1917 marked the nadir of morale in the French Army. Bled for months on end in the Battle of Verdun and reeling after the Nivelle Offensive, dissension was rampant and mutinies broke out in the ranks. Put down brutally, I suppose the only way, aside from reading about, that time's been related to us is in the film "Paths of Glory". As Americans entered the lines, they were relieved.
Quite something... the Germans saw themselves, in their Greek temperament and technological prowess, as the rationalists to the libertine French. The Spartan officer corps versus dilettante republican degenerates. Anyway, that's the reading objective... "On ne passe pas!" All very pagan, wouldn't you say?
Quite something... the Germans saw themselves, in their Greek temperament and technological prowess, as the rationalists to the libertine French. The Spartan officer corps versus dilettante republican degenerates. Anyway, that's the reading objective... "On ne passe pas!" All very pagan, wouldn't you say?
Amidst the carnage, a profound film... la.
It goes some way toward salvaging our humanity.
Plate: Verdun Tableau de guerre, Félix Vallotton
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