After French WWI Deserters Pardoned, Former Soldier Living As Woman For 10 Years To Avoid Arrest Reveals Identity
Paul Grappe dramatically changed his identity in order to return home after fleeing the army of France during World War I
World War I was a violent and sweeping shock. It was the first true global armed conflict, and in the years that the combat raged, countless soldiers served their countries from all over. It was little wonder that many came to regret and fear their enlistment, leading to some deserting their post. Moat considered such action illegal and punishable by death but when France granted amnesty to deserters a decade after the war, one man came forward and admitted he had lived as a woman during the previous 10 years in order to escape detection and punishment.
Lasting from 1914–1918, World War I was a struggle of almost impossibly bloody consequences. It’s believed that there may have been in excess of 40 million casualties, including 15–24 million deaths and around 23 million wounded.
In the winter of 1925, shortly after France announced their intent to grant amnesty to deserters, there were likely many sighs of relief. None may have been louder than that of Paul Grappe. His story became a national story after…
