Marne Dormans Memorial

Constructed in 1921 to commemorate the two Battles of the Marne from World War I, the Marne Dormans Memorial is located between Paris and Reims on the D980.

The First Battle of the Marne 1914 was a strategic victory, saving Paris from capture by the Germans, but saw a loss of 250,000 French (a comparable number of Germans) and 12, 733 British.

The Second Battle that the Marne Dormans Memorial commemorates in the summer of 1918 would be the last major German offensive. The French suffered a loss of 95,000 men, Germany 168,000, Britain 13,000 losses and the U.S. 12,000.

This 171 foot high World War I memorial has three levels. The ossuary level of the memorial holds the bones of approximately 1500 unidentified soldiers.

The Dormans Memorial crypt, which opens onto the main square in front of this Gothic-inspired building, is a place of mourning. It stands for the 1,350,000 people who died during the battles here. Their names are engraved in the stone walls.

 

 

 

 

 

The upper chapel has amazing stained glass – you can feel the joy of heaven in this lofty place. The dome is lit by 32 stained glass windows.

 

 

Marne Dormans View from the Top

 

 

 

 

One last view of this magnificent memorial as you will see it from the approaching drive. It is just breathtaking and

yet incredibly sorrowful.

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