Arras (Pas-de-Calais) - La Grand'Place - 'Barbed Wire Square'

            The Postcard

A postally unused carte postale that was published by Lévy Fils et Cie of Paris and distributed by Charles Ledieu of Arras.

Although the card was not posted, someone has used a pencil in order to write a message across the divided back of the card:

"The Grand Place - known to
us a 'Barbed Wire Square'.
Fritz held one side, the French
the other in 1914.
Our people came up and 
drove him just out of the city
where he stopped until the
push at Easter.
I was billeted where the x's
are. I've also been on the other
side of the square before the
push. It's covered with barbed
wire now, and trains bring
transport to it, including food
for horses and men."

Arras in the Great War

Arras is in Northern France by the Scarpe River. It is the capital ('chef-lieu') of the Pas-de-Calais department. In 2012 the city held over 43,000 residents.

During the Great War, Arras was near the Western Front, and a series of battles were fought around the city and nearby Vimy Ridge.

Medieval tunnels beneath the city, which were linked and greatly expanded by the New Zealand Tunnelling Company, became a decisive factor in British forces holding the city.

The Arras Townhouses

In Arras there is a unique architectural ensemble of 155 Flemish-Baroque-style townhouses bordering La Petite Place (also called La Place des Héros) and La Grand'Place. 

Part of La Grand'Place is visible in the photograph. These houses were built in the 17th. and 18th. centuries, and were originally made of wood. After the Great War, most of these houses were so severely damaged that they had to be rebuilt, this time using bricks.

Arras in WW II

In the Second World War Arras was occupied by the Germans, and 240 suspected French Resistance members were executed in the Arras Citadel. 

During the invasion of France in May 1940, Arras was the focus of a major British counterattack. On the 3rd. September 1944 the town was entered and liberated by the British Guards Armoured Division.

'The General'

'The General' by Siegfried Sassoon:

'“Good-morning, good-morning!” the General said
When we met him last week on our way to the line.
Now the soldiers he smiled at are most of 'em dead,
And we're cursing his staff for incompetent swine.
“He's a cheery old card,” grunted Harry to Jack
As they slogged up to Arras with rifle and pack.

But he did for them both by his plan of attack'.
   

Taken on: September 15, 2023

Tags:

postcard

old

nostalgia

nostalgic

Arras

Pas

Calais

Grande

Place

Grand'Place

barbed

wire

square

Lévy

Fils

Cie

Paris

Charles

Ledieu

Fritz

1914

billeted

trains

food

horses

men

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Sets appears in: • Arras (Pas-de-Calais) in the Great War • Executions more » • France • Great War • Songs and Poems of the Great War « less

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