Fritz Von Versen letter to Mary Clemens - September 22, 1914
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22, [September], 1914. Dear Cousin! As you know we are in war. I am in France near Reims. We are astonished that France and Russia could begin a war with such troops. The french artillerie is very well drilled. But that’s all. I was at first at the [German-Belgium]frontier with my squadron to guard the arrival of the troops and had there heavy fights with the fronitireurs. As these reported the [French] government had sent man with money, military rifles and amunition. The people even wifes shot from behind out of windows, trees, walls, cellars etc. I saw a wife which gave a glass of milk to a medic in and another one cut his throat wits a razor when he drunk. So a I could tell you many histories of cruelty. We were obliged to bring all these before a court martial.
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The French were so clever to do not so in there own country. Here the authorities took the weapons in their guard. Our army marched at first to Namur. The [Belgian] army was very bad. We do’nt understand, that the king was with France and not with [Germany]. It was naturaly that we passed Belgium as French troops already had passed the [Belgium] frontier with the intention to come in our back. Near Namur we had the first big battle, which [ms illegible: 1 wd] three days. In this war the battle and fights always begin on Sunday. So we are obliged to fight every Sunday. That is not agreeable we are acustomed in
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Germany nothing to do on Sunday. We defeated the [French] army and followed her very quick on the next days. We put to prison many. The [French] fleeed without order till France. That a fight with [French] infantries which tried to come out of a village. My men were on a little hill and fired with her caraline. The [French] lost many men and do’nt come out. Later on the same day I helped with to catsch a big [Belgian] bagage. The [French] troops on her flight treated very bad the inhabitants and pillaged them so that on our arrival we were saluted as deliverer. The houses were terrible devastated. You can’t
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believe how it looked. Not a thing on its place. All drawers on the earth beside with bottles, bread, pictures, books, robes etc. Some day’s later on we had the battle of St. Quentin. The third day only the artillery fired, a tremendous noise, as the [French] infranterie no more went forward. On the evening the [French] army retired and we followed. I came with my squadron in very heavy artillerie fire but all went good. Later on we fought near Epernay and Reims, always with good luck. Now were are amidst a big battle of all [German] armies against the [French]. I think never so many men fought in one battle.
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It is astonishing that in [French] newspapers the [French] always are victors and the [English] and the Russian too, but we every day come nearer to Paris and into Russia. A war nowadays is no more a sport and the troops who are drilled in times of peace the best are the best. The troops must be very good in drill to go forward in the rain of balls of the modern rifles, machine guns and quick firing canons, small and very big one, and too the bombs of the flyers. They shoot on just a distance that a squadron can be killed before see any enemy. The weather was very good, only the last
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week we had rain. As we have enough to eat and all is going very good and quicker as the generals believed every man is very gay. We had the intention to go around Reims, as it is a very pretty town. The [French] however put fourty thousand men there into and attack us. So naturally we are obliged to fight. The [French] are in the big cellars under the town where are lying millions of bottles of champaign. From these cellers on can go under the earth till the mountains behind the town. When our infanterie attack the [French] come out. The [French] artillerie is in the streets in position and fires. We naturaly must
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answer I hope you are all well. Hulda with her children and Lotte are at Suckow. George is too in the war as Rittmeister. None will rest at home. We have so much that we can have nine armie corps more. The landlords had a good year. The weather was so good that all came well in, a fortnight earlier than in other years. My address is on the outside. Remember me kindly to all. I am very sincerly yours Fritz Versen.
Details
| Title | Fritz Von Versen letter to Mary Clemens - September 22, 1914 |
| Creator | Von Verson, Fritz |
| Source | Von Versen, Fritz. Fritz Von Versen letter to Mary Clemens. 22 September 1914. Mary Cornelia Clemens. Clemens Family Collection, 1737-1954. A0298. Missouri History Museum, Saint Louis, Missouri. |
| Description | Fritz Von Verson wrote his cousin, Mary Clemens, of St. Louis, Missouri, several times during World War I. Von Versen was Captain and Eskimchief in the body guard Calvary, Husar Regiment of the German Army. In his letters, Von Versen described the events of World War I from a Germans perspective. He discussed his experiences on the frontlines and was often critical of the Allies and their tactics. Von Versen's letters predated the United States entry into the war. |
| Subject LCSH | World War, 1914-1918--Germany; World War, 1914-1918--Technology; World War, 1914-1918--Equipment and Supplies; World War, 1914-1918--Beligium; World War, 1914-1918--France; World War, 1914-1918--Russia |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I |
| Site Accession Number | A0298 |
| Contributing Institution | Missouri History Museum |
| Copy Request | Transmission or reproduction of items on these pages beyond those allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the Missouri History Museum: 314-746-4510 |
| Rights | The text and images contained in this collection are intended for research and educational use only. Duplication of any of these images for commercial use without express written consent is expressly prohibited. Contact the Missouri History Museum's Permissions Office at 314-746-4511 to obtain written consent. |
| Date Original | September 22, 1914 |
| Language | English |