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Poilus
Poilu (; ) is an informal term for a late 18th century–early 20th century French infantry, infantryman, meaning, literally, ''the hairy one''. It is still widely used as a term of endearment for the French infantry of World War I. The word carries the sense of the infantryman's typically Rural, rustic, agricultural background, and derives from the bushy moustaches and other facial hair affected by many French soldiers after the outbreak of the war as a sign of masculinity. The poilu was particularly known for his love of pinard (wine), pinard, his ration of cheap wine. The image of the Wiktionary:dogged#Adjective, dogged, bearded French soldier was widely used in propaganda and war memorials. The stereotype of the Poilu was of bravery and endurance, but not always of unquestioning obedience. At the disastrous Second Battle of the Aisne, Chemin des Dames offensive of 1917 under General Robert Nivelle, they were said to have gone into no man's land making baa'ing noises—a co ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lazare Ponticelli
Lazare Ponticelli (born Lazzaro Ponticelli; 24 December 1897, later mistranscribed as 7 December – 12 March 2008), Knight of Vittorio Veneto, was at 110, the last surviving officially recognized veteran of the First World War from France and the last '' poilu'' of its trenches to die. Born in Italy, he travelled on his own to France at the age of eight. Aged 16, he lied about his age in order to join the French Army at the start of the war in 1914, before being transferred against his will to the Italian Army the following year. After the war, he and his brothers founded the piping and metal work company ''Ponticelli Frères'' (''Ponticelli Brothers''), which produced supplies for the Second World War effort and as of 2021 was still in business. He also worked with the French Resistance against the Nazis. Ponticelli was the oldest living man of Italian birth and the oldest man living in France at the time of his death. Every Armistice Day until 2007 he attended ceremonies ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
