The French Army in the First World War, a Discussion: Pt 2

Battles of the First World War Podcast

Mike Cunha

History

4.8 • 812 Ratings

🗓️ 27 February 2023

⏱️ 157 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Part 2 of the ongoing discussion looks at misconceptions about the French Army, and French personalities of the war we should know about but, for reasons, do not. We wrap up with some advice on visiting the French battlefields of the Great War: guide books, how to prepare, what to expect, etc.

This was another conversation that deeply impressed me with the breadth and depth of knowledge of the participants. Like I say in the introduction, grab a notebook and a pen, because you are about to learn a lot.

Joining us for this discussion are:

Christina Holstein, author of several incredible guides to the Verdun battlefield, amongst other published works and articles,
Alex Lyons, the man who spends his free time telling us the story of his Poilu great-grandfather on Twitter,
Steve Marsdin, a student and researcher of the 1914 Battle of the Frontiers and its effects,
Jim Smithson, author of “A Taste of Success: The First Battle of the Scarpe. The Opening Phase of the Battle of Arras 9-14 April 1917” and two guide books on the Arras battlefields,
James Taub, Associate Curator at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, PA, and a public historian with a specialty in French history, and its presentation to American audiences.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey folks, if you enjoyed the last time we did this and get ready for another great roundtable discussion of the French army during World War I.
0:17.0	I would highly suggest get yourself a cup of something, take a seat, probably going
0:25.5	to need a notebook and a pen. I think it's going to be a really great conversation. I really
0:30.8	hope you enjoy. So hey folks, this is Mike from the Battles of the First World War podcast. So we are back and having a second roundtable discussion of the French Army during World War I. So once again, we are with some of the best great war historians in the field today. This time, we're also joined by some folks who were not with us
0:56.1	last time. So with me this evening, we have Christina Holstein, author of several incredible
1:06.4	guides to the Verdun battlefield, amongst other published works and articles.
1:11.5	We have returning Alex Lyons, the man who spends his free time, telling us the story of his
1:16.9	Pauulu, great-grandfather on Twitter. And just so all listeners know, Alex operates under several
1:25.3	gnomes de guerre. So during this episode, he might be called Andre.
1:30.7	He might be called Andy.
1:32.9	He might even be called the more mysterious and a little bit ominous pumpkin.
1:39.9	We have Steve, Steve Marsden, who is a student and researcher of the 1914 Battle of the Frontiers and its effects.
1:50.0	We have Jim Smithson, who we will call Jim, and Jim said he was boring Jim, but he is not boring Jim by any means.
1:57.0	We will just call him Jim.
1:59.0	Jim is the author of A Taste of Success,
2:01.7	the First Battle of the Scarpe, the opening phase of the Battle of Arras, 9 through 14, April,
2:07.7	1917, as well as the author of two guidebooks on the Arras battlefields. And joining us today
2:15.3	for the first time, as well as Pristina, we have James.
2:19.5	I'm going to do your last name, the German way.
2:22.6	Is it Talb?
2:23.6	It's Taub.
2:24.6	It is short for Tobachnik.
	...

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