Verdun: The Trench of Bayonets

Posted on March 18, 2023 by

16 Comments

In December 1920 a large concrete shelter financed by an American millionaire marked the spot where French soldiers had fallen in one of the many small actions around Verdun in 1916. The story of the Trench of Bayonets was born, but what is the real story behind this episode of the Great War, and the memorial that still marks the spot?

BATTLEFIELD MAP:

FRENCH RESEARCH LINKS:

Journaux des marches et opĂ©rations (JMO) – French War Diaries.

Memoir des Hommes – WW1 French Casualty Database.

SĂ©pultures de guerre – Tracing French War Graves.

137e RI Historique – Regimental History of 137e RI.

RECOMMENDED READING:

PODCAST EXTRAS:

Category: Podcast Episode, Poilu, Verdun

16 Comments on “Verdun: The Trench of Bayonets”

  1. I remember seeing photos of this in an old book belonging to my dad, I was only a child and it bothered me for years after, the thought of the dead soldiers standing in the trench still holding their rifles after all those years, would make me shiver. Great podcast as always Paul

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  2. Great story and episode………I looked on my Arnhem list and 4 soldiers who fought there had Verdun as a name and 1 born in 1926! 2 were born in 1916 though…..very moving how the British remembered a French battle…..See you soon!

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  3. Hi Paul

    I’m one of your subscribers: is it possible to download your podcasts? I’ve a long distance flight tomorrow and thought of catching up with them during that if I could get them onto my iPad!

    Thanks

    Terence Terence Bradley

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  4. I found it one of the most intriguing places to visit, one very high on my todo list.

    Thanks for this podcast, it shed lots of insights on this place.

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  5. Similarly to the first comment above, I saw this in a book belonging to my father when I was a child. It stuck in my mind and at the same time led to questions I couldn’t answer at that young age. Was there really a line of men buried standing upright still holding their rifles? Was it some kind of fake? I just didn’t know and had no way of finding out for sure.

    Thanks for an enlightening podcast Paul.

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  6. As a teenager, I first visited Verdun and its associated sites with my parents.
    This place had a marked effect on me, a realisation almost, that I will never forget.

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  7. Thanks for fascinating podcast and a reminder of my two visits there with Leger. It’s also a timely reminder that although we suffered horrendous losses in the Great War, the French suffered far more than we did, both in absolute and relative terms. Very sad story about Rand. Thanks also for the reading list. I had no idea that the Holts did a map of Verdun. An omission in my collection soon to be remedied!

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