“Ceux de 14” - “Those of 14” Maurice Genevoix

en-Verdunois

Belrupt-

Commune de de Commune (1890-1980) This project took place thanks to the financial support of : of support financial the to thanks place took project This This account is taken from A student of the Maurice Genevoix’s

Ecole Normale, he

www.coeurdelorraine-tourisme.fr Famille Genevoix, Sauvage Jean-Christophe Archives départementales de la , Ceux de 14 © Flammarion, L experience of the

Atelier Corinne FRANCOIS was mobilised in

03 29 89 06 47 06 89 29 03

(Maurice Genevoix) (Maurice war, which he RUE DU PALAIS DE JUSTICE, 55300 SAINT-MIHIEL 55300 JUSTICE, DE PALAIS DU RUE August 1914 and

documented in the

Office de tourisme Coeur de Lorraine de Coeur tourisme de Office joined the 106th RI. and we did it” it” did we and war diaries that he kept during the

He was discharged

www.tourisme-argonne.fr conflict. He deliberately preserved this

than you can ask of people, of ask can you than after being seriously injured in

03 29 88 42 22 42 88 29 03 raw material when writing several works

6, PLACE DE LA RÉPUBLIQUE, 55120 CLERMONT-EN-ARGONNE 55120 RÉPUBLIQUE, LA DE PLACE 6, April 1915. His literary career

“What we have done is more is done have we “What about this conflict: SOUS (‘Neath Office de tourisme du Pays d’Argonne Pays du tourisme de Office continued after the war, and

Verdun) in April 1916, NUITS DE GUERRE he was awarded the Goncourt prize

(War Nights) in December 1916, AU SEUIL

www.tourisme-verdun.fr for RABOLIOT in 1925.

...in 23 stages stages 23 ...in 55 55 84 29 03 DES GUITOUNEs (On the Threshold of

(321 km) (321 He joined the Académie Française

PAVILLON JAPIOT, AVENUE GÉNÉRAL MANGIN, 51000 VERDUN 51000 MANGIN, GÉNÉRAL AVENUE JAPIOT, PAVILLON Guitounes), in September 1918, LA BOUE Office de tourisme de Verdun de tourisme de Office in 1946 then became Perpetual ITINERARY (Mud), in February 1921 and LES EPARGES, Secretary in 1958. He never forgot

in September 1921.

www.tourisme-val-de-meuse.eu his experience of fighting, since 03 29 87 60 75 60 87 29 03 All the works were then compiled under

he helped to form the Association

43 RUE DU RATTENTOUT, 55320 DIEUE-SUR-MEUSE 55320 RATTENTOUT, DU RUE 43 the title of Ceux de 14 (Those of 14), Office de tourisme du Val de Meuse Meuse de Val du tourisme de Office des Ecrivains Combattants (French the final, uncensored edition of which Association of Veteran Writers)

was published in 1949. www.tourisme-pays-verdunois.eu with Roland Dorgelès. He was also

It is a major work of war literature which

03 29 85 41 52 41 85 29 03 the founder and President of the 14 BIS RUE RAYMOND POINCARÉ, 55100 BRAS-SUR-MEUSE 55100 POINCARÉ, RAYMOND RUE BIS 14 enables us to gain a better understanding

Verdun Memorial, which was Office de tourisme du Pays Verdunois Verdunois Pays du tourisme de Office of the men and the conflict in which

Tourist Offices inaugurated in 1967.

they took part. www.tourisme-barleducetbarrois.com

Maurice Genevoix Maurice

03 29 79 11 13 11 79 29 03

7, RUE JEANNE D’ARC, 55000 BAR-LE-DUC 55000 D’ARC, JEANNE RUE 7,

Based on the account by account the on Based

Office de tourisme Meuse Grand Sud Grand Meuse tourisme de Office THANKS Ceux de 14 de Ceux

www.chalons-tourisme.com To Maurice Genevoix’s family, Éditions Flammarion and the departmantal archives of the

03 26 65 17 89 17 65 26 03 Meuse, partners and supporters of the project who kindly provided many documents free

3, QUAI DES ARTS, 51000 CHALONS-EN-CHAMPAGNE 51000 ARTS, DES QUAI 3,

Follow in the footsteps of footsteps the in Follow of charge, enabling this project to take place. Office de tourisme de Châlons-en-Champagne Châlons-en-Champagne de tourisme de Office

LATE SEPTEMBER 1914/SPRING 1915 > EPARGES sector 25 AUGUST 1914 > CHÂLONS-EN-CHAMPAGNE FIGHTING IN LES HAUTS DE MEUSE ÉTAPES 18>19 ÉTAPES 1>2 TIME TO GO This hillside village will become a symbol of static warfare. Tirelessly, Maurice Genevoix Maurice Genevoix and his companions from the Chanzy barracks board their train at the and Those of 14 will be sent to conquer this strategic point, in vain. The deaths will be station. It’s the beginning of the ordeal. He does not yet know his destination and thinks countless, including his friend Porchon, who will die on 20 february 1915. His tomb in the he is leaving for Mulhouse. The convoy finally arrives in Charny-sur-Meuse at 1 am. 6 SEPTEMBE R 1914 > LA VAUX-MARIE SECTOR necropolis at the foot of the hill is still adorned with a rose to this day. > 27 AUGUST 1914 > GERCOURT-DRILLANCOURT SECTOR A DECISIVE VICTORY ÉTAPES 10>13 RUPT-EN-WOËVRE sector ÉTAPE 3 To stop the German advance, the 106th RI takes position near Rembercourt on the 6th and CANTONMENT ÉTAPES 20>22 FIRST CONTACT WITH THE ENEMY endures several days of intense fire. In the night of the 9th to the 10th, when the German Faced with a long-term conflict, a rota of three times three days is set up. 3 days of rest After walking north of Verdun for a few days, Maurice Genevoix’s section finds the rest of infantry attacks, a storm brings total darkness and heavy rain. A violent man-to-man in the surrounding villages, 3 in the second line of the Calonne trench, then 3 at Les the 106th RI (French Infantry Regiment), and the men are soon incorporated into it. Maurice struggle takes place. With the German offensive repelled, it’s a victory, but it comes at a Eparges on the front line. In the villages where they rest, the men rub shoulders with the Genevoix meets Porchon, Saint-Cyrien, who has joined the same company. The 106th RI high price! Of his 70 men, Maurice Genevoix only finds 21 left. After a few days of rest in public behind the trenches. Maurice Genevoix visits Verdun in particular, which has so far sets up trenches in woods and near the village of Cuisy. After several days of , the pursuit continues. been spared any fighting. intensive fire, it receives the order to move forwards. 17 SEPTEMBER 1914 > LOUVEMONT 3 SEPTEMBER 1914 > 25 APRIL 1915 > MONTFAUCON-D’ARGONNE THE FRONT STABILISES ÉTAPES 14>17 THE CALONNE TRENCH RETREAT ÉTAPES 4>9 The Germans have fortified their positions and the pursuit comes to an end. The multitude THE WONUD ÉTAPE 23 Maurice Genevoix takes part in a major regrouping of the troops while German heavy of soldiers’ bodies left by the roadside provides a macabre display for Those of 14. Maurice While the German troops make a breakthrough and advance towards the Calonne artillery fires on the village before the soldiers’ very eyes. The men, not informed of the Genevoix and his men take position in the outposts in the Caures woods: the men are crossroad, Maurice Genevoix is seriously injured. After being discharged, he writes a reasons for this movement, march towards Bar-le-Duc. Rumours begin to spread: “is it a exhausted by a two-day ordeal in the mud and rain. He does not yet know it but the front moving testimonial in honour of the companions that he lost on the battlefield : Ceux de defeat?”. will come to a long-term standstill. 14 (Those of 14). Follow in the footsteps of

Ceux de 14 2 km X

I Based on the account by O

WHY THIS ITINERARY ? V E N Maurice Genevoix E G E IC R MAU

This trail is a chance to follow in the footsteps of Maurice Genevoix and his comrades in the first months of the First World War. As a young officer aged 24, he boarded the train at Châlons-en-Champagne station on 25 August 1914 with reinforcements for the 106th RI. At the time, they did not know where their train was taking them…the violence and horror of the fighting, but also the friendship and brotherhood between companions. He was discharged after being seriously injured on 25 April 1915. He would deliver a moving account of his part in the war in his major work, “Ceux de 14” (“Those of 14”).

"THOSE OF 14" ITINERARY

MAJOR POINTS OF THE STORY

KEY STAGES

FRENCH NECROPOLISES / CEMETERIES

GERMAN NECROPOLISES / CEMETERIES

AMERICAN CEMETERY

RAILWAY TRAVELLED BY MAURICE GENEVOIX IN 1914