French Soldiers Mutiny (apr 25, 1917 – jun 8, 1917)
Description:
The French army deployed a million soldiers to fight the Germans at Chemin des Dames in Picardy in the middle of April 1917.The German opposition is fierce, and by the beginning of May, the French had only been able to advance a few hundred meters at a cost of roughly 100,000 casualties in a few of weeks.
Between 30,000 and 40,000 French soldiers mutiny, participating in numerous plots.
The disastrous offensive is stopped after a month by General Philippe Petain, who intervenes.
The government is severe with the mutineers: 554 are given death sentences, and 49 are put to death.
The incident is referenced in Stanley Kubrick's 1957 film "Paths of Glory," which was only made available in French in 1975.
Added to timeline:
Date:
apr 25, 1917
jun 8, 1917
~ 1 months and 14 days