Lille Before and During the War

by Pneu Michelin

THE GERMAN OCCUPATION

The German occupation began on October 13th, 1914. From the 13th to the 28th of that month it was Major-General Wahlschaffe who directed the operations, levied the War Contributions and chose the hostages. His successor, Artillery General Von Heinrich, was appointed Governor on October 25th, and held the post until December 27th, 1916, when he was made Governor of Bucharest. General Von Graevenitz was Chief of the Kommandantur, which occupied the premises of the Credit du Nord bank in the Rue Jean Roisin.

THE KING OF BAVARIA AND THE KAISER IN THE PLACE DE LA GARE

The Hostages and War Contributions

Sixty hostages were chosen from among the most notable persons in the town, and included the Bishop (Mgr. Charost), the Prefect of the North (M. Trépont), MM. Delory and Ghesquière, Members of Parliament, the Mayor (M. Delesalle) and deputy mayors. In groups of ten they were made to spend the night in turns at the Citadelle (photo, p. [51]).

From December 31st, they were required merely to sign a presence-sheet, but were later again forced to spend the whole of their time (day and night) in the Citadelle, this time in groups of five. Finally, they had to sign a presence-sheet each morning and evening until October 5th, 1915, when this formality was dispensed with, i.e. after the Census operations had been completed.

In November, 1914, began exorbitant exactions in the guise of War Contributions. On the 4th, Von Graevenitz demanded a million francs to be paid on the 10th; then two millions on the 17th, and three millions on the 24th, in addition to the expense of feeding the troops, which alone amounted to 10,000 frs. daily. After much negotiating the Governor finally agreed first to give more time, then to reduce the amounts of the contributions.

To ensure an effective control, a very strict census of the population was taken on August 27th, 1915. Particulars of the persons in each house were constantly posted up, and after September 1st identity-cards with photographs were obligatory. To be found in the street or even standing on one's doorstep without this card, was punishable by fine (3 to 30 marks) or imprisonment (one to three days).

M. JACQUET'S IDENTITY CARD
(see p. [16]).

Passes

DISTRIBUTING PASSES IN THE RUE JEAN-ROISIN
(see plan, p. [25]).

In January, 1915, the Kommandantur drew up rules for the granting of passes, a fruitful source of profit to the Germans, and of annoyance to the population. A scale of prices provided even for the shortest journeys. Funeral processions going to the South Cemetery were also required to have passes (free), to go through the Porte des Postes, and were escorted by soldiers, both going and coming, to prevent the people from leaving the ranks.

REQUISITIONING BEDDING IN THE RUE RATISBONNE.

However, little by little, the people took up their occupations again. Forty schools for boys and girls reopened early in November. Of the remainder, five had been destroyed, two turned into hospitals and ten into barracks. The higher schools and, later, the Lycée reopened, as did also the Conservatoire, whose pupils were exempted from having passes. The only newspapers allowed were the Bruxellois and the Gazette des Ardennes, both under German control. On November 15th, 1915, at the request of the Kommandantur, the Municipality started the bi-weekly Bulletin de Lille, which appeared on Thursdays and Sundays, and contained the Proclamations, Birth and Death notices, etc.

Next came the Requisitions: saddles and bridles, bicycles, photographic apparatus, telephones, bedding and horsehair (photo opposite). The Germans relentlessly seized all bedding, including that of the old people, some of whom died of cold from sleeping on bare stone floors. Neither sickness nor old age could soften them, and when at last Lille was relieved, very few houses contained any bedding.

Famine

The town now began to be threatened with famine. Since 1914, bread had only contained one-third of wheat flour. At the request of the Military Authorities, the Mayor sent an urgent appeal to Switzerland for help, to save the women and children from starving, and cited the case of Strasburg generously revictualled by her in 1870. In March, 1915, a Commission of Swiss Officers visited Lille, but was unable to conclude arrangements. On April 19th, after lengthy negotiations, the Comité National Belge, under the patronage of the Ambassadors of the United States and Spain, obtained permission to revictual the famine-threatened town.

In the meantime, recourse was had to various expedients to eke out the stocks of food. In December, wheat flour was mixed with rye, Indian corn and rice. In April, potatoes were added. On the 11th, bread cards were inaugurated, fixing the daily ration per head at 9 oz. The inhabitants were divided into two classes, the ration being distributed every other day.

The gold, silver and copper coinage disappeared, and was replaced by cardboard pennies and paper "bons" (photos above and below).

THE KAISER AND THE KING OF BAVARIA IN FRONT OF THE RUINS IN THE RUE DE TOURNAI (PLACE DE LA GARE).