An illustration of the French 75 mm. field artillery cannon in action with portraits of its developers, Deport and Sainte Claire Deville. The sender of the card credits it with the victory of the Marne. Illustration by A. Chrimona [?] Ehrmann [?]. Thanks to kgwbreadcrumbs.blogspot.com/2015/07/briefly-along-western-front.html for clarifying some of the text.
Le 75. La merveille de la guerre européenne, due au génie inventif de deux officiers français, fait, par la rapidité de son pointage, de son tir (21 coups à la minute) et par sa précision, la supériorité de l'artillerie française.The 75. The marvel of the European war, due to the inventive genius of two French officers, has proven, by the rapidity of its aiming, of its firing (21 shots per minute) and its accuracy, the superiority of the French artillery .Reverse:[Handwritten] 75 [mm] Cannonla terreur des Bochesla gloire de l'armée françaisele vainqueur de la Marne.Je vais bienJe t'embrasseÉdition Pro Patria.[Handwritten]? 75the terror of the Bochesthe glory of the French armythe conqueror of Marne.I'm fineI embrace youPro Patria edition.Thanks to kgwbreadcrumbs.blogspot.com/2015/07/briefly-along-western-front.html for clarifying some of the text.
"From 29th February onwards, the bombing was ceaseless.But the Germans were soon caught in their own trap. On 29th February, Pétain ordered the artillery of the 29th Division to be more aggressive. It was soon the entire artillery of the left bank which raked the newly conquered German positions. Taken sideways by the fire of the 75mm, the movements of the German troops were made very difficult. Any advance of the Crown Prince's men was immediately stopped in the area which bordered the Meuse. This situation impelled the Germans to take the battle on the left bank."
In their assault on Verdun, the Germans had advanced farther on the right bank of the Meuse than on the left, subjecting the French to enfilade fire. French General Henri Philippe Pétain had taken command of the defense of Verdun on February 26, and rapidly bolstered the defense and supply of the sector.
The Battle of Verdun by Yves Buffetaut, page 48, copyright © Ysec Éditions 2013, publisher: Ysec Editions, publication date: 2013
1916-02-29, 1916, February, Verdun, Battle of Verdun, Petain, Pétain, artillery, 75mm, 75 mm, French 75, French 75 mm field gun
