Flags for Peace 01

Until a few years ago, Côte 255, a hill on the northwest edge of the village of Gesnes-en-Argonne, was barely noticed. Like many hills in this area, it was full of greenery with tall trees. Once the trees were cleared and the greenery removed, the strategic importance of this hill suddenly became readily apparent.
From a great height (255 meters above sea level, hence the name Côte 255), there is a 360° degree view of the wide surroundings. An ideal place to keep an eye on the enemy's movements. The Germans had immediately realized this and installed themselves on this hill. A bunker was built on the north side of the summit to consolidate their position. They sat there until the Americans drove them out as part of their Meuse-Argonne offensive on Thursday, October 10, 1918.

The battle for Côte 255

The hill was unsuccessfully attacked by the 32nd U.S. Division on Oct. 4 and 5, 1918. By order of the Headquarters Detachment, 64th Brigade, 32nd Division, AEF, the 1st Battalion, 127th U.S. Infantry Regiment, 64th Brigade was ordered to provide flank support to the 181st Brigade, 91st Division, AEF in their mission to take the strongly defended enemy position on Côte 255.The 3rd Battalion, 361st U.S. Infantry Regiment was tasked with this mission and attacked Côte 255 on the morning of Wednesday, October 9, 1918. One failed to take the position after several attempts during the morning.Later in the afternoon, the 1st Battalion, 127th U.S. Infantry Regiment was withdrawn from its supporting flank mission and ordered to support the 3rd Battalion, 361st U.S. Infantry Regiment in attacking the strongly held enemy position on Côte 255 defended by the Saxon Reserve Infantry Regiment 243 of the 53rd Reserve Division.

The assault on Côte 255 began around 1 p.m. and after heavy close-range fighting by both the 127th and 361st U.S. Infantry Regiments, the top of Côte 255 was captured around 6 p.m. that evening.

The bunker on the north slope continued firing on soldiers of both the 127th and 361st throughout the night until it was captured the next day.

In the Regimentsgeschichte (Regiments History) of the Reserve Infantry Regiment 243, written in 1927, there is no mention of the defense of this hill. The last three pages, describing the situation from September 18, 1918, show bitterness and frustration. It is even written that the dismantling of all German regiments (read: losing the war) was ‘die Schuld der Heimat’, the fault of the Fatherland.
It is further stated that the fighting was merely an attempt to hold up the enemy with no prospect of victory. A fight to the death!

Flags for Peace.
A new project of War for Peace/Romagne 14-18.

On Feb. 25, 2023, Jean-Paul and three volunteers planted 1,000 red flags on this hill in remembrance of all that took place on and around this hill over 100 years ago.

The planting of flags is part of the War for Peace idea that Jean-Paul has been wholeheartedly engaged in since this year. The planted flags symbolize the war dead of the time on both sides. Soldiers, who by the twist of fate faced each other. Through the flags they are made visible again for a moment and not forgotten. One hundred years later, Jean-Paul's flags symbolize a call for peace now, all over the world.

For all information about the Flags for Peace project, please visit the new Flags for Peace page.