may 5, 1917 - The French Soldiers' Mutiny

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WW1 was very disastrous for all armies in the war, but especially for the French Army. With Germany unyieldingly attacking the Chemin des Dames front after 3 years of war, the French Army was falling weak and losing morale. After their failure in the Second Battle of the Aisne, May of 1917, soldiers reached breaking point. On May 5th, the 21st division of the French army began mutiny, with their phrase “We are not marching.” Afterwards 68 divisions, 136 regiments and 23 battalions joined the rebellion. General Philippe Petain took command from General Robert Neville and ended the insurrection. He improved living conditions, and set rotations for the soldiers. He also instigated a policy of focusing attacks on achievable objectives and ensured that artillery, aircraft and tanks properly supported the infantry’s assaults. Though the army was set again, the ones who Mutinied were punished strictly. Between April 1917 and January 1918 as many as 40,000 men were involved in the uprising. As a result, 554 men were condemned to death by the Command, although ultimately only 49 were actually executed.

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