French Poilu 1914-18 (warrior)
by Ian Sumner /
2009 / English / PDF
15 MB Download
'Why,' the Kaiser enquired of Czar Nicholas in 1913, did he wish to
ally himself with France when 'the Frenchman is no longer capable
of being a soldier?' Indeed, during World War I (1914-1918) the
French Army was in a state of disarray, plagued by indiscipline,
mutinies and desertion. The ordinary French citizens that were
called upon to defend their motherland, the
'Why,' the Kaiser enquired of Czar Nicholas in 1913, did he wish to
ally himself with France when 'the Frenchman is no longer capable
of being a soldier?' Indeed, during World War I (1914-1918) the
French Army was in a state of disarray, plagued by indiscipline,
mutinies and desertion. The ordinary French citizens that were
called upon to defend their motherland, thePoilu,
Poilu, were
disrespected and demoralized, and the infamous mutinies of 1917 by
the
were
disrespected and demoralized, and the infamous mutinies of 1917 by
thePoilu
Poilu were not protests against the war itself, but
against how the war was conducted. The rebellions sent a stark
warning, forcing a reform in the management of the war.
Consequently, the performance of many French regiments improved and
the
were not protests against the war itself, but
against how the war was conducted. The rebellions sent a stark
warning, forcing a reform in the management of the war.
Consequently, the performance of many French regiments improved and
thePoilu
Poilu went on to become the only European troops to
fight the entire war within their own borders. Ian Sumner expertly
charts the history of the
went on to become the only European troops to
fight the entire war within their own borders. Ian Sumner expertly
charts the history of thePoilu
Poilu, from the conscription of
hundreds of thousands of men, through their training, to the
horrors of the trenches and the fear of no-man's land, providing a
fascinating insight into the events that led to the 1917 revolts.
New artwork and diagrams illustrate the experiences of the soldiers
as the comforts of civilian life were stripped away from them and
the trenches became their homes.
, from the conscription of
hundreds of thousands of men, through their training, to the
horrors of the trenches and the fear of no-man's land, providing a
fascinating insight into the events that led to the 1917 revolts.
New artwork and diagrams illustrate the experiences of the soldiers
as the comforts of civilian life were stripped away from them and
the trenches became their homes.