Pannes
This village lies well inside the southeastern quadrant of the wartime “St. Mihiel Salient”. After its initial capture by the Germans in 1914, the village spent most of the war behind German lines. It was liberated late in the afternoon of September 12, 1918, the first day of the American “St. Mihiel Offensive”, by Alabamians from the 167th Infantry Regiment of the 42nd “Rainbow” Division. The division’s 83rd Infantry Brigade established its headquarters in the village. Numerous German prisoners, billets, camps and supply dumps in the vicinity provided ample souvenirs for the “doughboys”. The original postcard view was made by the Germans during their occupation and German troops may be seen gathered around the house in the middle of the photograph. Of interest is the hand-written inscription on the reverse which says “French town taken from the Germans by the Americans, 1918”.
The "Now" photograph shows Tom Gudmestad standing at the corner. The village war memorial replaces the old wartime house.
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