Croix des Redoutes Apremont-la-Forêt

Before the war, this sector, located in the interval between the forts Camp des Romains and Liouville of Séré de Rivières, was only weakly fortified, apart from the presence of the Redoubt Bois-Brûlé. This construction, built as a field fortification in 1908 (mainly for training purposes for troops carrying out manoeuvres), consisted only of earthen ramparts and shelters made of tree trunks. Forgotten in 1914, its presence came as a surprise to both German and French troops! This redoubt would then be the subject of very fierce fighting in the autumn of 1914; it would take the Germans three months to conquer the construction, which was only 200 metres long.

In 1915, the fighting would continue very fiercely throughout the spring. A cross-shaped monument (built in 1922) recalls this period, in particular by referring to the battles of the 95th Infantry Regiment, including journalist and writer Jacques Péricard (who raised the now famous cry "Arise, the Dead!").

The plaque commemorates a crucial moment during the First World War.
On 6 April 1915, during a fierce enemy attack, Adjutant Jacques Péricard of the 95th Infantry Regiment spoke the famous words "Debout les morts!" (Arise, the dead!) to his wounded and disabled comrades.
The plaque was erected by the Amicale of the 95th Infantry Regiment, in honour of the courage and sacrifice of the soldiers.

The text on the plaque, attributed to Franz Blumenfeld in October 1914, expresses a deep fear that goes beyond physical danger:

The speaker is not afraid of bullets or grenades.
The true fear lies in the "great inner loneliness." The speaker fears the loss of faith in humanity, in himself, and in the good in the world.

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Source

• Text: Adri Kramer
• Photos: Adri Kramer