Hartmanszwillerkopf

Yes, in spite of the name, this is in France. But it is a reflection of how contested the Alsace region was, with 'ownership' alternating between Germany and France.

My grandparents were raised and schooled under German occupation, thus didn't speak French -- although they were French citizens. During both world wars, their families were split up haphazardly: some sons were conscripted into the German army, some into the French army. My own parents were sent to Switzerland as a safe haven during the 2nd WW and I grew up listening to many stories of what it was like during these times.

This picture is from a military cemetary at the bottom of a hard fought over mountain during WW1. The whole mountain at the back of the cemetary faces the valley (and Germany across it) and its many bunkers and trenches have been preserved as a living memorial. These were the days before 'remote control' wars, when every inch of territory was gained or lost in face-to-face combat.

It was good to get reacquainted with this bit of my history.