World War I: The history of the 600 Saint

During Saint-Pierre and Miquelon’s major economic crisis at the beginning of the 20th century, the mobilization order of 1914 sparked an unexpected wave of patriotism. Nearly 600 men left the archipelago to join the battlefields of the Somme or Chemin des Dames, paying a colossal tribute with over a hundred missing.

But the war was not just fought in Europe. This episode reveals the reality of daily life in the islands. It highlights the crucial role played by local charity organizations that supported the war effort from the rear.

The story also delves into the darker aspects of the conflict, such as the scandal of spoiled cod sent to the troops or the tragic fate of a soldier from the archipelago shot as an example. Finally, the threat reached our shores with the troubling presence of German submarines, the infamous U-Boats, patrolling our territorial waters.

A poignant history that explores the deep social and human consequences of a conflict that has enduringly marked the population of the islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, and more broadly, has reshaped the face of our society. Listen to the full episode of this new episode: [Link to episode].