World War I: the story of the 600 Saint

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

But the war was not only fought in Europe. This episode sheds light on the reality of daily life in the islands. It reveals the crucial role played by local charitable associations that supported the war effort from the rear.

The story also explores 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 for example. Finally, the threat even reached our shores with the unsettling presence of German submarines, the famous U-Boats, prowling in our territorial waters.

A poignant story that delves into the deep social and human consequences of a conflict that has lasting implications for 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 here: