German prisoners in Saint-Dizier, in 1916

This Monday, November 11, is synonymous with the 106th anniversary of the Armistice of the First World War. For the occasion, history enthusiast Patrice Riehl unearthed previously unpublished photos, taken by a certain Amédée Alphonse Eywinger, illustrating the life of German prisoners in the territory, in 1916. Discovery.

We tell ourselves that it was more than a hundred years ago, that everything has already been said, that everything has already been discovered, that we will never repeat history… But each anniversary of the Armistice of the First World War, the 106th this Monday, November 11, can reshuffle the cards. At least, provide a different perspective, with a new point of view.

Reversal

In connection with the Great War, history enthusiast Patrice Riehl has unearthed new elements, such as two and a half months earlier for the 80th anniversary of the Liberation. “These are photos that were taken by Amédée Alphonse Eywinger, a French army photographer who died in 1948,” explains Bragard, who took care to rework the quality of the images. This new series focuses on German soldiers in September 1916 (a photo is from 1917), taken prisoner in Saint-Dizier and in the northern Haut-Marne territory. Enough to start with: “We were still 90 km from the Verdun front,” underlines the man who cross-checks his information with a book unearthed at the Société des Lettres. At this time, the Battle of the Somme was raging; the first intervention of Allied tanks resulted in victorious conquests and the capture of some 4,000 prisoners.

This trace left by Amédée Alphonse Eywinger allows us to visualize and imagine – a little – the daily life of German prisoners in the region, numerous as the photos suggest. Near the Robinson airfield, as the landscape suggests, they were supervised by French soldiers. Their tasks consisted of earthmoving the camp, preparing meals, cleaning laundry in the canal between Saint-Dizier and Wassy, ​​or even working wood in the Val forest and at the sawmill. Even prisoners, there was no doubt for Patrice Riehl: “They were much better there than at the front! “.

Like every year, a large program of commemorations is offered in Saint-Dizier (read our agenda opposite). Kick-off at 9 a.m., at Notre-Dame Church, with a religious service celebrated in memory of the civilian and military victims of all wars. And a thought for all the prisoners of war.

Louis Vanthornout

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