Name/Title
StereographEntry/Object ID
2023.055.3.0140Description
A black and white stereograph. Image is of a domed metal structure partially buried in the ground. Above the image "W146 (Star)" is printed, below the image "18749 German Steel Cupola for Machine Guns, Demolished by the Allies." is printed, to the left of the image "Keystone View Company Copyrighted Manufacturers MADE IN U.S.A. Publishers" is printed, to the right of the image "Meadville, Pa., New York, N. Y., Chicago, Ill., London, England." is printed. On the reverse the following is printed:
18749
DEMOLISHED GERMAN MACHINE GUN CUPOLA
Hundred of cupolas like this one dot the fields of northern France. The Germans were past masters in the use of the machine gun. They foresaw its value in defensive warfer before our allies did. Infanty battalions in the German army were equpped with many more machien guns than were similiar battalions in our own armies. Thosuands of those deadly weapons were planted in the Argonne forest, hidden behind bushes, among rocks, in the treetops, everywhere, in ambush, wating for our soldiers. That was why this battle among the trees was one of the most murderous battles of the war. In respond to Pershing's demand, Foch gave to the Americans the task of driving the Germens out. "Your men hav ethe devil's own punch,' he said, "go to it."
In cupolas like the one before us a mahcine gun crew was safe from anything but artillery. Rifle bullets and gernades had no effect upon its heavy walls. Thrusting the mzzle of their gun through the round hole above, the crew swept a rain of bullets over the ground in front of them. But their turn came at last. The cupola was discovered, aritllery trained upon it and a direct hit smashed the wall and killed the crew.
Many devices were used to protect machine gun crews. We used solid, rectangular, concrete boxes pierced with a single slit, termed "pill boxes." In the night barbed wire was stretched along the line of fire and attacking troops, in their charge, were held up when they reached this wire and mown down as wheat under the scythe. A position defended by several of these "pill boxes" at different angels could seldom be taken until the "pill boxes" were discoverd and smashed by artillery.
Copyrght by The Keystone View CompanyCollection
Photograph Collection