History of the occupation
Before examining the postal history of the occupation, it is worth recounting the key events that took place in VALENCIENNES between 1914 and 1918.
On 3 August 1914, war was declared.
The Germans invaded neutral Belgium and advanced toward the French border.
The French moved to defend the frontier, and VALENCIENNES was abandoned. Only a few reservists and mobilized members of the 127th Infantry Regiment, based in VALENCIENNES, remained behind.
As the German advance proved swifter than anticipated, the French general staff deployed better-prepared French and British troops to the district. Their objective was to move rapidly toward the border and push into Belgian territory.
On 23 August, the first German troops (from the 1st Army) crossed the border near CONDE-SUR-L'ESCAUT, leading to skirmishes north of VALENCIENNES.
On 25 August, the Germans reached VALENCIENNES.
From late August to early September, the region, not yet fully occupied, witnessed scattered fighting. The German forces were still insufficient in number, allowing many small French units to retreat and attempt to rejoin their main lines.
On 7 September, the fortress of MAUBEUGE fell. Over 40,000 well-armed German troops captured more than 40,000 French soldiers. MAUBEUGE, an outdated fortress, had never been considered a serious defensive stronghold by the French general staff, who had not anticipated a German invasion of the Nord. However, it is now recognized that the ten days of resistance at MAUBEUGE played a crucial role in delaying the German advance. This delay allowed the French to halt the Germans at the Marne, preventing them from deploying the 40,000 men besieging the town.
By mid-September, the fate of VALENCIENNES was sealed: the city was fully occupied. The Germans remained there until the end of the war.
Propaganda photo showing a group of German soldiers being shown the road to LILLE by a child in 1914.
The years 1915 and 1916 saw the consolidation of the Western Front, transforming the VALENCIENNES region into a key hub for the German military apparatus. Requisitions became more frequent, control grew increasingly oppressive, and life in the district became ever more difficult. The first shortages also appeared in Germany, signalling that the war would be prolonged.
The armistice with Russia at the end of 1917 allowed Germany to redeploy divisions to the Western Front. However, these troops were not of the highest quality and were poorly prepared for the combat methods required on this front.
In 1918, the Great Spring Offensive briefly gave the Germans hope for a decisive victory. However, by June, it became clear that their territorial gains had reached a peak. Allied defences had strengthened, and the Germans suffered heavy losses among their fresh troops. In July, the French launched a counteroffensive against the exhausted German forces. The Allied advance, once begun, did not relent until the Armistice.
From July 1918, successive Allied counteroffensives forced German troops into a steady retreat. As they withdrew towards Belgium, they passed through the VALENCIENNES district.
By the end of October 1918, the first communes in the district were liberated by Anglo-Canadian forces. Before their retreat, the Germans had ensured the evacuation of civilians, first to VALENCIENNES, then further into Belgium.
By September 1918, the war of movement had resumed, and German forces were in continuous retreat. However, they hoped to halt the Allied advance along the Hermann Line, where Valenciennes was a key defensive position, protected by the Scheldt River and the heights of MONT-HOUY. Additionally, the presence of large numbers of refugees from other towns made direct bombing of VALENCIENNES impossible. The Anglo-Canadians, having meticulously planned their attack, successfully seized MONT-HOUY in a single assault.
On 3 November 1918, the Canadians liberated VALENCIENNES.
Throughout the occupation, VALENCIENNES was controlled by several German armies:
1st Army (late August – mid-September 1914)
7th Army (mid-September – mid-October 1914)
6th Army (mid-October 1914 – 30 September 1916)
1st Army (1 October 1916 – 20 April 1917)
2nd Army (20 April 1917 – September 1918)
17th Army (September 1918 – 3 November 1918)
The 17th Army established its headquarters in SAINT-AMAND-LES-EAUX on 1 February 1918 and occupied Valenciennes in October 1918, just before its liberation.
Parade of the 125th Württemberg Infantry Regiment (26th Württemberg Infantry Division). From 1 to 11 May 1917, this regiment was at rest in VALENCIENNES. It took part in 2 parades: on 6 May in front of the Division General and on 9 May in front of Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria.
Throughout the war, the VALENCIENNES district was part of the Etappengebiet (rear area), positioned immediately behind the front lines and before the General Government zone in Belgium and German territory.
The Etappengebiet served as a crucial logistical zone, facilitating the movement of troops, munitions, equipment, and food supplies essential for sustaining the war effort.
German troops were therefore in relative safety, despite frequent air raids by the Allies. These raids mainly targeted military installations (airfields, stations, depots, and munitions factories). The accuracy of these aerial bombardments was relative, and it was not uncommon for civilians to fall victim to them.
Air raid on VALENCIENNES 1915.
Railway tracks destroyed by an air raid on VALENCIENNES, which also destroyed 16 wagons of ammunition.
Each German army had its own rear area, managed by a Lines of Communication Inspectorate (Etappeninspektion). This body was responsible for coordinating the movement of troops and equipment within its sector and, most importantly, for maintaining communications with the front. Additionally, it oversaw economic management, including collecting financial contributions from municipalities in the occupied territories to sustain the German forces. The Etappeninspektion was also tasked with maintaining both military and civil order within its jurisdiction.
VALENCIENNES served as the rear area capital town (Etappenhauptort) for four armies : the 7th, 6th, 1st, and 2nd Armies. However, by mid-September 1918, the front lines were too close to allow the 17th Army to establish its Lines of Communication Inspectorate in VALENCIENNES.
It is important to distinguish the Etappeninspektion from an army’s headquarters. For example, during the 6th Army’s occupation, the Etappeninspektion was based in VALENCIENNES, while the Army High Command was located in LILLE.
For four years, the Germans were firmly entrenched in the district.
Bavarian ambulance. Kraftwagen-Park 6. of VALENCIENNES destroyed by an allied bombardment.
Offices of the stage depot of the 6th Army located at la croix d'ANZIN.
