First World War: 13th of August 1914
The army of Alsace, formed in the aftermath of the defeat at Mulhouse, finally received its commander, General Paul Pau, mutilated veteran of the Franco-Prussian war. The same day, the 13th of August,...
View ArticleFirst World War: 14th of August 1914
On the 14th of August 1914, the army of Alsace launched a massive attack on German positions. The 1st and 2nd French armies attacked on the directions of Morhange and Sarrebourg where in a couple of...
View ArticleFirst World War: 16th of August 1914k
The 16th of August 1914 is an important day in the beginning of the First World War. The totality of the BEF, the British Expeditionary Force, has completed its landing in France. But hundreds of...
View ArticleFirst World War : 17th and 18th of August 1914
On the 17th of August 1914, the French offensive continues. However many attacks are launched without an enemy in front. The German forces have slightly retreated and when French troops entered the...
View ArticleFirst World War : 19th of August 1914
While Brussels has fallen to German soldiers, in France, the soldiers of the Empire and the Republic were once more fighting in the city of Mulhouse. The nearby town of Dornach became the theater of...
View ArticleFirst World War : 22nd of August 1914 the bloodiest day
A hundred years ago, France knew the bloodiest day of its history. Never before or after, France lost so many soldiers. Read more Around 27,000 Frenchmen died this day. The 22nd of August was a...
View ArticleFirst World War: 25th August 1914
After the disastrous battles of Morhange, Sarrebourg and the retreats in this last half of the first month of the war, the II French Army is asked to defensively deployed in what is called the ” Trouée...
View ArticleFirst World War : 26th of August 1914
On the 26th of August, the allied troops are retreating in front of the German advance. In Northern France, not far from the Belgian borders, British and French troops have started their retreat. While...
View ArticleFirst World War : 29th of August 1914
On the 29th of August, the allied powers are unable to stop the German advance on the western front. Some parts of France are already under complete German occupation. Paris, a German target, felt...
View ArticleFirst World War : the Marne
A hundred years ago from the 5th September to the 12th September 1914, the first battle of the Marne happened between Germany and Franco-British troops. The first battle of the Marne is the result of...
View ArticleLe Bazar de la Charité
The 4th of May 1897, in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, an alarming smell of horror and smoke invaded Street Jean-Goujon. Quickly, a general panic spread in the street and its surroundings. The Bazar...
View Article800 years ago : the battle of Bouvines
Throughout its history, France has participated in many wars. In Europe, France is one of the countries that has had the most successful military history. Great victories and shameful defeats have...
View ArticleNews : The marriage contract of Napoléon Bonaparte and Joséphine de Beauharnais
Last week the Second Imperial Jubilee was celebrated. To this effect several historical documents and objects from the era of imperial France were put on auction. Among these objects were letters...
View ArticleAn October day beside the river
The wonderful thing about town of Chalon sur Saone (or Saône if you like accents), is that you are almost in the south of France, but not quite. Lyon typically marks the boundary between the north and...
View ArticleThe Death of King Henri II of France
The 31st of March 1519, at the castle of Saint-Germain-en-Laye in the actual department of the Yvelines was born Henri de Valois, Duke of Orléans. Henri is the son of King François I and Claude de...
View ArticleNormandie-Niemen
Out of 97 volunteers, 42 never came back. They became living legends feared by the Germans and admired by the Soviets. They were a fighter group named Normandie-Niemen. After the fall of France and the...
View ArticleMerry Christmas and Happy New Year !
How to say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in French? Like many other countries, December is a month of celebration in France. Christmas and the New Year’s Eve are the main festivities. Christmas...
View ArticleEvolution of family names in France
Like many other countries, family names in France have evolved for centuries and still are. It is closely linked to the history of the country and reflects its evolution from the Roman times to today....
View ArticleXVIIIth and XIXth centuries in France part I : The twilight of the Sun King...
The XVIIIth and XIXth centuries in French history are often very confusing for foreigners. Revolutions, restorations, changes of governments and government types can be difficult to understand. This...
View ArticleXVIIIth and XIXth centuries in France part II : Louis XVI and the beginning...
The next monarch of France was the grandson of Louis XV, Louis XVI. He had two older brothers who died young and before their grandfather. Louis XVI was not born to rule but had to accept his fate....
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