Amidst the serene Père Lachaise Cemetery stands the Mémorial des morts pour la France en Afrique du Nord. This memorial holds a poignant history. It commemorates the French soldiers who perished during the Algerian War and other conflicts in North Africa between 1952 and 1962. The Mémorial des morts pour la France en Afrique du Nord stands as a solemn reminder of a turbulent period in French history. It honors the sacrifice of thousands of soldiers.
The Algerian War, a bloody and protracted conflict, deeply impacted France. The war involved over 3 million soldiers, called upon to serve in North Africa. Of these, a staggering 30,000 lost their lives. The Mémorial des morts pour la France en Afrique du Nord specifically remembers the 747 Parisian soldiers who died or went missing during this conflict.
The creation of this memorial was a key promise of Bertrand Delanoë during his 2001 mayoral campaign. The proposal was presented to the Paris City Council in September 2001. It aimed to honor the Parisian fighters who fell in Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia. The project wasn’t without its critics. Green Party members abstained from the vote. They felt the memorial overlooked the civilian casualties of the conflict. Others argued for a broader monument to peace, encompassing all victims of the war. However, supporters emphasized the importance of recognizing the sacrifice of the Parisian soldiers. They pointed out that no specific monument existed to commemorate their service. The memorial was intended as a step towards acknowledging a difficult past, marked by heroism, betrayal, and the plight of young men thrust into a war euphemistically referred to as “events” or “operations to maintain order.”
On March 19, 2002, during the 40th anniversary of the ceasefire in Algeria, Delanoë laid the first stone of the memorial. The Mémorial des morts pour la France en Afrique du Nord was officially inaugurated on February 3, 2003. The memorial itself is a simple yet powerful structure. It features a 2.80-meter-high stele, designed to resemble a book of remembrance. Inscribed on this stele are the names of the 747 Parisian soldiers who never returned home. Located near memorials dedicated to the victims of the two World Wars, the Mémorial des morts pour la France en Afrique du Nord holds a significant place within the cemetery. Its location, near other memorials related to the Algerian War, creates a space for reflection on this complex period. The total cost for the construction was 271,807.25 euros. The Mémorial des morts pour la France en Afrique du Nord stands not only as a tribute to the fallen but also as a testament to the enduring impact of the North African conflicts on France and its capital city.