"This war is for platoon leaders and ordinary soldiers. You must have confidence in the private soldier. He alone is master here. He's only a few meters away from the enemy, in a fire zone, where life and death is separated from the occasional piece of paper provided by a General who has not heard, seen or felt the trenches.
The finest of destinies is to live a long and happy life. Why lie?
Last night, the company refused to launch yet another suicide attack. Not a man moved when the order was given to scale the parapet..eventually some decided to do so and none of them returned.
The officers were left powerless, and in exasperation, they abruptly climbed trench only to get themselves killed.
After 2 years of fighting, we now have the experience and judgement, to assess the orders given by those who command from afar..worry not, by the time this letter reaches you, I will be dead." – Sgt. Paul Cazin, 131st French Inf. Reg., 29th Div, Nov 27, 1916, Verdun, France.
#ww1 #reality #stayzero #zerofoxtrot