What if this wall could talk? This is the Monument aux Morts. It stretches before us. It commemorates the Parisians who died in the First World War. Until 2018, Paris lacked a central monument to honor these fallen soldiers. Individual memorials existed. Yet, none gathered all the names of the Parisians lost.
Imagine the city’s collective grief. Over 94,000 Parisians died in combat. Eight thousand more disappeared. This monument stands as a testament to their sacrifice.
Inaugurated on November 11, 2018, it marked the centennial of the war’s end. The Monument aux Morts is a horizontal installation. It is 280 meters long and 1.30 meters high. This design breaks from traditional monolithic war memorials.
Picture the walker’s experience. As one moves along the Pére Lachaise cemetery wall, a silent tribute unfolds. A minute of silence transforms into a five-minute walk. Each step honors the names of Parisians. They died for France.
The Monument aux Morts sits on the exterior wall of the Pére Lachaise cemetery. It is in Paris’s 20th arrondissement. The location is along Boulevard de Ménilmontant. Dark blue steel plaques display the names of the fallen.
The inscription reads “Aux Morts de la Grande Guerre – Paris à ses enfants.” This translates to “To the Dead of the Great War – Paris to its children.” Names are listed by year and alphabetically. The list includes those who died from war wounds up to 1925.
The wall’s exterior placement symbolizes a boundary. It stands between the world of the living and the dead. The atelier Phileas architecture conceived this memorial. The Services de la ville de Paris carried out the construction. Anne Hidalgo, the mayor, inaugurated it.
Professor Jean-Louis Robert led the research. His team at the Centre d’histoire sociale du XXe siècle collected names. They used the “livres d’or” from Paris district city halls. They cross-referenced data from various sources. These included war death records and departmental archives.
In 2018, the Monument aux Morts won the “Geste d’Or” prize. This award recognizes projects that enhance heritage. This monument gathers the names of Parisian soldiers from every district. It serves as a place of collective remembrance.
The Monument aux Morts offers a space for reflection. It honors the immense sacrifice of Parisians. They perished in the First World War. As we stand here, we remember their names. We acknowledge their contribution. We recognize the profound impact of war.