The summer of 2014 is marked by two key anniversaries in
France and elsewhere: the centennial of the start of World War I and the 70th
anniversary of the liberation of France in WWII. The Gare de L'Est, the train
station in Paris where the Orient Express train began its original route, and
the place where our bike trip started, is currently bedecked with WWI
photographs. Many towns along our route have statues in memorial to their
residents who fought and died in these wars.
World War I was a global war centered in Europe that began
on July 28 1914 and lasted until November 11 1918. The main combatants were the
Allied Powers (including Britain, France, Russia, US, Canada, and others) vs.
Germany and Austria-Hungary. It was one of the deadliest conflicts in history,
with deaths of more than 9 million combatants and 7 million civilians. Several
of the major battles occurred at or very close to where we've cycled over the
past four days, including:
Major trench warfare in Verdun, which resulted in at least
700,000 casualties: Verdun is located just north of Bar le Duc, our destination
town 2 days ago.
Battle of Marne: Our route so far has followed closely along
the Marne River
Battle of Lorraine: We've been cycling for the past two days
in the Lorraine region, and had lunch today in Sarrebourg, one of the sites of
that battle
World War II was the most widespread and deadliest war in
history, involving more than 30 different countries and an estimated 50 million
to 85 million fatalities. It was marked by mass deaths of civilians, including
the Holocaust, bombing of enemy industrial and population centers, and the
first and (to this point) only use of nuclear weapons in combat. On June 6 1944
("D-Day"), the Western Allies invaded northern France. The landings
were successful, and led to the defeat of the German Army units in France.
Paris was liberated on August 25, 1944.
Memorials
Scenes from our rides on Tuesday 8/19 & Wednesday 8/20
Our wonderful hotel on Wednesday 8/20
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