PLANNING AN OFFENSIVE [Main]


View at www.iwm.org.uk
  • Other title(s): WITH OUR FRENCH ALLY [series]
  • Year: 1917
  • Runtime: 17 mins
  • Description: Four officers round a planning table decide on the offensive. A regimental colonel receives his orders outside his dugout. The bombardment starts, from rifle grenades, 58mm Crapouillot mortars, 105mm howitzers and 75mm field guns. Heavier guns join in, including the big railway howitzers, and shells fall on the German front line. Infantry run forward (training) under the cover of smoke. Smoke and gas fill up no man's land. Troops in shellholes (training) advance, throwing grenades, from cover to cover. The 75s continue to fire. The second wave of troops moves up. Prisoners are led back through the trenches and march to the counting stations and cages where they are interrogated, then given food. On the battlefield French dead remain; first-aid is given to the wounded, who are taken back to the dressing stations. Ambulances take the serious casualties further back. After the battle troops march in parade through a town square and out to the countryside. General Pétain reviews the troops and decorates men and standards. The review continues for some time. A soldier of 60th Infantry Regiment is shown with the Croix de Guerre. A regimental standard shows battle honours from Lorraine in 1914 to the Aisne in 1917. The film ends with the SCAF logo.
    Thematic description of the build-up and aftermath of a typical French offensive on the Western Front, late 1917.
  • Keywords: EFG1914 / World War I / Petain, Philippe / French Army / French Army, Infantry Regt 60 / combat [simulated], French / training, French military - combat / combat, French - artillery bombardment / weapons, French - projector: rifle grenade / weapons, French - mortar: 58mm Crapouillot / weapons, French - gun: 75mm field gun / weapons, French - gun: 105mm howitzer / weapons, French - gun: (railway mounted) / weapons, French - gun: 270mm (railway mounted) / weapons, French - gun: 320mm (railway mounted) / intelligence, military, French - briefing / intelligence, military, French - interrogation / prisoners of war, German - movement / prisoners of war, German - custody / casualties, French dead - battlefield / casualties, French wounded - battlefield / medical, French military - emergency / transport, French military - ambulance / ceremonies, French - event-related: investiture / delegations, French national - military / 01/3(4-15).7 / France / World War, 1914-1918 -- France
  • Provider: Imperial War Museums
  • Rights: In Copyright / Imperial War Museums
  • Production company: Pathe Freres
  • Colour: Black & White
  • Sound: Without sound

Related Names

No matches