A dismounted unteroffizier from 3. Badisches Dragoner-Regiment Prinz Karl Nr.22 reconnoiters the terrain ahead of the advancing infantry.
Photo source – ✠ drakegoodman ✠ on Flickr
Aleksander’s Book Corner
Last time we looked at the initial impressions of Ulanen-Regiment König Wilhelm I. (2. Württembergisches) Nr. 20. of the Eastern Front. This Sundays account will be about a patrol deployment in September. They encounter French Cuirassiers as well as alleged civilian resistance. In my study of regimental histories it appears that the Germans were quick to suspect Franc-Tireur activity. A haunting legacy of the Franco-Prussian War.
On September 2. 1914 the troopers were deployed on a patrol near Varennes.
“At daybreak patrols are deployed to locate the enemy forces. As we approach Fléville under the great heat we come under fire within the first hour. We make way into a dense forest to the east. We come into contact with French Cuirassiers on patrol. As we pursue them with roaring hurrahs several of the enemy horses are falling at a slippery path. Two troopers dashed into nearby bushes leaving their horses behind with their knees out of joint. Our pursuit led us out of the forest where we came across a French cavalry squadron who had made a halt near the village of Sommerance. We were separated by wire fences, and the French troopers stared at us for a moment. Some dismounted Uhlans fired their carbines into the enemy which promptly rode off, leaving our way to the north open.
Now it was our turn to dash away. After some time, we came across the Lupin Patrol, and soon after that a German cavalry division, whose officer we had co-operated with several times that morning. We halt at a deserted village for a lunch break before resuming our reconnaissance of Fléville. Heavy artillery fire force us to leave the roads. Nearby French soldiers were crossing a stream. As we moved closer to the bridge shrapnel started bursting above us. The artillery fire kept following us but eventually we managed to shake it off. At last we link with the regiment in the evening after spending much time searching.
The next day at 4.15 p.m. we advance along the road of the southern bank of the Aire. Our regiment is tasked with providing security on the right flank. Lieutenant Bopp faced his heroic death on this deployment together with Uhlan Haas. It is beyond doubt that both of them unsuspectingly passed field workers who then drew rifles from the sheaves of grain and fired at the patrol.
How easy it would have been for our troopers to pierce them with our lances or shoot them beforehand. But, since according to international law, it is only allowed to engage the armed forces of our enemy we complied. The French on the other hand forgive any breach of good faith if it is done for the sake of their fatherland. Thousands of good German soldiers have fallen victim to this difference in worldview.”