In an attempt to break the Vogesen Stellungen, the German fortified line in the mountainous area of the Vosges in eastern France, the French First Army decided to send commandos, used as light infantry, in an infiltration mission behind the German lines to distract them. The commandos managed to infiltrate the German lines and established themselves on top of a wooded hill known as the “Haut de Tonteux”. They were rapidly encircled and subjected to many attacks and shelling. After several days, lacking winter clothes, supplies and ammunitions and with increasing pressure from the regrouped Germans, the decision was finally taken to head back to the Allies lines. The most severely wounded would stay in place while the lightly wounded would follow the group.
