It is time to show another Reservist Pipe, also from an Infantry Regiment involved in Verdun. The drawings in the “Pfeife” are more fun-related as the one presented 2 weeks ago. But this is also typical from soldiers, who show their happiness to go in the Reserve and come back to civilian life. In addition, the 11§ (Paragraph 11) is also there. In a previous article, I wrote about it:
In this article, I am going to write about the Infanterie-Regiment „Graf Bülow von Dennewitz“ (6. Westfälisches) Nr. 55, but just until the middle of 1917. The recruit, that bought the pipe, spent 2 years of military service in that unit in the city of Detmold in the Principality of Lippe-Detmold. In the book “Traditions of the Imperial German Infantry Regiment” (Chris Dale), the regiment retained their distinctive yellow and red cockade and the shoulder straps were blue with the number 55 in red. The name of the regiment comes from the General in the Napoleonic Wars, who commanded the Prussian Army in the Battle of Dennewitz. It was part of the 13rd Division, 26th Brigade, VII Army Corps, 2nd Army.
When the war started, this 2nd Army crossed the Belgian frontier, leaving Namur on their left Flank and taking part in the battle of Liege. After it, In Charleroi, they fought against the 5th French Army, which had to retreat. In September 1914, the 26th Brigade remained in the French-Belgian frontier and soon later in October, the whole 13rd Division was sent to Artois, where it remained until March 1916, when it was relieved and sent to Cambrai.
Right in this time, the main attacks in Verdun were made in the left bank of the river Meuse, to take the high French Positions. The Cote 304, along with the one besides, Le Mort Homme, where great French artillery places, used for attacking the right German Flank in the Right Bank. That is why, at the beginning of March 1916, it was imperative for the Germans to start an offensive in the left bank to take both Hills. In the book “The Price of Glory” (Alistair Horne), it is explained, that some generals requested the simultaneous attacks in both banks already at the beginning of the offensive in February. Falkenheim turned down all of those petitions. The Reaction from the Crown Prince Rupprecht von Bayern was quite negative, when he knew about the attacks in the left bank and wrote in his diary: “it is too late for these attacks, the surprise factor is gone”.
He was totally right. The French were ready in that area. The start of the offensive in the left side of the river was positive and achieve some good results, but soon was going to be a Hell for the German Troops. The French were good positioned in those highs (Cote 304 and Le Mort Homme), their artillery was “hammering” the German attacks and lines. Not only that, the French Machine Gun placements were deadly traps. They took seriously, what Petain used to say: “Firepower kills”.
What it should have taken days in February, if they attacks would have started at that time, it took months for the Germans to possess finally those hills and at a very high cost. When the 55th Regiment arrived in June 1916, they were involved in many German attacks, the very last ones and many French counterattacks. It remained there until September 1916, when they went to the next Hell, the Battle of the Somme. Less than 20 days later, the division had to be released due to the huge casualties they suffered.
Replacements came very quick and already in October, the 55th regiment was back in line. Only this time to be sent to the left bank of the Meuse in Verdun, to defend the highs of Le Mort Homme, which actually means, Dead Man’s Hill. It was the perfect name for it.
The Regiment remained in both Cote 304 and Le Mort Homme highs until the middle of 1917. They lived and died there, surrounded by French and German dead soldiers. In one of the chapters of the “The Price of Glory”, it says that when the Cote 304 and Le Mort Homme were taken in May 1916, the soldiers there requested an extra ration of tobacco and cigarettes, to try to camouflage the stink of the dead in those places. That was the Verdun … 10 long Months.