Paris Gun: World War One’s Greatest Weapon

At quarter past seven on the morning of March 23, 1918, the people of Paris were jolted by a powerful explosion near the Quai de la Seine. Fifteen minutes later, another blast echoed from Rue Charles V, followed by a third on Boulevard de Strasbourg near Gare de l'Est. The explosions continued throughout the day bringing life in the city to a standstill. Stores closed down and the Metro system stopped running. A great number of people came out into the streets with their eyes towards the sky as they tried to locate the planes that were supposedly dropping bombs on them.