Color Photos From World War I

World War I, also known as The First World War, The Great War and “The War To End All Wars,” was a global military conflict which took place primarily in Europe between 1914 and 1918. More than nine million soldiers and civilians died. The conflict had a decisive impact on the history of the 20th century.

Although color photography was around prior to 1903, the Lumière brothers, Auguste and Louis, patented the process in 1903 and developed the first color film in 1907. The French army was the primary source of color photos during the course of World War I.

Gallica, bibliothèque numérique de la Bibliothèque nationale de France has many of these leftover photo relics from the past.

Let’s take a look into the past, a past with color. (You can click on the photos for the full size version.)

Frontline trenches.

Group of French servicemen, “Poilus,” in front of the entrance of a cote. “Poilus” (hairy) is the nickname to French WWI soldiers, since they could not afford the luxury of regular shaving. It is a term of affection, especially now. (Haut-Rhin. France. June 16th, 1917).

Intently looking at… what?

Lookout in the post of the lock 26. Serviceman Frenchman in observation. (Haut-Rhin. France. June 23rd, 1917).

Observation post.

Frontline trench, observer. French serviceman at work in the trenches. Woods of Hirtzbach. (Haut-Rhin. France. June 16th, 1917).

Medieval building.

Soldier, woman, baby.

Another building destroyed.

A barber.

Notice the wires.

Almost certainly a command headquarters, given the amount of communication wires.

Women at a water well.

Soldiers resting beside a wall.

A village scene.

An officer or staff member vehicle?

This is almost certainly a staff or headquarters vehicle.

Troops at rudimentary fortifications.

Senegalese and other French African colony soldiers.

Without knowing more, it is impossible to tell which French Colony these soldiers may have come from or, in fact, if they are French soldiers.

But France had a number of colonies in Africa at this time. In fact, almost one-third of Africa was under French rule in 1914.

This rail car got hit pretty heavily.

Makes one wonder whatever happened to the occupants, if there were any, of this railway car.

A makeshift urinal.

What appears to be an officer’s tent.

Chaplain and other French officers.

A field hospital or medical facility.

At a command post of some sort, I would guess.

There appears to be no damage to this building.

This looks to be near a water well, front right, and there is the young lady seated on the stone of the steps.

Haircut anyone? Close to the front line.

Looks as if one man is getting a haircut with the others either waiting for theirs or are simply looking on.

The sign, “Ligne de résistance” on the left, means “resistance line.” They must be close to “No Man’s Land.”

Soldier standing beside guard station.

Guard station.

Guard house.

RF in the sentry house stands for République Française (French Republic).

Damage done by artillery to church.

Note the crosses in the foreground, either marking a cemetery or, perhaps more likely, given the uniformity of the crosses, soldiers recently killed.

Notice the camouflage netting.

Cleaning outside a bunker.

Street shot showing damage to buildings.

Taking a break.

Boyaux were trenches or tunnels of communication that provided covered passage between parallels and from parallels to batteries in an attack by regular approaches. Boyaux for infantry were usually just wide enough for the passage of two men (4 to 5 feet); dimensions could be increased when it was necessary to pass artillery through the trenches rather than move guns and howitzers into position over open ground under cover of darkness. Boyaux were usually advanced from covered positions in rear of the trenches of an attack and from parallel to parallel in zig-zag patterns that defiladed the trenches from defensive artillery and small arms fire.

Cezaro means Caesar in French, just like soldiers gave names to the trenches in WWI.

Largitzen refers to the French region of Largitzen, which is in the extreme east of France, south of Alsace.

Belgian troops carrying their FN Mauser Model 1889 rifles.

Children amidst the destruction.

More color photos from World War I with English translations can be found here.