decision was taken to attack on 29 August.
This marked the start of the battle. Initially, the surprise effect enabled the French to inflict heavy losses on the Germans, 600 of whom lost their lives. But the Germans very quickly recovered and the battle ended in tragedy for the French. About 600 "red trousers" died in action and approx. 900 more were taken prisoner, under harsh conditions at the castle of Ingolstadt in Bavaria.
On 22 August, the fighting raged on. The 151st Infantry Regiment sent the 1st Battalion into the woods of Doncourt and the 3rd battalion into the woods of Goémont and Grand-Champ. The 151st Regiment faced three German Infantry Regiments alone. The 162nd Infantry Regiment then advanced in support of the 151st Regiment and took up its position between Pierrepont and the woods of Grand-Champ. Artillery soldiers from both sides spent part of the morning firing at each other without achieving a great deal. However, a German column was halted in its attempt to leave the woods of Doncourt from the south. Despite being supported by their artillery, the enemy forces ground to a halt: the infantrymen began to run out of ammunition and the mortars fired on their own lines, inflicting heavy losses. The Germans still managed to take the north fringe of the woods of Grand-Champ. The heavy artillery joined the battle late in the afternoon. The French gunners fired from Beuveille, while their German counterparts bombarded them from Jalaumont. The French soldiers held the woods of Goémont and the west part of the woods of Grand-Champ.
Late in the afternoon, the German forces retreated to the hills of Laix and Baslieux, while the French units withdraw towards the Meuse.
This battle was conclusive. 800 French soldiers died on the Grand-Champ plain alone. Over 200 of them were laid to rest at the necropolis, which still stands. In Pierrepont, two cemeteries, one French and one German, bear further witness to the murderous insanity of the First World War.
The village of Ethe was the tragic scene of one of the bloodiest battles of 22 August 1914. A French division found itself cornered by the enemy in the village, with one enemy division coming from the north, while a brigade advanced from the east. Before they were fully surrounded, the French managed to escape during the night. But 300 civilians and the same number of French prisoners were executed in Ethe, Gomery and Latour. Many different memorials still bear witness to this day.
Witness account of a soldier called Berty (Bulletin de l'Amicale des Anciens combattants des 155e et 355e RI, N° 231):
"Early in the morning on 22 August, [...] my company was positioned under artillery cover on the road between Joppécourt and Fillières, close to the hamlet of Ville-au-Montois. I am a liaison officer [...]. I could clearly make out the small groups of Germans in combat formation [...] Every time they made a move, they were greeted by our artillery soldiers, who did a marvellous job. The enemy artillery then took up its position to the right of Fillières. Our look-out [...] waited for their first salvo. [...] He ordered us to fire explosive shells 1700 metres. [...] In less than one minute, the German artillery was falling apart, [...] the cannons were silent. As we continued with our task, the tops were blown off the two bell towers opposite (Ville-au-Montois and Fillières), which the Germans had been using as a look-out post. They were then burned down. [...] Unfortunately, we were running out of shells and the German infantry was still advancing. [...] The Germans had arrived at the cemetery in Joppécourt and we had received the order to retreat. We did so with a heavy heart and dragged our feet, because we wanted to carry on fighting ...".
Shortly after war was declared, the fighting between France and Germany entered into its active phase at Mangiennes on 10 August 1914. The population was preparing for the harvest. It was in no doubt that the outskirts of the village were about to become the scene of the region's first significant military engagement.
Terrible clashes took place throughout the day, but proved inconclusive. At 6.45 pm, however, the German army stalled.
The German cemetery, which has 3,332 bodies in individual graves and 358 others in an ossuary, bears witness to this day, when the soldiers were first exposed to the horrors of the battlefield.
On the way out of the village, a memorial stone was erected in honour of the 130th Infantry Regiment and the courage of the men that fell in the first few days of fighting.
From 3 August 1914, when war was declared, the first few weeks of fighting unfolded in various stages in the Spincourt sector.
On 24 August, the area around Spincourt was in flames, following the attack on the village of Arrancy and its surrounding area, which were held by the 12th Infantry Division. At about 1 pm, the German forces overcame any French resistance and the 12th Infantry Division retreated to Pillon. On the Nouillonpont-Spincourt front, the 42nd Infantry Division was attacked around midday. It received the order to withdraw to Nouillonpont at about 4 pm. At the same time, the 54th Reserve Division held the Spincourt-Gouraincourt axis, while the 67th Reserve Division focused on the Éton-Rouvres front. Under pressure and heavy fire from the German artillery, the French divisions pulled back and the entire French 3rd Army had retreated to the other side of the river Loison by 25 August. On 26 August, following orders from headquarters, it withdrew to the hills above the Meuse, thus leaving the entire canton of Spincourt in German hands for over four years.
The agenda is an invaluable tool and will help you organise your weekends during the Great War centenary year. It will also enable you to take part in free commemorative and festive events, by providing you with an exclusive à la carte programme!
After the Great War, which began 100 years ago, all that remained of this region were battlefields and destroyed villages. In the same place, you will now find idyllic landscapes and picturesque villages. In order to help you visit the region, the CHEMINS DE MEMOIRE project has developed 10 CIRCUITS, ranging from 35 - 80 km. As you pass along the trails, information points will help you find out more about the special and little known history of the Battle of the Frontiers.
You can pick up a free map from the region's tourist offices.