Denis and Bénédicte’s house is located near the First World War battlefields. The fighting lasted from 14 September 1914 until 28 September 1918, though the war never actually stopped in the area. The surrounding monuments: “La Butte de Vauquois,” “La Haute Chevauchee,” Varennes, Lachalade, Montfaucon, La Harazee and Cheppy, are all well know by historians.

The Argonne fields were liberated by the American Army under General PERSHING on 28 September 1918.

The city of Varennes, “La Butte de Vauquois” and the Montfaucon area were liberated on 26 September 1918 by General LINGETT of the First Army. He was in charge of the Aire River and its valley, as well as the Argonne Forest of “La Haute Chevauchee.”

General TRAUB of the 35th DIUS, National Guard from Missouri and Kansas, was posted at the entrance to Vauquois, General MUIR of the 28th DIUS, Iron Division, National Guard of Pennsylvania, was at the center, and the 77th DIUS, Metropolitan Division of NYC, was in the western limits of the Argonne forest.

On 26 September 1918 at 2:30 A.M., the American artillery with 2700 canon guns, engaged the Battle for Argonne. The battery of Captain Harry TRUMAN had bombed the German’s defense in the city of Varennes.

At 11:30 A.M., the 345th Tank Battalion under the command of Lieutenant Colonel George PATTON entered the city.

We know that the supplies of the American Army were organized by General MARSHALL, and that the defending Germans at Montfaucon were under the command of Captain ROMMEL. At that same time, in Verdun, a Lieutenant Charles DE GAULLE was fighting too. Surprisingly, we had almost the same military leaders of the Second World War in the same place at the same time during the First World War!

A visit to this area, still completely authentic and almost unchanged since that time so many years ago, will be no less than enthusiastic, emotional, and unforgettable.

Photo: “La Butte de Vauquois” Photo of the American Cemetery at “Romagne s/ Montfaucon”