Montsec, Meuse

Coordinates: 48°53′29″N 5°43′16″E / 48.8914°N 5.7211°E / 48.8914; 5.7211
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Montsec
Commune
A general view of Montsec
A general view of Montsec
Coat of arms of Montsec
Coat of arms
Location of Montsec
Map
Montsec is located in France
Montsec
Montsec
Montsec is located in Grand Est
Montsec
Montsec
Coordinates: 48°53′29″N 5°43′16″E / 48.8914°N 5.7211°E / 48.8914; 5.7211
CountryFrance
RegionGrand Est
DepartmentMeuse
ArrondissementCommercy
CantonSaint-Mihiel
IntercommunalityCôtes de Meuse Woëvre
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Daniel Lombard[1]
Area
1
5.95 km2 (2.30 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
77
 • Density13/km2 (34/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
55353 /55300
Elevation226–376 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 a commune in the Meuse department in Grand Est in north-eastern France. Fighting in World War I and World War II took place in and around Montsec. The Montsec American Monument was built here during the 1930s by the American Battle Monuments Commission. The monument, dedicated in 1937, commemorates the American forces who fought in the Battle of Saint-Mihiel in World War I.

History

Map depicting Montsec during the Battle of Saint-Mihiel

During The Great War, also known as World War I, the village was occupied by the Germans in 1914 during the Battle of Flirey.[3] A hill, sharing the same name, commands a view of the Woëvre Plain, and was used by German forces as a strong point and for observation.[4]

During the Battle of Saint-Mihiel in 1918, the American 1st Division attacked in the area of Montsec, bypassing it.[5] The 1st Division was joined by the American 26th Division, attacking on the other side of Montsec, also bypassing it.[6] Both the 1st and 26th Divisions were able to accomplish it by a smoke 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 the Allies.[4] This was accomplished by forces of the French 2nd Colonial Corps.[8]

Before the Battle of Nancy, the commune was liberated by the American 317th Infantry in 1944.[9]

Montsec American Monument

Monument to American soldiers at Montsec

The monument was designed by

First and Second armies.[14]

During

advanced, 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 the Jefferson Memorial.[17]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021". The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ISBN 0-547-84369-0
    .
  4. ^ a b Frank Herbert Simmonds (1920). History of the world war. Published for the Review of reviews company by Doubleday, Page & company. pp. 223–224.
  5. ^ Richard Joseph Beamish; Francis Andrew March (1919). America's Part in the World War: A History of the Full Greatness of Our Country's Achievements; the Record of the Mobilization and Triumph of the Military, Naval, Industrial and Civilian Resources of the United States. John C. Winston Company. p. 554.
  6. ISBN 978-0-7432-1637-1
    .
  7. ^ Walter Hines Page; Arthur Wilson Page (1919). The World's Work. Doubleday, Page & Company. p. 82.
  8. ^ James Alfred Moss; Harry Samuel Howland (1920). America in Battle: With Guide to the American Battlefields in France and Belgium. Geo. Banta Publishing Company. p. 168.
  9. ^ Dominique, Dean James (August 2003). "Chapter 3: The Moselle River Bridgehead August 23 – November 1, 1944". The Attack Will Go On: The 317th Infantry Regiment in World War II (PDF) (Masters). Louisiana State University. p. 30-31. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
  10. ISBN 978-1-4008-6310-5
    .
  11. ^ Intelligence and Security Command Journal. U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command. 1984. p. 4.
  12. ^ Montsec American Monument Dedication in 1937. ABMCVIDEOS. 13 June 2015 [1937]. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
  13. ISBN 978-1-84908-880-0
    .
  14. ^ "Montsec Monument" (PDF). American Battle Monuments Commission. 21 April 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
  15. ISBN 978-1-60473-712-7
    .
  16. ^ a b Rubin, Richard (18 September 2014). "In France, Artifacts of America's Role in World War I". New York Times. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
  17. ISBN 978-1-4438-5838-0
    .
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