Summary Of Novembe's Letter To Demoliére

World War 1 Letter from Jean-Pierre Demoliére Jean-Pierre Demoliére was born in 1891 to a farmer and a modest housewife. He was raised in the small village of Saint Symphorien de Lay, 50 km from Lyon in eastern France. Jean had two brothers (both of whom went to war and died) and one little sister. He enlisted for the war right at the beginning, and entered with the 140th regiment infantry in early August of 1914. For much of the war, he was stationed in Rosiere (Somme, northern France), the historical location of the bloodshed of 1916 at the Battle of the Somme; during this battle over one million lives were lost, resulting in a stalemate. The French army alone suffered the smallest casualties with 200,000 men lost. Including the British count of 420,000 the Allies totaled 620,000 soldiers dead in battle. Nonetheless, the German soldiers were ultimately hit hardest, with half a million men killed in the battle. Whilst there, he wrote several letters of correspondence with his family. The following is a letter that Pierre wrote in the winter of his first year at war.
Translation:
Rosiere (Somme), November 25, 1914 “Dear Parents I respond immediately to the letter I just received and at the same time package, I thank you now nothing sent to me without you demand, these last days we received small packets sent by ladies of France, I hit one pair of wool sock, belt knitted wool and a shirt then you need to see that we are very well Dressing for the cold preserved us, but we need it because a few days ago he [s] was very cold that night we [saw] had a Man to the company [that] him a foot was frozen and it was evacuated immediately Jourd 'hui until I do not complain I is not got cold yet to say because I am well shod and well dressed and it is already something, now it looks like this time is a bit softer this time only last maybe not even that long happiness. I do not know much about long ago you told us hold the same positions on our side, but I know that some endure this terrible primarily due north and particularly in Belgium where We hear every day the guns, a few days ago that our side is pretty quiet long as it lasts [long] Today I saw a dispatch [who came] to the division that had the Russian general staff, and announced that they had taken Cracovi it is a great city in which German great importance for the Russians and now the case a month that they have Advanced in Germany, and on that side it avencera the aillor of this war what is expected, and I hope all this ends quickly, it begins to do this already long for those who are there for the beginning, but they are no good, we remain in my class 6 [6] of the Class 1912 left 4 or 5, and the 1913 class there one left then you must see by this that if I had not been spared I will not be held far and say that I never the slightest injury, at least I hope I arrive without anything happening to me. I end my letter by sending you a big hello and especially to small Jeanne, if you could make me a little letter I would be pleased, P Démolière” In his letter to …show more content…
Even after a few months at war, he keeps a very positive attitude and has yet to complain, assuring his parents that he is fine. He’s very appreciative of anything he is sent, including letters from his family and especially care packages from French women supporting the war effort. Such packages to the “poilu” (French for hairy, used to describe the bold, manly French soldiers) were common and often included essentials, such as wool socks and other warm clothing items. Pierre assures his parents of his wellbeing, writing with a positive attitude, while maintaining realism. As he relays his gratitude for the warm wool socks and reassures his parents that he is warm, he mentions trench conditions, noting a fellow soldier whose leg was amputated due to the