国产热热热精品,亚洲视频久久】日韩,三级婷婷在线久久,99人妻精品视频,精品九热人人肉肉在线,AV东京热一区二区,91po在线视频观看,久久激情宗合,青青草黄色手机视频

World / Europe

France, Germany remember first fallen soldiers

By Agence France-Presse in Joncherey, France (China Daily) Updated: 2014-08-04 07:34

Descendants of two soldiers from France and Germany who were the first fatalities of World War I gathered in eastern France on Saturday for a ceremony marking the centenary of their deaths.

French Lance Corporal Jules-Andre Peugeot and German Sub-Lieutenant Albert Mayer were both killed on the eve of the outbreak of the 1914-18 war.

The commemoration took place in the northeastern French border town of Joncherey, near Belfort, where the German officer led a reconnaissance mission into French territory on Aug 2, 1914.

While Peugeot is remembered in France every year, Saturday's events were the first time that representatives from the two countries joined a ceremony in memory of both men.

Urns containing earth from the graves of both men were placed side by side at the town's monument to the French soldier.

The inscription on the stone reads: "More than 30 hours before declaring war on France, Imperial and Royal Germany spilled the first French blood."

Sibylle Frey, whose grand-mother was Mayer's sister, said she had been "very touched" by the ceremony.

"It is very important that after 100 years, the French and German families can be reunited," she said.

As Europe prepared for war, Mayer was the officer in charge of a small group of mounted soldiers who crossed the border into France only to come face to face with a local surveillance unit.

Peugeot and Mayer exchanged fire. The French-man was killed instantly, while the German died after coming under further French fire.

The reason for the incursion remains unclear since Germany did not declare war on France until the following day - Aug 3, 1914.

"This is an incident that should not have happened. It is important to tell the younger generation about it," said Gilles Maire, a retired lieutenant-colonel who helped organize Saturday's commemoration.

Before the observance, actors in period costume re-enacted the events of the day before a crowd of about 200.

As Europe prepares to remember the start of the war, ceremonial services will be held in Belgium, France and Britain over the coming days.

In Mons and Liege on Monday, a service to mark 100 years since the invasion of Belgium will be attended by members of the Belgian and British royal families as well as other heads of state and government.

London will also hold events to mark 100 years since Britain declared war on Germany.

The four-year conflict that became known as the Great War left about 10 million dead and 20 million injured on the battlefields. Millions more perished under occupation through disease, hunger or deportation.

 France, Germany remember first fallen soldiers

Two actors playing French Corporal Peugeot (L) and German Lieutenant Mayer (R) hold urns filled with earth from the two men's burial places during a ceremony to commemorate the first two deaths of World War I, in Joncherey, France, on Saturday. Peugeot and Mayer killed each other on the eve of the war declaration between France and Germany. AFP

(China Daily 08/04/2014 page10)

Trudeau visits Sina Weibo
May gets little gasp as EU extends deadline for sufficient progress in Brexit talks
Ethiopian FM urges strengthened Ethiopia-China ties
Yemen's ex-president Saleh, relatives killed by Houthis
Most Popular
Hot Topics

...
许昌市| 鄂伦春自治旗| 苍南县| 望奎县| 同心县| 广汉市| 邹平县| 晋州市| 重庆市| 安庆市| 乌兰县| 旌德县| 措勤县| 嘉兴市| 庄浪县| 舒城县| 那坡县| 中阳县| 禹城市| 昌吉市| 灯塔市| 益阳市| 昂仁县| 襄汾县| 泰和县| 天峨县| 五家渠市| 乐清市| 梅州市| 亚东县| 页游| 磐石市| 即墨市| 阳西县| 永善县| 西贡区| 河北省| 调兵山市| 泰安市| 万宁市| 县级市|