France
Henri Barbusse
1873–1935 Infantry soldier, 1914–1917; author of Le Feu (Under Fire)
Born in Asnières in 1873, Henri Barbusse began as a poet and published his first novel, L'Enfer, in 1908. A pacifist before the war, he nevertheless volunteered for the French infantry in 1914, at the age of 41, and joined the 231st Infantry Regiment in December. He was invalided out three times and won the Croix de guerre for bravery. His novel Le Feu (Under Fire), subtitled the diary of a squad, appeared in 1916 and won the Prix Goncourt in December. Its harsh realism drew protests from the home front and enthusiasm from his fellow soldiers. Barbusse joined the French Communist Party in 1923 and died in Moscow on 30 August 1935.