No country is a better example of the cataclysm of the Great War than France. In 1914 France quickly joined the conflict to live up to its commitment to Russia. As soon as France declared war on Germany, they executed Plan XVII, an attack on the borders of Germany to regain the territories lost in the Franco-Prussian War. Germany and France were historical enemies and the troops of 1914 marched off to a cheering public, in uniforms and tactics reminiscent of the previous century. The French attack into Germany was repelled, and Germany successfully counterattacked. France suffered greatly and would have lost Paris itself if not for the ‘Miracle of the Marne.’ Over the next few years France suffered a bloodletting at Verdun, endured mutiny, and by 1918 was a shell of the force that marched off in 1914.
By 1918, the brilliant uniforms of 1914 were gone as were many of the men who first went to war. The Poilu (slang for a French Soldier) of 1918 was weary of battle, however they knew that they had to fight on to remove the hated Germans from French soil. The Poilu lost faith in the leaders who committed them in frontal assaults with little strategic purpose, and later in the war lost much of the desire they had to attack.
Despite the disturbing conditions the Poilu found themselves in during 1918, two events gave them hope. The first was the United States’ entry into the war, arriving in French ports at a pace of 10,000 troops a week. The Americans represented fresh manpower so desperately needed. The other event that rallied the French were the German offensives of 1918, which only served to unite the Allies under a single commander, and strengthen their will to fight.
Contains:
2x metal Lebel Pistol Teams
2x metal Fusiliers Sections which contain:
5x Berthier Rifle Teams
2x VB Rifle Grenade Teams
2x Chauchat MG Teams
1x Flame-thrower Team
1x 37mm mle 1916 Team
4x metal Hotchkiss HMG Teams
2x metal 76mm Stokes Trench Mortars
1x metal 75mm Field Gun
1x metal and resin Char Saint Chamond Tank
1x metal and resin Schneider CA.1 Tank
1x metal and resin White AM 1915/18 Armoured Car
1x metal Sniper
These miniatures are supplied unassembled and unpainted
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