JensF.

The left window. It also shows the crest of the 33. Inf Div. (third row from above, #1). The "Lost Bataillon" was part of it.

Here one of the two colored windows of the chapel. It shows the crests of all divisions who fought in this area.

The hall of the large building at the cemetary. It is open each day for 24 h and can be visited whenever you want.

If I see things like this, I ask myself about the sense of the sentence "They died for their country".

This guy died one day before the end of the war...

Another view of a small part of it:

Hi gentlemen, I just returned from another trip to Verdun and I also visited parts of the Argonnen-Forest including the huge American Cemetary of Romagne sous Montfacon. 14246 US soldiers who died in WWI in this sector are buried here. The most of them died in the offensive in fall 1918 just before the end of the war. Here are some pictures made today in the morning:

Back:

A little contribution from me. Marked "900":

Very detailed back:

WOW! I love the Bavarian Bravery Medals! Strange, that someone got the Silber BM but no EK. I only have this "Spangenst?ck" of a Golden Bravery Medal (bronze, gold plated):

Thanks Joe. Can someone tell me more about the requirements for the ZL Merit Cross? Used to fill a gap between the Silver Merit Medal and the Karl-Friedrich Medal or more like the W?rttemberg Merit Cross with swords for "give him this one instead of nothing"?

I wonder that this guy hasn't got a Long Service award or more.

I just got this great one! Merit Cross of the Order of the Z?hringer Lion with Military-Karl-Friedrich Medal ribbon. It was awarded from 1915 on to senior NCOs like Feldwebelleutnant. Award numbers from 1915-1918 are just 556.

Nice!

A single:

WOW! I love that Order of Heinrich the Lion from Braunschweig!!!

Hah! Hendrik! Die Welt ist klein! Wie gehts? Thanks for the informations!!

After contacting the webmaster of this page I got additional informations about Defauwe: On Saturday, 11. May 1940 he was with other soldiers in his observation post at the coal-mine of Trembleur. At about 01:00 pm the Wehrmacht attacked this position. The soldiers left the post to retreat to the Fort de Barchon. After they started Defauwe returned to the post to pick up their light machine-gun to prevent the enemy to cature the weapon. During his way back he was shot. There shall be a commemorative-pillar at the place he died and in the Forts museum are pictures of him.

Marechal de Logis Guillaume Jean Henri Defauwe was the chief of a forward observation position of the Fort de Barchon at a coal-mine in Trembleur near Liege. On May 10, 1940 the fort was attacked by the germans. On Saturday, May 11, 1940 at about 13:00 o'clock, in his observation post Marechal de Logis Defauwe was hit by a bullet in his belly and died. He was the first dead of Fort de Barchon. The Fort de Barchon was one of the most heroic defended forts during the german campaign in belgium. It stroke back the attacks from May 10 - May 18! 8 days!!!! This soldier was an important and brave man who was killed in a very important operation in WWII. The legendary invasion of Fort Eben-Emael was on May 10!! I found some informations on this website: http://users.skynet.be/jchoet/fort/barchon.htm Saturday, mai 11, 1940: 13:00 Battery of machine-guns against planes re-enters at the fort. It will be installed for a part in the ditch of throat and for the other part on the solid mass. Mission harceller planes at low altitude. A touched plane. It must be posed between Housse and Trembler. Two wounded machine gunners. Killed observer with Trembleur. 22:35 Of faction to shelter AC1, the Miessen shift worker is strongly burned with the face by a rocket. Doctor Wiener is appointed to go to the shelter. The quotation on the agenda are as follows: - MDL Van Michel - Soldier Melen - Soldier Grandry - Soldier Vervier - MDL Defauwes or 11 mai 11H00 - l'observatoire 0337 de Neuve-Maison ne r?pond plus. 12H10 - Tir sur le carrefour des "Trois chemin?es" 13H00 - Un trimoteur est prit comme cible par les mitrailleuses et doit se poser en urgence dans la campagne entre Housse et trembleur; la premi?re victime du fort tombe: le mar?chal des logis DEFAUWES, chef du poste d'observation au charbonnage de trembleur est tu? d'une balle dans le ventre.

Some years ago I bought this belgian medal-group. I needed 2 years to research it and thats what I found so far: Medal group to the belgian Marechal de Logis (quartermaster?) Guillaume Jean Henri Defauwe who was killed in the beginning of WWII. The medals are: Order of Leopold II., knights-cross with palm Croix de Guerre 1940 with palm 1940-1945 Commemorative Medal with swords 1940-1945 Commemorative Medal of the city of Liege There is also his document for the posthumous award of the Leopold Order and the Croix de Guerre. Both on the same document with the following inscription: Le Ministre de la Defense Nationale a l honneur de faire savoir que, par Arrete de S.A.R., le Prince Regent, du 22.10.1945n? I208 La Croix de Chevalier de L?Ordre de Leopold II Avec Palme et attribution de la Croix de Guerre 1940 Avec Palme a ete decernee, a titre posthume, au Marechal des Logis DEFAUWE, Guillaume-Jean-Henri, pour: ?Sous-officier courageux et devoue, d?un calme imperturbable devant le danger. S?est toujours fait remarquer par une grande conscience et un sentiment eleve du devoir. Observateur au poste d?observation de Trembleur, s?est fait tuer pres de son poste, entoure d?ennemies.? Short Translation: The Ministry of War has bestowed the Order Leopold II., knights cross with palm and the Croix de Guerre 1940 with palm posthumously to marechal de logis Guillaume Jean Henri Defauwe on October 22. 1945 for: A brave and dutiful NCO with no fear during danger. He always stroke out by his duty and dedication. He was killed as an observer near his observation postition near Trembleur surrounded by the enemy.

Nice Croix de Guerres! Can someone shortly explain which type of ribbon devices they had and which level of commendation they denote?

#3

#2

How about this one?