La Tête des Faux / Buchenkopf

La Tête des Faux, located in the Vosges Mountains of northeastern France, is one of the lesser-known battlefields of World War I. It was the site of intense fighting between French and German forces due to its strategic position overlooking the Alsace plain and providing access to major regional routes. The Germans called the mountain Buchenkopf.

La Tête des Faux is one of the highest peaks in the Vosges Mountains, standing at around 1,219 meters. Its height provided a strategic vantage point over the surrounding valleys and access to the Alsace region, which was contested during the war. Control of the peak was essential for both sides as it allowed observation and artillery spotting, giving whichever army held it an advantage in terms of movement and logistics.

The primary fighting around La Tête des Faux took place between 1914 and 1915. French and German soldiers engaged in brutal trench warfare in extreme conditions, including snow and freezing temperatures. The Germans initially held the high ground and established a network of bunkers, trenches, and barbed wire, making it difficult for French forces to advance. The French army launched several offensives and eventually captured the summit.

La Tête des Faux remained contested during the war, and it eventually became a static front line. Both sides built extensive defensive positions, resulting in a stalemate that lasted until the end of the war. Life in the trenches was challenging due to the lack of sufficient shelter, and both sides endured harsh winters. Many soldiers fell victim not only to combat but also to exposure and frostbite.