aixcentric

The bells at the cathedral in Aix rang out at 3pm, 100 years ago today, after 1561 days of silence, to mark the end of the fighting.  And by 6pm, the crowds were at the Rotonde to celebrate.

Of the 3000 men mobilised from Aix, 720 were dead, 190 disappeared and 500 left disabled. The story didn’t even end here for those left in the north of France. Despite having been away for four long years, the local regiment was involved in occupation and didn’t arrive back in town until 2nd September 1919.  What a homecoming that must have been.

But when I was writing my book (Aix-en-Provence: The Inside Story) and researching the chapter on the effect of World War 1 on Aix, it seemed that there was some sort of controversy surrounding the troops from Provence but I couldn’t find details.

Then came ‘La Faute au Midi’, a new book and exhibition, which told it all and it was truly an appalling story.

Here is my post from 2014:

On 1st August 1914, just after 3 in the afternoon, the orders for mobilisation were given – bells rang, gendarmes went to villages on their bikes and posters were plastered on to walls. Young men throughout Provence rushed to get in the harvest before going to enlist and the two companies of professional soldiers based in Aix were soon heading north. The mood was sombre but confident, soldiers expecting to be in Berlin within two months.

But the 15th battalion made up of men from across Provence, Nice and Corsica, was sent into the Battle of Lorraine, with bayonets. They hardly even saw a German soldier as they were cut down by a barrage of machine gun fire and shells. From 20-22nd August, both the Provencaux and the 20th battalion of men from Lorraine had no option but to retreat.

In Paris, the Minister for War wanted an explanation. Général Joffre explained that his plan had been ‘superbement entamé’ and its failure was purely due to the cowardice of the southern troops. The minister had a senator write an article condemning the men of Provence in Le Matin, which was read on 24th August by nearly 2 million people across France. There was fury in Provence but the damage was done.

Auguste Odde from Six-Fours, wrongly executed for cowardice

It was to be even more damaging for Auguste Odde from Six-Fours and Joseph Tomasini, a young Corsican. Both had been wounded in the arms and were charged with self-mutilation. They were court-martialled on 18th September on the evidence of one doctor and, with no testimony to their bravery allowed from their commanders or colleagues, were shot the following day.

Both men were exonerated after the war when the testimony of their comrades was finally heard and officers were sent south, on behalf of the Republic, with military medals. In Corsica the whole village turned out to honour their soldier but in Six-Fours, Auguste’s mother refused to open her door to the representatives of the military who had killed her son.

The book La Faute au Midi is a bande dessinée by historian Jean-Yves Le Naour and illustrator A. Dan, launched during the ‘Festival de la BD d’Aix’.

The accompanying exhibition combined these drawings with many exhibits from the period: local mobilisation posters, uniforms, postcards from the troops, diaries and so on.  It was fascinating and very very sad.