Postcard from a soldier reporting German aircrafts flying over Nancy.
|Nancy July 27, 1915
My dear Laura,
Stanis has just written the news to me...........
In Nancy, nothing special except teutons coming to see us yesterday evening, but the guns have stopped them before they reached town. You see, it's the usual news item happening almost everyday.
|Nancy was only protected by Frouard fort and Grand-Couronné hills.
After Morhange defeat, French soldiers retreat when confronted to the pressure of the German heading for Charmes.
On August 22, 1914, Lunéville yields.
Until the end of August, combats are violent in the rivers Mortagne and Meuthe surroundings, and the progression of the German troops is stopped.
|In the beginning of September, the German concentrate on
Grand-Couronné and Nancy.
Pont-à-Mousson is taken on the 4th of September.
The stranglehold will only be loosened on th 14th of Septembre.
During the whole war, Nancy will be exposed to bombs.
On October 12, 1919, Nancy received from the hands of the President of the Republic, Raymond Poincaré, the Légion d'honneur (legion of honor) and the croix de guerre (Military Cross) with the following quotation:
" Town whose strong patriotism appeared with magnificence during the during the war ordeals.
Directly threatened, has taken part with the most powerful courage to the Grand-Couronné battle to defend it; Bombarded from aircraft, then from heavy artillery, has never, despite all its sufferings, lost its self-control.
Has fully deserved the country's praise"
|Lunéville has been occupied by German forces from the 22nd of August
to the 12nd of September 1914.
As soon as August 25, civilians are died, houses
burned down as a reprisal and people are condemned to pay a financial contribution.
Poster claiming a 650.000 francs bill to the people of Lunéville.
|" On the 25th of August 1914, some people in
Lunéville have laid an ambush for german columns and trains. On the same day, some people
have fired at ambulances marked with the red cross. Furthermore, some wounded German and
the military hospital housing a German ambulance have been shot. Because of these hostile
acts, Lunéville is imposed a 650.000 F fine. It is demanded to the Mayor to pay this sum
in gold ( and in silver up to 50.000 francs) on the 6th of September, at 9 a.m., in the
hands of the representative of german military authority.All objection will be considered
as null and void. No delay will be granted. If the village does not immediately comply
with the demand to pay the 650.000 francs, all distrainable goods will be seized. Should
the payment not be done, houses and people will be searched. Anybody who will have
willingly concealed money, or goods so as not to be seized by the military authorities, or
who tries to leave the village, will be executed.The mayor and the hostages arrested by
the military authorities will be held responsible for the execution of the above-mentioned
demands. The Mayor is demanded to publish immediately those provisions to the village.
Hénaménil, September 3, 1914.