Zone Rouge and the Iron Harvest (Encore) - Everything Everywhere Daily: History, Science, Geography & More

Summary

Everything Everywhere Daily: “Zone Rouge and the Iron Harvest (Encore)” – Detailed Summary

Release Date: December 18, 2024
Host: Gary Arndt | Glassbox Media

Introduction to the Episode

In this encore episode of Everything Everywhere Daily, host Gary Arndt delves into the enduring legacy of the First World War, particularly focusing on the regions in Belgium and France that continue to bear the scars of one of humanity's most devastating conflicts. The episode explores two significant phenomena: Zone Rouge and the Iron Harvest, illustrating how the war's impact remains palpable on the very landscapes where it was fought.

The Unparalleled Devastation of World War I

Gary begins by contextualizing the unparalleled brutality of the First World War, emphasizing its distinction from previous conflicts.

“The First World War was different. There were new weapons that had never been used in combat before.” ([05:15])

He highlights the industrial scale of weapon manufacturing, noting the sheer volume of artillery used:

“In just the first day of the Battle of Verdun, the Germans fired over a million artillery rounds.” ([07:30])

Comparisons are drawn to illustrate the intensity:

“Before the Battle of Messines, the British fired off 3.5 million rounds.” ([08:45])

The episode underscores the relentless nature of the warfare, with estimates indicating that between 900 million to 1.75 billion artillery shells were fired during the war. The sheer density of explosives is captured in the staggering figure:

“On the Western Front, there was an estimated 1 metric ton of explosives fired for every square meter of territory.” ([12:20])

Zone Rouge: A Decade-Long Curse

Transitioning to the environmental aftermath, Gary introduces Zone Rouge, the most severely affected areas declared unsafe for habitation.

“The French government declared some areas to be dangerous and advised people to be careful. These were known as Yellow and Blue Zones.” ([15:10])

He elaborates on the criteria that led to the designation of Zone Rouge:

“Damage to properties 100%. Damage to agriculture 100%. Impossible to clean human life impossible.” ([18:05])

Causes of Zone Rouge's Devastation:

Chemical Contamination: Residues from chemical weapons like mustard gas have permeated the soil and groundwater, leading to persistent toxicity.

“Traces of chemicals that still show up in the groundwater... believed to have come from the residue from mustard gas used during the war.” ([21:40])
Heavy Metal Pollution: Components such as arsenic, lead, mercury, and zinc from munitions remain in the soil at toxic levels, hindering vegetation growth even after a century.

“Some small areas in the Red Zone have arsenic levels so high that trees still can't grow a century after the war.” ([23:15])

Iron Harvest: The Ongoing Battle with Unexploded Ordnance

One of the most alarming legacies of World War I is the Iron Harvest—the annual collection of unexploded artillery shells that continue to surface.

“The annual collection of all of these unexploded shells is known as the iron harvest.” ([27:30])

Key Points on Iron Harvest:

Volume and Distribution: With over a billion artillery shells fired, an estimated 300 million remain as duds, scattered across northern France and southern Belgium.

“In the worst areas of the Red Zone, it contains about 120 unexploded shells in just the top 15 centimeters of topsoil in every acre.” ([30:50])
Handling and Safety Measures: Both France and Belgium have specialized departments—Departmente du Demenage and Belgian Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group (dovo)—dedicated to managing and disposing of these dangerous remnants.

“Every year, both organizations will handle the controlled elimination of 150 to 200 metric tons of these antique explosives.” ([34:10])
Casualties and Risks: Despite a century passing, unexploded ordnance remains a lethal threat, causing over 1,000 deaths since the war's end. Modern agricultural and construction activities occasionally trigger these munitions, leading to tragic accidents.

“Since the end of the war, there have been over 1,000 people that have been killed from unexploded munitions.” ([37:25])
Chemical Threats: Beyond explosive shells, chemical canisters pose severe health risks. Exposure to residual chemicals like mustard gas requires immediate and specialized handling.

“Farmers have had to get treatment for exposure to the contents when chemical weapon canisters were ruptured.” ([40:00])

The Futility of Complete Cleanup

Gary addresses the monumental challenge of fully eradicating these remnants of war:

“With hundreds of millions of unexploded rounds, it's conservatively estimated that it will take somewhere between 300 and 700 years for France and Belgium to be free of unexploded ordnance.” ([42:45])

The persistent presence of these munitions serves as a stark reminder that the consequences of war can linger far beyond its conclusion, affecting future generations long after the original conflict has faded into history.

Concluding Insights: The Enduring Legacy of War

The episode wraps up with a reflection on the broader implications of Zone Rouge and the Iron Harvest:

“The lesson of Zone Rouge and the Iron Harvest is that modern wars don't just end. The last casualty of the Great War may be someone who was born hundreds of years after the conflict ended.” ([45:30])

Gary emphasizes the necessity of remembrance and the importance of addressing the long-term impacts of warfare on both human populations and the environment.

Final Thoughts

“Zone Rouge and the Iron Harvest (Encore)” serves as a poignant exploration of how the First World War continues to shape the present landscape of Europe. By shedding light on the environmental devastation and the hazardous legacy of unexploded ordnance, Gary Arndt underscores the profound and lasting consequences of human conflict. This episode not only educates listeners about historical events but also prompts reflection on the ongoing responsibilities we bear in the aftermath of war.

Note:
This summary omits sponsorship messages and non-content segments to focus solely on the informative aspects of the episode. For listeners interested in further discussions or supporting the show, links to Everything Everywhere Daily's Patreon, Facebook group, and Discord server are available in the show's notes.

Transcript

Gary Arndt (0:00)

The following is an encore presentation of Everything Everywhere Daily. The First World War was one of the most devastating conflicts in human history. When the armistice was signed on November 11, 1918, the fighting might have stopped, but the impact of the war continued on. Today, over a century after the war concluded, it can still be felt, not in the third or fourth order geopolitical ramifications, but in the literal ground where the people of Belgium and France live and work. Learn more about Zone Rouge, the Iron Harvest and the lingering effects of the First World War on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily. This episode is sponsored by Mint Mobile. After years of fine print contracts and getting ripped off by overpriced wireless providers, if we've learned anything is that there's Always a Catch. So when I heard that all Mint Mobile wireless plans are $15 a month when you purchase a three month plan, I thought, what's the catch? Well, there isn't one. 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This type of beef comes from cattle that have grazed on grass for their entire lives as opposed to being finished on a diet of grains and other feed at a feedlot. Basically, cattle eat what cattle are designed to eat. Grass fed beef tends to have higher levels of omega 3 fatty acids and grass fed beef often contains more antioxidants such as vitamin E. Beyond personal health benefits, choosing grass fed grass finished beef can also improve soil health through natural fertilization and aeration and can also promot biodiversity on grazing lands. Consuming grass fed grass finished beef not only contributes to Better health, but also supports more sustainable farming practices. Sign up@butcherbox.com daily and get a special deal. New users who sign up for Butcherbox will receive 2 pounds of grass fed ground beef in every box for the lifetime of their subscription, plus $20 off your first box when you use code DAILY at checkout. The First World War was at the time, the most horrific war that humanity had ever fought. After its conclusion, it was simply known as the Great War because there was nothing else that could adequately describe it. It wasn't just that the war took a terrific human toll, although it obviously did. It was that the war was also qualitatively different than every other war that had come before it. Previous wars involved soldiers lining up against each other on a field of battle. Even with the development of guns and cannons, this was basically how war was fought through the 19th century, as can be seen in the Napoleonic wars and the American Civil War. However, the Great War was different. There were new weapons that had never been used in combat before. Industrial manufacturing allowed for the large scale creation of weapons and munitions. Just to give you an idea of how different World War I was, the number of artillery rounds fired in just the first day of the Battle of Verdun by just the Germans was over a million. Before the Battle of Messines, the British fired off 3.5 million rounds. These million round days were not an exception. In trying to find an estimate for the total number of artillery shells fired during the war, I've seen estimates that range from 900 million to as many as 1.75 billion. On the Western Front, there was an estimated 1 metric ton of explosives fired for every square meter of territory. Not only were there more artillery rounds fired orders of magnitude more than were ever fired in every other war in human history combined, but the rounds were larger, more destructive and could be launched further. Not only was the artillery destructive, but they also began firing new types of munitions. Poison gas. The gas was corrosive and could destroy your lungs and your skin as well as make you blind. By the time the shooting stopped at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, approximately 20 million soldiers and civilians had been killed in total on all fronts of the war while the shooting stopped. That wasn't the end of the story. Yes, the survivors and wounded had to go on and live their lives having suffered through the experience. However, there was also the issue of the actual land itself. In the past, when a great battle had been fought, it seldom left any long term impact on the land other than items that may have been dropped or bodies that may have been buried, you'd be hard pressed to be able to identify where a great battle took place. We still aren't 100% sure where the Battle of Cannae took place over 2,200 years ago. However, it's highly likely that centuries from now, historians will still be able to tell where the Western Front was located in World War I. If you've ever seen any footage or images from the Western Front, you may have noticed that it is completely devoid of life. There are no standing trees, there's no grass, and there's no animals. The ground had been completely churned up from the millions of artillery rounds that fell everywhere. The entire landscape was covered in craters, which made it look like a muddy moonscape. Whatever towns and villages may have been caught in the battlefield were pulverized into nothing. After the war, the French government had to figure out what to do with this land. Normally, at the end of hostilities, people would have been allowed to return to their homes. However, at the end of the Great War, the devastation was so great that it was not considered possible. Along the border with Belgium, the French government declared some areas to be dangerous and advised people to be careful. These were known as Yellow and Blue Zones. However, the very worst areas were were reported as follows in a French government Completely devastated. Damage to properties 100%. Damage to agriculture 100% impossible to clean human life impossible. These areas were known as Zone Rouge or the Red Zone. Why were these regions considered to be so bad that nobody was allowed to enter, let alone live there? The first had to do with the extreme levels of pollution. All of the explosives and chemical weapons permeated much of the ground. Much of it settled into the soil which remains there today. Some small areas in the Red Zone have arsenic levels so high that trees still can't grow a century after the war. Lead, mercury and zinc from all the munitions can still be found in the soil at toxic levels. And it's expected that the levels will be dangerous for at least 10,000 years. There are traces of chemicals that still show up in the groundwater in the region, which are believed to have come from the residue from mustard gas used during the war. However, the chemical contamination of the soil isn't even the biggest problem. The real problem is unexploded ordnance. Of the over 1 billion rounds of artillery shells that were fired during the First World War, an estimated 300 million of them, at least, were duds. Some estimates place the number of duds as high as a third of all the artillery Shells, and this was due to the low manufacturing quality, because each side was more interested in quantity than they were in quality. While these shells didn't detonate, they're still packed with explosives. These unexploded artillery shells are located all over northern France and southern Belgium. For over a century, these unexploded shells have been appearing almost continuously. The annual collection of all of these unexploded shells is known as the iron harvest. For farmers and people who live in the regions of France and Belgium that used to be the location of the Western Front, unexploded ordnance has been a fact of life for the last 100 years. It's hard to even conceive how many unexploded shells from the war are still in the soil in the area. A study conducted in 2005 and 2006 determined that in the worst areas of the Red Zone, it contains about 120 unexploded shells in just the top 15 centimeters or 6 inches of topsoil in every acre. Farmers who find shells in their fields routinely take them to drop off points that exist for unexploded shells. Both France and Belgium have government departments dedicated to handling unexploded munitions from the First World War. In France, it's known as the Departmente du Demenage or the Department of Demining. In Belgium, it's known as the Belgian Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group, or dovo. Every year, both organizations will handle the controlled elimination of 150 to 200 metric tons of these antique explosives. You might be thinking that after a century in the ground, most of these explosives are probably not active anymore. That is absolutely not the case. It is true that some of these may no longer be able to explode, but with every year there are reported cases of farmers who detonate rounds with their farm machinery while plowing. Since the end of the war, there have been over 1,000 people that have been killed from unexploded munitions which were used in the war. Thankfully, the number of fatalities from unexploded shells has dropped dramatically over the last 25 years. Two people were killed from World War I ordnance in 1998 in France, and two construction workers were killed in Belgium in 2014 when they encountered an unexploded shell. It isn't just the explosive shells that are a problem either. In some ways, those are easier to deal with because they can just be detonated in a controlled environment. There were chemical rounds that also didn't detonate that are still in the ground. When these Gas canisters are discovered, they have to be taken to a special facility where the contents are burned at very high temperatures to destroy the chemicals. There have been cases of farmers rupturing chemical weapon canisters and having to get treatment for exposure to the contents. For many shells, they have no idea, just looking at it, if it contains chemicals or explosives. And in such cases, they have to treat it as if it contained poisonous gas. In areas that saw extensive fighting in both World wars, the munitions from the First World War are usually considered to be more dangerous because of the possibility of chemical weapons. There is one other thing that is also being found in these areas on a somewhat regular basis. Human remains. Many of the dead from the war simply went missing. Their bodies may have been buried in soil that was kicked up by an artillery round. There have been cases of multiple remains of soldiers, all found in the basement of buildings that went undiscovered during the war. Even if all the issues with chemicals and explosives had been resolved in the immediate aftermath of the war, many of the worst areas would probably still have been off limits because they're de facto cemeteries. Now. You might wonder, why don't they just make a massive effort and clean up all of the unexploded ordnance scattered around France and Belgium for good? And the answer is, there's just too much. With hundreds of millions of unexploded rounds, conservatively, there are at least tens of millions, if not hundreds of millions of unexploded shells still in the ground over a very wide area. The current estimates are that it will take somewhere between 300 and 700 years for France and Belgium to be free of unexploded ordnance. The lesson of Zone Rouge and the Iron Harvest is that modern wars don't just end. While World War I may be the oldest war that has a problem with unexploded munitions, there are still unexploded bombs, artillery shells and landmines from many wars that are plaguing communities around the world. In the case of the First World War, with the many centuries it will take to clear and remove everything, it's quite possible that the last casualty of the Great War may be someone who was born hundreds of years after the conflict end. The executive producer of Everything Everywhere Daily is Charles Daniel. The associate producers are Benji Long and Cameron Keever. I want to give a big shout out to everyone who supports the show over on Patreon, including the show's producers. Your support helps me put out a show every single day and also Patreon is currently the only place where Everything Everywhere Daily merchandise is available to the top tier of supporters. If you'd like to talk to other listeners of the show and members of the Completionist Club, you can join the Everything Everywhere Daily Facebook group or Discord Server. Links to Everything are in the show. Notes.