British (Scottish) soldier inspecting fallen German machine-gunners near Méteren in Flanders.


 British (Scottish) soldier inspecting fallen German machine-gunners near Méteren in Flanders, July 20, 1918.

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The following is the diary entry of 21-year-old Danish-German machine-gunner I.J.I Bergholt reporting on a charge across a bridge on the Western Front in May 1918. Translated by myself:

 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

"We had been attacking since early morning, had advanced, withdrawn and advanced again, until we halted before a village. Our machine-guns were with us in the frontlines, so our men cleverly carried the heavy equipment. Suddenly the Infantry company with us in the frontlines was withdrawn. We were now alone and were to hold the front with the three machine-guns in our platoon.

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We had a new Feldwebel as platoon leader, one of whom had been recruited from the Landwehr. The Feldwebel was a nice fella; but it was the first attack he participated in, thus his war skills were non-existent. He was what we referred to as an aging gentleman, perhaps around the 40s.

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In front of us was a small stream, almost a brook. On the left a bridge across the stream. Ca. 200 meters ahead lay the village which was occupied by Englishmen - at least we believed so.

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We were positioned quite well in front of the stream. Suddenly our Feldwebel had the ludicrous idea to cross the stream and dig in on the other side. This made my comrade Richard ask if it was the intention for us to win the war all by ourselves?

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What our Feldwebel answered I don't recall, but he ordered the advance. Of course we thought we would go through the stream; but no, we were to cross the bridge. This was even more ludicrous, for the enemy could easily mow us down with a single machine-gun. But our Feldwebel had already went ahead, and we were forced to follow.


Luck was on our side. We crossed the bridge without a single shot fired. The Englishmen must've fallen back or had been eradicated by the German artillery. Once we had taken our new positions, Richard came with another of his humorous remarks: "Mr. Feldwebel, when soon you return to Germany, make sure to give them our greetings."

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Our Feldwebel didn't really understand the remark and asked what he meant. Richard answered that this piece of art, which our Feldwebel had just performed, he wouldn't be able to repeat with the same fortunate outcome. Our Feldwebel believed that it could easily be repeated, and Richard let him stay in that faith.

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The following day our Feldwebel received a bullet which entered through his mouth and exited through the cheek - a lucky bullet which secured his ticket back to Germany. Richard's prediction came true quicker than we had expected."

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