Lasting effects

What looks peaceful now, was a terrible battlefield during WWI: 120,000 soldiers died here, at Chemin des Dames in northern France. The French and the Germans dug trenches to protect themselves from bombardments and suffered in the hot summers and cold winters of the continental climate. Photo: Gilberto Güiza

Craonne is a small village in the former no man’s land between the French and German front lines. It was rebuilt 600 metres away from its original location after being … Photo: Barbara Hiller

… completely destroyed during the Great War. All that remains of old Craonne are these craters. Even the church was reduced to a hole in the ground. Photo: Barbara Hiller

Noël Genteur is a farmer at Chemin des Dames. His family has worked the land for generations, and his grandfather toiled for years to get the war-torn ground back into shape. Problems with left-over material from the war, however, persist. Photo: Barbara Hiller

For example, Noël Genteur's horses occasionally step on one of the many shards of metal left behind by exploding bombs. As the ground here is soft, their hooves sink in and the shrapnel injures their feet. Photo: Gilberto Güiza

Also, the field's drainage system was destroyed during the war. After seeping through a layer of limestone and sand on the higher parts of the land, the water hits a layer of clay, passes along its surface and turns parts of Noël Genteur’s fields into muddy puddles like this one. There are currently not enough funds to rebuild the drainage system. Photo: Gilberto Güiza

On the once so bloody battlefields, Noël Genteur also grows fruit and vegetables. These wild plums can be found in a small forest on his land. A few steps into the forest, however … Photo: Barbara Hiller

… two French bombs from WWI lean against a tree. Their diameters are 75 and 105 millimetres. Photo: Gilberto Güiza

Thanks to Noël Genteur and his work to keep the war and its lasting effects in public focus, an observatory has been built at Chemin des Dames. From there, visitors can survey the area and retrace the former front lines. They can also see … Photo: Barbara Hiller

… the new village of Craonne. Archaeologists estimate that bombs will continue to be found in this area for another 500 to 700 years – only one of the many reasons why Noël Genteur is fighting to keep alive the knowledge of what happened here in WWI. Photo: Barbara Hiller