Short stop at Verdun

On the way to Reims, we stopped off at Verdun, WW1’s longest and costliest battle. The battle for Verdun began in February 1916 and continued until December 1916, 10 months (303 days!) of constant shelling and fighting. By the end of this battle more than 2.3 million soldiers would fight, and more than 300,000 would lose their lives.  And in the end, Verdun would remain part of France.

We stopped here to tour the WW1 museum and by accident came across Faubourg Pavè cemetery where 7 unknown soldiers are buried.  Here is why this is unique, it’s the story of how France selected the unknown soldier to be buried under the Arc de Triumph. On 10 November 1920, Soldat (Private) Auguste Thien was chosen to select which unknown soldier would be laid to rest in Paris.  8 coffins of unknown soldiers were gathered from around France and laid in the Verdun Citadel. Private Thien then selected the 6th coffin because his Regiment numbers added up to 6. The remaining 7 coffins were buried in a special plot in the center of the Faubourg Pavè military cemetery on the eastern outskirts of Verdun.

Site of the 7 Unknown Soldier graves

Since the tomb of the unknown soldier is under the arch of the Arc de Triumph, this has become sacred ground. It was even respected by the Nazi Army in 1940 during their victory march through Paris. They marched around the Arch, not through it. Each evening an eternal flame is lit in remembrance of the many unknown soldiers lost in war.

Trench art

Horse-drawn artillery

A few pics from the museum:

Supply truck

with steel and hard rubber wheels!

German field kitchen