BYGONE PILGRIMAGE. RHEIMS and the Battles for its Possession An Illustrated Guide to the Battlefields 1914-1918.

The book opens with an interesting, brief history of the cathedral city where French kings were traditionally crowned before leading into the Great War. The Germans occupied Rheims for a short time in September 1914 but were forced to withdraw. Thereafter they subjected the town to frequent bombardments throughout the war, inflicting enormous damage on the place; the famous cathedral was badly knocked about. The fighting for the town in 1914 is described as is, briefly, the disastrous French Nivelle offensive of April 1917, the German last fling in July 1918 and the final operations of September-November 1918, all with explanatory maps.There are two itineraries of the town with accompanying street plans, and four tours of the battlefield. The photos are, as usual, of great interest, showing Rheims before and during the war.