Science WWI Zone Rouge In France - Page 3

**gblowfish** · 11-18-2021, 01:08 PM

I was reading about the Battle of Verdun in WWI. Verdun was an ancient city northeast of Paris, and was considered the strong point of protection from the Germans advancing on Paris itself. In a 10-month fierce battle in 1916, there were 700,000 casualties, including at least 150,000 dead on both sides, along with tens of thousands of civilian deaths and the death of thousands of animals. Both sides called the battlefield "The Hell of Verdun." In 1918, France declared an area around the size of NYC the "Zone Rouge" or "Red Zone." These were areas of battlefields too dangerous to try to recover. No farming, logging, home building, nothing. Too many unexploded bombs and environmental dangers from poison gas cannisters to just disease and filth from all the death.

So the French Government has been working on these "Red Zones" for over 100 years, trying to clean them up. The off limit areas now are down to around 70 square miles. Over 900 French citizens have died since the end of the war from previously unexploded ordnance. Last incident was in the 1990s.

The French Government thinks it may take another 100 years or more to make all the "Red Zone" safe to re-occupy. Crazy. You can read about the Red Zone here:

https://brilliantmaps.com/zone-rouge/

Jenson71 · 11-18-2021, 10:01 PM

I've been to Verdun twice and its a rough town, like it never really could blossom after the war. The walls of the fort are up and there is a new museum dedicated to the Battle.

Outside of town you can tour Fort Douaumont ("Fort Dua-mo") and there's an incredible memorial nearby. From the outside of the memorial, you can peer into the windows and see the foundation of the memorial. It is stacked of skulls and bones of the dead. Chilling.

I doubt you could drive 25 miles in Northeast France without coming across a WWI battlefield, cemetary, or shrine.

DJ's left nut · 11-18-2021, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jenson71

I've been to Verdun twice and its a rough town, like it never really could blossom after the war. The walls of the fort are up and there is a new museum dedicated to the Battle.

Outside of town you can tour Fort Douaumont ("Fort Dua-mo") and there's an incredible memorial nearby. From the outside of the memorial, you can peer into the windows and see the foundation of the memorial. It is stacked of skulls and bones of the dead. Chilling.

I doubt you could drive 25 miles in Northeast France without coming across a WWI battlefield, cemetary, or shrine.

This is how my wife will eventually get me to agree to a trip to France. I've seen photos of that giant ossuary and yeah - I can't even imagine how unnerving that would be in person.

But I want to do a WWI tour of France and just see all these historic battlefields and museums/monuments.

scho63 · 11-19-2021, 07:28 AM

The depravity of mankind never ceases to amaze me.

The things we have done to other living souls is deplorable.

The Rape of Nanjing is another horror show.

RedinTexas · 11-19-2021, 08:32 AM

If you're ever in London, I recommend a visit to the Imperial War Museum. It's close to Waterloo station and easy to get to. It's well worth the time if you're interested in this kind of stuff.

11-18-2021, 01:08 PM
gblowfish Be Kind To Your Pets Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Glorious Independence, MO Casino cash: $16886178 VARSITY	WWI Zone Rouge In France I was reading about the Battle of Verdun in WWI. Verdun was an ancient city northeast of Paris, and was considered the strong point of protection from the Germans advancing on Paris itself. In a 10-month fierce battle in 1916, there were 700,000 casualties, including at least 150,000 dead on both sides, along with tens of thousands of civilian deaths and the death of thousands of animals. Both sides called the battlefield "The Hell of Verdun." In 1918, France declared an area around the size of NYC the "Zone Rouge" or "Red Zone." These were areas of battlefields too dangerous to try to recover. No farming, logging, home building, nothing. Too many unexploded bombs and environmental dangers from poison gas cannisters to just disease and filth from all the death. So the French Government has been working on these "Red Zones" for over 100 years, trying to clean them up. The off limit areas now are down to around 70 square miles. Over 900 French citizens have died since the end of the war from previously unexploded ordnance. Last incident was in the 1990s. The French Government thinks it may take another 100 years or more to make all the "Red Zone" safe to re-occupy. Crazy. You can read about the Red Zone here: https://brilliantmaps.com/zone-rouge/
Posts: 41,016

11-18-2021, 10:01 PM	#31
Jenson71 fides quaerens intellectum Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: United States Casino cash: $8330900	I've been to Verdun twice and its a rough town, like it never really could blossom after the war. The walls of the fort are up and there is a new museum dedicated to the Battle. Outside of town you can tour Fort Douaumont ("Fort Dua-mo") and there's an incredible memorial nearby. From the outside of the memorial, you can peer into the windows and see the foundation of the memorial. It is stacked of skulls and bones of the dead. Chilling. I doubt you could drive 25 miles in Northeast France without coming across a WWI battlefield, cemetary, or shrine.
Posts: 15,986

11-19-2021, 07:28 AM	#33
scho63 Politically Incorrect Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Casino cash: $-910000	The depravity of mankind never ceases to amaze me. The things we have done to other living souls is deplorable. The Rape of Nanjing is another horror show. __________________ *"The only difference between sex for free and sex for money is that sex for free costs you a WHOLE LOT more!"* ~Redd Foxx~ ~~2018 2019 2020 20212022 2023~~ 2024 Adopt a Chief - Clark Hunt and Brett Veach "The men who drafted Patrick Mahomes"
Posts: 55,094

11-19-2021, 08:32 AM	#34
RedinTexas Veteran Join Date: Nov 2020 Location: Texas Casino cash: $-80000	If you're ever in London, I recommend a visit to the Imperial War Museum. It's close to Waterloo station and easy to get to. It's well worth the time if you're interested in this kind of stuff.
Posts: 2,924