.Hitler served in France and
Belgium in the 16th Bavarian Reserve Regiment (called Regiment List after its
first commander), ending the war as a Gefreiter (equivalent at the time to a
lance corporal in the British and private first class in the American armies).
He was a runner, one of the most dangerous jobs on the Western Front, and was
often exposed to enemy fire.[25] He participated in a number of major battles on
the Western Front, including the First Battle of Ypres, the Battle of the Somme,
the Battle of Arras and the Battle of Passchendaele.[26] The Battle of Ypres
(October 1914), which became known iGermany as the Kindermord bei Ypern
(Massacre of the Innocents) saw approximately 40,000 men (between a third and a
half) of the nine infantry divisions present killed in 20 days, and Hitler's own
company of 250 reduced to 42 by December. Biographer John Keegan has said that
this experience drove Hitler to become aloof and withdrawn for the remaining
years of war.[27]
Hitler in the German Army, 1914, sitting at right Hitler was twice decorated for
bravery. He received the Iron Cross, Second Class, in 1914 and Iron Cross, First
Class, in 1918, an honour rarely given to a Gefreiter.[28] However, because the
regimental staff thought Hitler lacked leadership skills, he was never promoted
to Unteroffizier (equivalent to a British corporal). Other historians say that
the reason he was not promoted is that he was not a German citizen. His duties
at regimental headquarters, while often dangerous, gave Hitler time to pursue
his artwork. He drew cartoons and instructional drawings for an army newspaper.
In 1916, he was wounded in either the groin area[29] or the left thigh[30]
during the Battle of the Somme, but returned to the front in March 1917. He
received the Wound Badge later that year. A noted German historian and author,
Sebastian Haffner, referring to Hitler's experience at the front, suggests he
did have at least some understanding of the military.