Site where the first Americans died during world war 1.

English translation of the pages:

In the sector, the 52nd Infantry Division was also violently attacked on the Caurrières plateau, northeast of Verdun, by three battalions of shock troops. The 5th Battalion of the 320th Infantry Division took the main pressure from 5:30 a.m. However, these two attacks produced only limited results. The offensive organization is perfected since the complete echelon in depth combines assault troops then shock troops and finally normal infantry. For example, in the attack of July 8, 1917 on the Chemin des Dames (towards the Épine de Chevregey), the first wave is composed of elements of the 7th assault battalion (St.Btl. 7), reinforced by at least one company of the St.Btl. 5, the second wave of shock groups (one per section); the normal infantry (three companies of the I./1.R.218) follows last. Another characteristic example of an operation carried out by a unit acting with shock troop methods and reinforced by members of a shock divisional company is that which concerned the 1st American Division. This first American division put into line occupied, from the night of October 21 to 22, the sector running from the Ranzey Farm to the Parroy pond, passing in front of Arracourt and Bures. After the installation of the 1st American Division twinned with the 18th Division with which it had completed its training, an operation long envisaged by the 1.bay.Ldw.D. was decided to bring back prisoners. Codenamed "Jacob's Fountain" (Jakobsbrunnen) and planned for November 3 from 3:26 to 3:50, it was prepared by observations and telephone tapping. The participants, numbering 250 and placed under the command of Major Bedall, commander of the 7.bay.Ldw.I.R., belong to this unit, to the shock detachment of the division, to the 1./8.bay.Chevauleger-R. as well as to other specialties (machine gunners, mine throwers, pioneers, etc.). Artillery support will be provided by the 1.bay.Ldw.Art.R. and part of Fussa.Btl. 24. On the 3rd, the deployment of the various elements (attack, diversion, lateral cover) at their starting bases went smoothly. At 3:26 a.m., a violent bombardment broke out on a position southeast of the one that was going to be attacked (hill 269), 400 meters northeast of Bathelémont-lès-Bauzemont. The first phase of "Jakobsbrunnen" was a diversionary operation. Intended to deceive the adversaries about the point of application of the real coup de main, it was carried out on

First part a position held by the French. Another diversion, a shot fell between the Marne-Rhine Canal and the Parroy pond. At 3:29 or 3:30 a.m., the bombardment passed over the objective whose French name was "Artois", isolating the 2nd/16th American Infantry Regiment. Its F company was locked in a concentrated barrage around a single section: the Under the deluge of by taking refuge in the shelters; only the sentries shells, the Americans protected themselves remained at their combat posts. Meanwhile, on "Klapper-Buckel" (German code name for "Artois"), the attacking element had approached the accessory defenses protecting the American position. At 3:30 a.m., taking advantage of the bombardment, it moved even closer. It was organized into three assault columns, plus a recovery team. At 3:34 a.m., a charge, consisting of explosives stuffed into pipes placed end to end and totaling about twenty meters long, was pushed under these defenses - two parallel networks of barbed wire, totaling 25 meters wide -. Its explosion was intended to create a breach there. Immediately after the explosion, the first assault column, commanded by Second Lieutenant Veth, launched into the passage and quickly crossed the first trench before continuing towards its first objective: a group of shelters. Just beyond this trench, it came across a low network of low height and unidentified until then; it came under rifle and machine gun fire and received grenades. Two men were wounded. The obstacle was overcome. Shortly before the objective, Veth saw a gunman with a machine rifle trying to oppose the advance. He approached in a few bounds and shot him down with a bullet from his pistol. The machine rifle was recovered. Arriving at the first group of shelters, the column was met with handgun fire. A fight ensued and an American soldier was neutralized: possibly Private Thomas F. Enright, killed by a stab wound to the stomach and another to the throat. While one shock group cleared the dugouts, another blocked a passage coming from the southwest and, after a short struggle, captured a prisoner. A section reached a dugout in a second group and forced a sergeant out. Another shock group, which was supposed to liaise with the third detachment, encountered Americans who defended themselves with hand grenades. As, due to the fog, this column could not find the breach made with explosives, it cut through two networks by shearing

the wires, despite the enemy barrage. The group of shears advances into the accessory defenses, being subjected to rifle fire and Nevertheless greates but its mission at the cost of six wounded, two of them mortally. The column manages to regain its lines. During this dodge, two Americans are even recovered in a collapsed trench. The second column, with another second lieutenant at its head, advances through a trench which, at the northern edge of "Klapper-Buckel" and from the point of intrusion into the American lines, heads west. This column reduces by a grenade fight a post which is defending itself vigorously and overflows, also by throwing grenades, two trenches leading to the second group of dugouts. An American wounds a German officer; himself was killed by a bullet in the head and a knife wound in the throat: it was probably Private Merle D. Hay. The search of the shelters allowed the capture of three prisoners, one of whom was wounded. During the retreat through the breach made with explosives, an additional prisoner was captured. The third column, commanded by a staff sergeant, overflowed First part Americans captured a few hours earlier northeast of Bathelémont-lès-Bauzemont and summarily interrogated on November 3, 1917, in Coincourt, by officers of the staff of the 1st Bay. Landwehr-Division. Erinnerungsblätter der I.Bayr. Landwehr-Division.

(Note: I did not plant the Prussian flag.)