Montsec, Meuse

Montsec
Montsec
Location within Lorraine region Montsec
Coordinates:
Country	France
Region	Alsace-Champagne-Ardenne-Lorraine
Department	Meuse
Arrondissement	Arrondissement of Commercy
Canton	Canton of Saint-Mihiel
Intercommunality	Communauté de communes de la Petite Woëvre
Government
• Mayor (2008–2014)	Daniel Lombard
Area1	5.95 km2 (2.30 sq mi)
Population (1999)2	68
• Density	11/km2 (30/sq mi)
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. 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Montsec is a commune in the Meuse department in Lorraine 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. A hill, sharing the same name, commands a view of the Woëvre Plain, and was used by German forces as an strong point and for observation.

During the Battle of Saint-Mihiel in 1918, 1st Division attacked in the area of Montsec, bypassing it. The 1st Division was joined by the 26th Division, attacking on the other side of Montsec, also bypassing it. Both the 1st and 26th Divisions were able to accomplish it by a smoke screen being placed on the hill.

Having been bypassed due to it being fortified, being cut off from the rest of the German line, it fell to the Allies. This was accomplished by forces of the French 2nd Colonial Corps.

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

Montsec American Monument

Monument to American soldiers at Montsec

The monument was designed by Egerton Swartwout, and has been described as a doric temple. It was built during the 1930s by the American Battle Monuments Commission; it was dedicated in 1937. The monument commemorates American forces involved in the Battle of Saint-Mihiel. These included the First and Second armies.

During World War II, German forces occupying France left the monument untouched. As American forces advanced, and began to displace the Germans, the memorial was damaged by American artillery. The monument was later restored.

It has been described as being similar to the Jefferson Memorial.

See also

• Communes of the Meuse department
• List of World War I memorials and cemeteries in the area of the St Mihiel salient
• Parc naturel régional de Lorraine