Under the German shells

A French military officer and instructor recounts his wartime experiences from mobilization through frontline service, offering eyewitness episodes and sober reflection. He describes the tense mobilization and abrupt departure from civilian life, the shock of invasion, combat at the Marne, Verdun, and Champagne sectors, daily trench routines, the use and effects of gas, periods of waiting and small distractions, and repeated confrontations with death. The narrative combines tactical detail, personal observation, and appeals for humanitarian aid, presenting a candid soldier’s perspective on the hardships, uncertainties, and human costs of large-scale modern warfare.