WWI Experience of Sgt. Ernst Beseler
11/10/1918
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In this World War I account, Sgt. Ernst Beseler describes his first-hand experience at the front:
The hun evidently knew we were coming as it did not take long for him to get the range on us. So we proceeded to hunt cover as best we could. That night we moved up in the rear of the jumping-off place and slept on a narrow-gauge railroad. The hun shelled us all night long.This document comes from a collection of "Personal War Experiences" that WWI servicemen were asked to write after their return from the front during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. The men were personnel of the 36th Division – known as the Lone Star Division, formed from the Texas and Oklahoma National Guard – of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF).
Transcript
My Experience on The FrontWere ordered to proceed from Alany to the Front on the 4th of Oct. arrived Somme Sweeps[?] on the 5th staying there untill the morning of the 6th leaving there for the front. hiked all day over shell torn country. could not imagine how any living thing could survive where shells fell like rain. we camped in rear of the lines one night & moved up the next. at 4:30 on the eve of the 7th we went up to with-in 1 kilometer of the front. The hun evidently knew we were coming as it did not take long for him to get the range on us. so we proceeded to hunt cover as best we could. That night we moved up in the rear of the jumping-off place and slept on a narrow-gauge railroad. The hun shelled us all night long. At 6 A.M. the morning of the 8th we hurried the jumping-off place. We went over-the-top under terrific shell and M.G. fire. The captain had gotten about 50 yards when he turned around saying he was hit & for me to notify the Lieut. to take command & then to carry him to the rear. which I and several others did under terrific shell fire. arriving at the first aid station we saw the first hun prisoner come in. He reminded me of a "Whipped Dog." We bid the Capt a fare well and went to our kitchen knowing it was useless to try to locate our company. it was not very long before one of the fellows came back saying every-thing was O.K. The next day our train officer was wounded so I was sent to help the Supply Sgt. All the prisoners seemed contented, & very glad to be captured by the Yanks. The company went over the top again on the 10th gaining their objective but losing several men in the smoke & gas the hun was throwing over. They soon found the co & every-thing was O.K. The hun realized he was up against a stiff proposition so he evuacated [evacuated] on the 12th. We marched for two days through mud and water up to the tops of our shoes. He had halted on the banks of the River Aisne & showed his teeth once more. Our Co was in Reserve for 4 days then moving up in support for 3 days. Then we went into the lines once more. The Co P.C. was in St. Vanburg. My Platoon was left in the Reserve but only for a day. I was notified that my platoon had to go over-the-top at 4 30 the next evening. That night I moved up into the jumping-off-place staying there all day. The barrage started promptly at 4 10 and lasted until 4 30 then we hopped over-the-top. The German counter-barrage did not start until we were well out in no-mans land. The[n] he proceeded to tear up the country in rear of us. The Hun Infantry did not show any fight. shouting Kamerad at the top of their voices they came out of their holes. We gained our objective and consolidated our positions. The Hun Artillery got range on us that night & surely dealt us misery. The next night we were relieved by the French. Surely was one happy bunch to get off the lines. But we won't holler about it if they say go back as we came over to fight.
First Sgt. Ernst Beseler
Co. B. 132. M.G. Bn. O.K.
Jnh R. Smith
1st Lieut
This primary source comes from the Records of the American Expeditionary Forces (World War I).
National Archives Identifier: 77416538
Full Citation: Personal Experience of World War I from Sgt. Ernst Beseler; 11/10/1918; Beseler, Ernst Sgt. 132nd M.G. Bn. Co. 36th Division 1918, 236.33.61; Records of Divisions, 1917 - 1920; Records of the American Expeditionary Forces (World War I), Record Group 120; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/wwi-beseler, March 27, 2025]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.
