Recall the fervor of liberation. That spirit lives here at the Maréchal Leclerc War Memorial. This memorial honors Maréchal Leclerc and the 2nd Armored Division. It stands in Place de la Porte-d’Orléans.
The Maréchal Leclerc War Memorial isn’t just stone and metal. It symbolizes courage and sacrifice. Inaugurated on August 25, 1969, it commemorates a pivotal moment. It remembers the liberation of Paris. The memorial underwent renovations in 1997. Architect Sylvain Dubuisson oversaw these changes.
Raymond Subes designed the memorial. Raymond Martin was the sculptor. Together they created a powerful tribute. The statue of Maréchal Leclerc stands proudly. It rests on a pedestal made of stainless steel. Bronze plaques cover this base. The names of 1,800 soldiers are engraved on them. These soldiers of the 2nd DB died for France. They fought from Normandy to Berchtesgaden. Their journey included the liberation of Paris in August 1944.
Look closer at the ironwork. It depicts the Serment de Koufra. This oath was a promise to fight until victory. The stainless-steel base took 2,500 hours to create. The bronze plaques and stainless-steel masts add to its grandeur. The masts soar 20 meters high.
Who was this Maréchal Leclerc? Born Philippe de Hauteclocque in 1902. He was a gifted military officer. He served in Morocco. Leclerc joined General de Gaulle in London. He adopted the name Leclerc to protect his family. De Gaulle entrusted him with a mission. Leclerc rallied Cameroon to the cause. He wrested Gabon from Vichy control. As military commander of Chad, he led raids into Libya. He seized Koufra in 1941.
Leclerc’s forces joined the British 8th Army in Tripoli in 1943. He fought the Germans in Tunisia. In 1943, he formed the 2nd DB. This division landed in Normandy in 1944. Leclerc liberated Alençon and fought in the Falaise pocket. He defied orders to liberate Paris.
On August 24, 1944, a message from Leclerc reached Paris. It urged the citizens to “STAY STRONG, WE ARRIVE”. Captain Jean Callet and Lieutenant Étienne Mantoux delivered it. They flew a small plane. Leclerc and his division entered Paris. They forced the enemy’s surrender. Leclerc welcomed General de Gaulle.
After Paris, Leclerc liberated Strasbourg. He fulfilled the Serment de Koufra. His campaign ended at Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest. Leclerc signed Japan’s surrender in 1945. He later advocated for a more liberal French empire. Leclerc died in a plane crash in 1947. He was posthumously made a Maréchal de France.
The Maréchal Leclerc War Memorial stands as a reminder. It embodies Leclerc’s legacy. It honors the sacrifices made for freedom. Take a moment to reflect on their bravery. Remember the spirit of liberation that lives on here.