Figure 1.- The Germans occupied northeastern France for almost the entire duration of World War I. It was a relatively small area, but was heavily industrialized and thus a substntial loss to the French war economy. The area was administered by German military rather than civilian authorities. The military took over civilian duties. Here a German soldier teaches French school childten in the occupied area. We do not have details about the schools, but suspect all French teachers were replaced. We do not know if the Germans taught in French or German. Nor do we know if the Germans ibvolved had any teaching expeience. The teacher here seems to be jist reading the book to the boys. We are not sure that the building was actually a school. German authorities seized many buildings for administrative purposes. This may have been a smaller building converted into a school. Te photograph was taken in Champagne (March 1917). In World War II, the Germans allowed the French civil administration to operate, including the schools. A teacher describes the scene, "The German officer is conducting a literacy lesson. The boys at the back suggest they are the readers while everyone else follows. Each boy will likely be given a chance to read. The officer would be listening and commenting on the story, vocabulary, and important elements in the story. The children don't look too happy though. The officer might read a section to the pupils particularly if it is a in German and then the pupils will repeat what he has said. There does not seem to be fun in the lesson. The two boys standing and possible readers might also have been fooling around."

The World War I western Front was fought out in Belgium and northern France. The Germans occupied Luxenbourg, almost all of Belgium, and areas of northeast France along the Belgian and Luxenmourg borders during the first month of the war. Northern France was one of the most heavily industralized areas of France and thus although relatively small, the area occupied by the Germans was a significant loss to the French economy. Much of the French population was evacuated or fled, but large numbers of people were left in the German occupation zone. After the frontline stabilized behind the trenches, the Germans remained in contol of northern France until the final month of the War. Despite massive offensives and a huge expenditure of ordinance. The area north and south of the Western Front changed very little despite 3 years of of the most intense combat in history. After the Germans were stopped before Paris and had to wihdraw beyond the Marne, as trench system then snaked from the Swiss border to the Channel. It was here that the Germans and Allies fought World ar II in the Wesr. The towns and viiliages the Front crossed and those close by were decestated. The range of artillery as well as offesive ad countr offensives significantly enlarged the area devestaed. Many were totally destroyed. A wide swath of southern Belgium and northern France was devestated leaving a huge scar across the verdent landscape. The towns and cities in the war zone looked like scenes of devestation from the World War II strategic bombing campaign. In sharp contast, the neighboring German Rhineland was untouched. After the War, the Germans and many subsequent historians considered the Versailles Treaty and reparations imposed on the Germans to be unfair and many saw NAZI compainsts as justified. Rarely mentioned is that it was the Germans who first introduced the idea of reparations in the Franco-Prussian War (1870-71). Or that immese damage was done to Belgium and France while Germany was virtually untouched. One of the French cities largely destroyed was the magnificent cathedral city of Reimes, a jewel of the Middle Ages. Damafe to the Cathedral and the destruction other cultural treasuires in the battle zone would feature prominently in Allied propaganda. Perhaps fittiningly, Reims would be General Eisenhower's headquarters in World War II and the place where the NAZIs surrendered to the victorious Western Allies.

Battlefield

The World War I western Front was fought out in Belgium and northern France. Despite massive offensives and a huge expenditure of ordinance. The area north and south of the Western Front changed very little espite 3 years of combat. It was not what the Germas expected. They planned a fast-moving campaign, a war of movement and a quick victory. They had the strongest army in Europe and cane very closed to achieving it. After the Germans were stopped before Paris and had to wihdraw beyond the Marne, as trench system then snaked from the Swiss border to the Channel. It was here that the Germans and Allies fought out World War I in the West. The Germans had made their deepest penetration when they crossed the Marne in a move toward Paris and were beaten back (September 1914). After that they focused on the east attacking Verdun. They again attavked toward the Marne in a final attemp to win the War (1918). The Allies also battered at the German lines, but chived even less deep penetrations. The War was thus fought on a very narrow band, mostly across northern France and a corner of souhern Belgium. While the Germans had the strongest army, the Allies had the strongest economy and access to resources beyonf Europe. Thus while the Allies behind the trenches grew stronger, the Germans grew weaker.

Occupation

After the fronttline stabilized behind the trenches, the Germans remained in contol of northern France until the final month of the War. The Germans occupied Luxenbourg, almost all of Belgium, and areas of northeast France along the Belgian and Luxenmourg borders during the first month of the war. Much of the French population was evacuated or fled, but large numbers of people were left in the German occupation zone. The occupation as administered by the German military rather than a civilian authority. The military took over many civilian functions. This even included the schools. Northern France was one of the most heavily industralized areas of France and thus although relatively small (less than 5 percent), the area occupied by the Germans was a significant loss to the French economy. [Wegner] It was a major source of iron (nearly 65 percent) and steel production (natly 25 perccent. I was also a major mining area producing coal (about 40 percent). Coal and orin were ythe heart of an industrial economy. Thus French industrial output was seriously impacted. [Kennedy, pp. 265-66.] Several towns and cities were located in the occupied zone, including Avesnes, Cambrai, Douai, Lille, Maubeuge, and Valenciennes. When it became clear that the War would be an extended conflict, the Germans began to exploit the occupied area. And this exploitation increased as the Allied naval blockade began to impact the German economy. The Germans resorted to forced labor. And while it was not genocidal as in World War II, the men impressed for labor were not well fed and cared for. Many impressed workers died in German hands.

Devestation

The towns and viiliages the Front crossed and those close by the trench fromnt line were decestated. The range of artillery as well as offesive and counter offensives significantly enlarged the area devestaed. Many were totally destroyed. A wide swath of southern Belgium and northern France was devestated leaving a huge scar across the verdent landscape. The towns and cities in the war zone looked like scenes of devestation from the World War II strategic bombing campign. In sharp contrast, the neighboring German Rhineland was untouched.

Reparations

After the War, the Germans and many subsequent historians considered the Versailles Treaty and reparations imposed on the Germans to be unfair and many saw NAZI compainsts as justified. Rarely mentioned is that it was the Germans who first introduced the idea of reparations in the Franco-Prussian War (1870-71). Or the immese damage done to Belgium and France while Germany was virtually untouched. One of the French cities largely destroyed was the magnificent cathedral city of Reimes, a jewel of the Middle Ages. Damage to the Cathedral and the destruction other cultural treasuires in the battle zone would feature prominently in Allied propaganda. Perhaps fittiningly, Reims would be General Eisenhower's headquarters in World War II and the place where the NAZIs surrendered to the victorious Western Allies.

Sources

Kennedy, Paul. The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers (Vintage Books: 1989).

Wegner, Larissa. "Occupations during the War (France and Belgium)". International Encyclopedia of the First World War (2014).

Created: 12:33 AM 9/5/2017
Last updated: 12:41 AM 9/5/2017