Incidents of friendly artillery fire in August 1914
Aleksander’s Book Corner
Incidents of friendly artillery fire in August 1914
In this blog post we will have a look at incidents of friendly artillery fire in the early battles of the war, before the commencement of trench warfare. The reason I became aware of it and want to write about it is that it has been mentioned quite often in German regimental histories. One would initially think that it would not be a big problem to distinguish between French and German soldiers.
Due to the increased range and accuracy of arms the artillery was forced to deploy at much greater distances than in the past. This meant that during the war of maneuver in the opening weeks of the war, they did not always have the precise knowledge of where the troops where located. And as battles raged, and positions were either seized or lost during its course, the initial reports of both enemy and their own troops locations became dated. During these early war engagements both sides mistakenly fired upon their own troops. Officer deputy Massenkeil of the 7th Company narrated an episode of friendly fire during the Battle of Bertrix, August 22 1914.
“With hurrahs, drums and bugles, we charged forward; the artillery on both sides intensified their fire. It was a deafening noise. We entered the field of fire of our own rapidly firing artillery. Shouts to the rear demanded a cessation of fire. We were right next to the enemy. Then shrapnel burst close above us. The air pressure threw us to the ground. The terrible screams of those around me still rings in my ears. I lost consciousness for a moment. The shards had rained down on a densely filled assault formation. A shrapnel shard had gone through my right cheek as I shouted ‘Hurrah’ and got caught in my right upper arm.”
Another such incident occuret on August 20 1914, near Sionviller. The French were retreating disorganized and in great haste towards Lunsville. Colonel Hoet of Infanterie-Regiment Graf Barfuß (4. Westf.) Nr. 17 wrote about what happened:
“A a company of the 31st division on our right advanced full of bravery when suddenly they were struck by shells from our own artillery. The men threw themselves on the ground to take cover. As the firing continued, they started to fall back. Then they came under what can only be described as a hail of shrapnel and shell fire. The artillery mistook them for being advancing French troops and thus increased the rate of fire… I waved the flag backwards to indicate to our artillery to stop firing on our own troops. But it was of no use as the firing continued.”
It may be considered strange that German gunners mistook their own men for advancing French soldiers, dressed as they were in field-grey and not blue greatcoats and red trousers. However obvious this may be at a short range, at longer distances this difference became more blurred to the observer.
The French artillery would also mistakenly fire on their own troops believing they were Germans. As historian Simon J. House notes in his book “Lost Opportunity” (p.207): “Indeed, if the ‘friendly fire incident’ evidenced at Neufchâteau is anything to go by, French artillery did not find the red trousers sufficiently noticeable to stop them from firing on their own side.”
Sources:
-Walter Rogge: Das Königl. Prussia. 2. Nassauische Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 88. Deutsche Tat im Weltkrieg, Band 7, Verlag Bernard & Graefe, Berlin 1936.
– Held Karl und Otto Stobbe.: Das Königlich Preußische Infanterie-Regiment Graf Barfuß (4. Westf.) Nr. 17 im Weltkriege 1914/1918.
– Simon J. House: Lost Opportunity – The Battle of The Ardennes 22. August 1914.
Photo: 90mm Batterie Hoffman in Fuerstellung, Ersatz Btn. 44.
Colour by Frederic Duriez.