The road went up to the church and, beyond, past an old chapel and then a track led to an open bowl of fields with a small hill in the centre topped by pine trees. Ron spotted a notice board by pine trees and that way we discovered the site of the Flabas Reprisals Camp.
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| View from the chapel. |
Summary of the events at
the Flabas Reprisals Camp.
On 21 December 1916, the German Army authorities demanded from the French, that they withdraw their Prisoner of War Camps to a distance of 30 km behind the front line near Verdun. If the French did not meet this ultimatum on 15 January 1917, the Germans threatened to build their POW Camps within reach of French artillery and infantry fire.
The camp in Flabas was only 50 m long and 30 m wide, only fenced with barbed wire. The only barrack in the camp was not sufficient to house the 500 prisoners. 300 Prisoners had to stay out in the open air, even in wintertime. There was another barrack for use as stores and mortuary, and a cabin, functioning as kitchen.
The day started with Stormtroopers forcing their clubs on the prisoners. On only 4 days in the week the prisoners received one meal a day, existing of a small piece of bread,. From dawn until dusk the prisoners had to do forced labour: building roads in the line of fire in the Bois des Caures and in the direction of the lines of Samogneux. After a day of forced labour, parties of 10 prisoners were forced to get water 600m away in the line of fire.
One prisoner tried to escape. The Stormtroopers punished this prisoner by tying him up with barbed wire on the fence with his feet hanging lose from the ground. Next the Stormtroopers clubbed him to death.
After several months the French authorities did meet the demands of the German government. Immediately after this event the fate of the prisoners changed. They were withdrawn to camps near Montmédy and Longuyon. They were allowed again to take care of their personal hygiene and to receive post from their families.
Only 300 prisoners out of 500 survived this reprisals camp.
A lovely and peaceful place now but with such a sobering history.
The sort of story that makes one despair of humanity. More than sobering, as you said. Alas, we need reminding of these appalling episodes in history, and we need to remember the victims of such brutality.
ReplyDeleteYes, we do need to remember and honour the dead, although I'm not sure if lessons were learned - looking at humanity today certainly makes me despair. What a state this sad, sick world is in.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I feel the same a lot of the time!
ReplyDeleteSadly, it seems not much hope arrived with Spring this year.
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