The mascot of the trench.The picture is probably from 1915. When blue hats were available in the French army, right before the Adrian helmet was introduced.
(Source: museedelagrandeguerre.eu)
flight-freedom asked: Why not just take the rings?
Well because long worn rings are pretty much stuck on fingers. Cadaveric rigidity also doesn’t help and I don’t even speak of the gold teeth…
German soldiers killed in their foxhole. The papers show you bodies have been searched. Soldiers sometimes cut fingers to steal wedding rings from fallen enemies with barbed wire cutters.
Russian airmen of 7th fighter air squadron of the Imperial Russian Air Force with a Nieuport 17 plane. Look at the amazing tail art.
A shell bursting on an Italian entrenchment.
A French dragoon performing a horse riding exercise. In 1914, horsemen really still had a Napoleonic look.
Le Chemin des Dames
French soldiers retrieving bodies of their comrades fallen at Les Eparges, 1915. The offensive started in mid February and soldiers didnt have proper winter clothing. Most of soldiers had to rely on their family to receive gloves, scarves and socks. The army only distributed sheep skins making soldiers look like cavemen as you can see here.
(Source: museedelagrandeguerre.eu)
Evacuating a wounded on the remains of the Maubeuge road. The perspective and composition of this picture is utterly amazing.
French troopers under General Gouraud, with their machine guns amongst the ruins of a cathedral near the Marne, driving back the Germans. 1918.
(Source: Central News Photo Service. (War Dept.))
