European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 21, 1966, Darmstadt, Hesse 50th anniversary of big Battle where half a million died German or Tillery fires the full idol a the Hovie a barrage the world Hod known left01 French defend Dert of Verdun Crouch in their trenches i right. A iat Wuchte Stoh writer in hey shall not pull 1 dared mum Ota. Later mar Abai heart pulp a a turn hit German Verdun in flashy world Atayean Moat tempted to nip tort War 1 pin a Surprise attack at t u .m., feb. , Laud us Batuta of Verdun we pfc was to involve some 1 million Ata of a Acabie Nerer before known. It my Over a Iten Are Mue area a around that became naked Willi the bks of German and ii7.nrreoch soldiers who died there. It Taus declaration became the cry of frenchmen crouched in the mud of hellhole and trenches. The German army did not pen through ver Dun though it came within i Miles of the City nod pounded buildings to nibble with artillery ire. Verdun adopted the slogan for i Nutof arms and a Monument to the 40th Dir on the Ummil of Mort Lomme also bean petals s words the feb. 21 attack should nut have been a Surprise. In december ills. Mar Shal Joffre group commander of the ranch in and 2nd armies reportedly a told of the impending wan Busy with plans Lor the Allied offensive along the Somme injury and shrugged of the report. On feb. Ii when the attack Rumon we repressed on i attention or predicted a the Fierman Lake the offensive atall. It will be against the a on Larrr. Who commanded the ver Dun Garrison was t so complacent lie Hud seven divisions and two territorial brigades in the line with one division in Reserve and his defensive forces we redeploy de Between the 2nd army in the Argonne and the it army to the Eam into Ever. Occupying four definitive parallel lines. Ito Uffit. Lac or did t like the Fik t thai Only Una line of full fun nil. Tuo Many of had Burti Damril o preparing for the big Iii Nair push. Lerr prom spa fur More troops and finally won tin in inn Muir Ray in time. Us a let Iun were diverted fro the Somme. Iron Mil it the Verlun Forl on feb. M. Just one Day before the Maive German attack. Weather also Tare the French defender a break. The attack bad orld Nally been Schrul or feb. 11 but wan postponed by Heary rain and has. The German of Ensline opened with in heaviest artillery bombardment known to that time r or nine hours. A rain of hell or red on the i mlle front from it min in behind the lines although the thu haul of Verdu was Frocht by French and americans med the fray Kim Baton us untied state declared War in neb american Jamea u. Soon a of Tucson. Aria., was one Ofii balance Drivers with the american Field sen Tea in the Verdun area he recounts some of a experiences during the sum Mer and autumn when the French were la inc round lost to the German army. I worked in the sector known then Rook Edwards Mil and Jowes m. Spongale were decorated. As Kli or . Hois Chapel re. A t i front of forts Michel. Soul Lar and Tavonne. We arrived at Dugnay june 2and immediately started evacuating wounded rum the dressing stations. Wounded would be loaded in the Ambujam is the Drivers would wend their Wuy Down the Hill through Verdu where the noise of exploding shells would Echo and re Cho from Bank to Bank then num Bellemont. Through dug by to the sorting Hospital at Lan Recourt. This trip ttys is night with no lights aided at Lemr by slur shells blinded by flashing Butir Treft of artillery aver Nar Road Here Drivers dodged rals inns. Trucks artillery and Trump Movin we d no Back through it All. Try ing to dial ii shells and Snell hour Lopick up another Toad Over and Over again until Dawn. To reach the posts near to Ivanor. Drivers went past cab Aret fio Ujke and passed no end of Bat teries of 71t we could look right Down the minzies then we enl up through u Miter Able area a dead Forest with Many teaches always shells exploding i shiver to think of that eerie ride Day Fon aulk was billeted for a tune at chateau or Lulu Anont. At Mut i Miles from Verdun or and mrs. Hubert Gott Fried and to Brit daughter. Barbara now occupy this Nils outlined 1s comptroller at Verdun liar non. They met spun Alvfuton last september when on leave. This was the most usurious Billet thud Ever slept in. It was in excellent condition at the time with Only a few pock Marks and Shell fragments and still had a Little Glass in the windows. Occasionally. Jerry would Shell the read and at limes or diversion would lob a new in around the chateau but we never Hud a direct hit. From the chateau Gate we could Aee Michel and Souville forts. During the Day. We could watch big ones trying a Bridges and strategic spots. We could see Many observation balloons from Bat sides watch Aerial activity Dot Fulghu. And anti aircraft fir the original Lafay rile a quadrille operated Hen their hangars were near bar Akkad was sent up front in Daylight by Donkey according to Sponagle. The donkeys ignored Shell lire and one Soldier could keep track of Volunteer americans served As driven of ambulances donated and maintained by hundreds of american individuals on if fraternal orders and other groups. Up Smikle re ailed. Our unit was composed Ofvolun Teer american ambulance driven an american chief assistant and Deputy French personnel which included Cooks clerks mess sergeant Gas and Oil suppl men and Twu Mechanic helpers All under u French lieutenant. Spunagle later attended French offi cers school and was graduated in May 1117 with a provisional communion. October 1117. Bis . Commission a first lieutenant came through . February 11. Stam and stems it
