Montsec | |
|---|---|
 A general view of Montsec | |
.svg) Coat of arms | |
 Location of Montsec | |
  Montsec  Montsec | |
| Coordinates:48°53′29″N5°43′16″E / 48.8914°N 5.7211°E /48.8914; 5.7211 | |
| Country | France |
| Region | Grand Est |
| Department | Meuse |
| Arrondissement | Commercy |
| Canton | Saint-Mihiel |
| Intercommunality | Côtes de Meuse Woëvre |
| Government | |
| • Mayor(2020–2026) | Daniel Lombard[1] |
Area 1 | 5.95 km2 (2.30 sq mi) |
| Population (2022)[2] | 76 |
| • Density | 13/km2 (33/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 55353 /55300 |
| Elevation | 226–376 m (741–1,234 ft) (avg. 370 m or 1,210 ft) |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
Montsec (French pronunciation:[mɔ̃sɛk]) is acommune in theMeusedepartment inGrand Est in north-eastern France. Fighting inWorld War I andWorld War II took place in and around Montsec. The Montsec American Monument was built here during the 1930s by theAmerican Battle Monuments Commission. The monument, dedicated in 1937, commemorates theAmerican forces who fought in theBattle of Saint-Mihiel in World War I.
During The Great War, also known as World War I, the village was occupied by the Germans in 1914 during theBattle of Flirey.[3] A hill, sharing the same name, commands a view of theWoëvre Plain, and was used by German forces as a strong point and for observation.[4]
During the Battle of Saint-Mihiel in 1918, the American1st Division attacked in the area of Montsec, bypassing it.[5] The 1st Division was joined by the American26th Division, attacking on the other side of Montsec, also bypassing it.[6] Both the 1st and 26th Divisions were able to accomplish it by asmoke screen being placed on the hill.[7]
Having been bypassed due to it being fortified, being cut off from the rest of the German line, it fell to theAllies.[4] This was accomplished by forces of the French 2nd Colonial Corps.[8]
Before theBattle of Nancy, the commune was liberated by the American317th Infantry in 1944.[9]
The monument was designed byEgerton Swartwout, and has been described as adoric temple.[10] It was built during the 1930s by theAmerican Battle Monuments Commission;[11] it was dedicated in 1937.[12] The monument commemorates American forces involved in the Battle of Saint-Mihiel.[13] These included theFirst andSecond armies.[14]
DuringWorld War II, German forcesoccupying France left the monument untouched.[15] As American forcesadvanced, and began to displace the Germans, the memorial was damaged by American artillery.[16] The monument was later restored.[16]
It has been described as being similar to theJefferson Memorial.[17]
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