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| Memorial to the Four Corporals at Suippes, Champagne |
In the Champagne sector in 1915, four corporals in the French Army were shot by firing squad as an example to the rest of their companies during the First World War. The executions, which occurred in the vicinity of Souain on 17 March 1915, are considered to be the most egregious and most publicized military injustice during World War I in France. The events inspired the 1957 American anti-war film Paths of Glory.
Wikipedia has an excellent in-depth article translated from a French piece here:
Louis Victor François Girard, aged 28, born 2 October 1886, in Blainville, clockmaker,
living in Paris, 17th Arrondissement, married, one child
living in Paris, 17th Arrondissement, married, one child
Lucien Auguste Pierre Raphaël Lechat, aged 23, born 22 April 1891, in Ferré, Ille-et-Vilaine,
waiter in a cafe in Vitré, single
waiter in a cafe in Vitré, single
Louis Albert Lefoulon, aged 30, born 17 August 1884, in Condé-sur-Vire, Manche, railway worker, living with a partner, one child
Théophile Maupas, aged 40, born 3 Jun3 1874, in Montgardon, Manche,
worked in the town hall in Chefresne, married, two children
worked in the town hall in Chefresne, married, two children
I think it would be more accurate to say the events inspired Humphrey Cobb to write his novel, that was later made into the Kubrick film. (Which, incidentally, I highly recommend if you can get over the slightly discordant sight of Kirk Douglas playing the part of a French officer!)
ReplyDelete"On hearing that the troops were refusing to attack, General Réveilhac ordered his divisional artillery to bombard their positions to force them out of their trenches. "
ReplyDelete(Good point, Brian. How is the novel?)