Martin Antonenko
A Fixture
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2008
- Messages
- 8,995
German Cultural Barbarism!
Courcy Castle near Courcy-le-Château-Auffrique in northern France has been occupied by German troops since September 1914...:
The old fortress, one of the most important medieval feudal castles in Europe, serves the Germans as officers' quarters, barracks for soldiers and supply depot.
Especially the so-called "Donjon", a huge, massive stone defense tower inside the castle, 60 meters high and 30 meters in diameter is one of the most important of its kind in Europe!
The "Donjon" is considered to be the tallest tower in the world at this time!
The early occupation and the - so far - safe location behind the front means that the monument has so far survived the First World War without getting a scratch!
Until March 27, 1917!
Because the front has now moved closer to the castle due to the withdrawal of the German lines.
And the German Supreme Army Command (OHL) has now ordered the so-called "Operation Alberich" to withdraw large parts of the western army to the "Siegfried Position"...:
By clearing the arch position between Arras and Soissons, the aim is to shorten the front line in order to create operational reserves of soldiers again, and also to thwart the Allied attack plans for spring 1917.
The 1st and 2nd Armies and the right wing of the 7th Army are involved in the retreat...
...the management of the company lies with the army group "Kronprinz Rupprecht".
The OHL (German Army Supree Command) also ordered to use the "scorched earth" tactic - everything that can in any way benefit the enemy must be destroyed!
Around 200 towns and the infrastructure are completely destroyed in the course of "Operation Alberich"; more than 100,000 civilians are forcibly deported.
Courcy Castle is also affected!
The order here is to blow up the world-famous "Donjon", which the enemy can use as an observation tower!
When this plan became known, archaeologists, historians and other scientists worldwide protested!
Even General Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria...
...who is in command of "Operation Alberich" is one of the protesters!
But in Germany, the parliament or the emperor have long since ceased to have power, de facto the German Empire is a military dictatorship ruled by the OHL, Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg (as a popular figurehead) and his chief of staff, General Erich Ludendorf (as a coldly calculating , completely unscrupulous and planning head) is led...:
So the fate of the medieval castle is sealed!
In order to show themselves to the world public as a "cultural nation" (literally!), the Germans "generously" (as they think) offer neutral scientists 24 hours to take stock of the irretrievable monument!
Then the German demolition experts go to work - with German thoroughness!
When the keep is blown up in a massive explosion on March 27th, only heaps of rubble remain....:
The "Donjon" tower itself is gone - and the rest of the castle badly damaged. Til today...:
"Operation Alberich" may be a military success - at least that's how the OHL sees it.
But the image damage - not only for the empire, but for all Germans! - is tremendous, it still has an effect in the region today...!
Courcy Castle near Courcy-le-Château-Auffrique in northern France has been occupied by German troops since September 1914...:
The old fortress, one of the most important medieval feudal castles in Europe, serves the Germans as officers' quarters, barracks for soldiers and supply depot.
Especially the so-called "Donjon", a huge, massive stone defense tower inside the castle, 60 meters high and 30 meters in diameter is one of the most important of its kind in Europe!
The "Donjon" is considered to be the tallest tower in the world at this time!
The early occupation and the - so far - safe location behind the front means that the monument has so far survived the First World War without getting a scratch!
Until March 27, 1917!
Because the front has now moved closer to the castle due to the withdrawal of the German lines.
And the German Supreme Army Command (OHL) has now ordered the so-called "Operation Alberich" to withdraw large parts of the western army to the "Siegfried Position"...:
By clearing the arch position between Arras and Soissons, the aim is to shorten the front line in order to create operational reserves of soldiers again, and also to thwart the Allied attack plans for spring 1917.
The 1st and 2nd Armies and the right wing of the 7th Army are involved in the retreat...
...the management of the company lies with the army group "Kronprinz Rupprecht".
The OHL (German Army Supree Command) also ordered to use the "scorched earth" tactic - everything that can in any way benefit the enemy must be destroyed!
Around 200 towns and the infrastructure are completely destroyed in the course of "Operation Alberich"; more than 100,000 civilians are forcibly deported.
Courcy Castle is also affected!
The order here is to blow up the world-famous "Donjon", which the enemy can use as an observation tower!
When this plan became known, archaeologists, historians and other scientists worldwide protested!
Even General Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria...
...who is in command of "Operation Alberich" is one of the protesters!
But in Germany, the parliament or the emperor have long since ceased to have power, de facto the German Empire is a military dictatorship ruled by the OHL, Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg (as a popular figurehead) and his chief of staff, General Erich Ludendorf (as a coldly calculating , completely unscrupulous and planning head) is led...:
So the fate of the medieval castle is sealed!
In order to show themselves to the world public as a "cultural nation" (literally!), the Germans "generously" (as they think) offer neutral scientists 24 hours to take stock of the irretrievable monument!
Then the German demolition experts go to work - with German thoroughness!
When the keep is blown up in a massive explosion on March 27th, only heaps of rubble remain....:
The "Donjon" tower itself is gone - and the rest of the castle badly damaged. Til today...:
"Operation Alberich" may be a military success - at least that's how the OHL sees it.
But the image damage - not only for the empire, but for all Germans! - is tremendous, it still has an effect in the region today...!
