Monument des Basques – Chemin des Dames

Monument des Basques – 36th Infantry Division Memorial

The Monument des Basques pays tribute to the 36th Infantry Division, composed primarily of soldiers from the French Pays Basque, a historical region in southwestern France that includes the departments of Landes, Hautes-Pyrénées, and Basses-Pyrénées.

Monument des Basques - Chemin des Dames
Monument des Basques – Chemin des Dames

This division played a crucial role in several fierce assaults on the Chemin des Dames ridge, particularly in the sector between Craonne and the Ferme d’ Hurtebise, and on the Plateau de Californie. Tragically, the 36th Infantry Division suffered astronomical losses in September 1914 when Basque soldiers valiantly defended French positions on the Chemin des Dames ridge.

Two brigades were indeed wiped out, earning the division the sad title of “martyr division”. Between May 4 and 6, 1917, the Basque soldiers launched another assault and recaptured the German positions on the Plateau de Californie, but suffered further losses during a German counter-attack from June 2 to 4 of the same year. On September 15, 1918, they launched another deadly assault, forcing the Germans to retreat to the north bank of the Ailette River.

The Monument des Basques pays tribute to the bravery and determination of these soldiers.

Monument des Basques – Memorial Obelisk

Monument des Basques - Chemin des Dames - Obelisk with Basque man looking towards his native land
Obelisk with Basque man looking towards his native land

The Monument des Basques was created through the collaboration of architect Mathieu Forest and sculptor Claude Grange.

It was commissioned after the war by several veterans’ associations that launched a fundraising campaign in the Basque Country.

General Mittelhauser, the 36th Infantry Division’s last commander in 1918, presided over the inauguration, which took place on September 30, 1928.

The Monument des Basques is an obelisk erected along the Chemin des Dames, on the precise spot where the 36th Infantry Division suffered heavy losses.

Standing 14 metres tall, it is carved from grey limestone from the town of Souppes-sur-Loing, south of Fontainebleau. This stone was used in the construction of iconic monuments such as the Sacré-Coeur in Montmartre, the Sorbonne in the Latin Quarter and the Arc deTriomphe.

Monument des Basques – Sculptures

A moving statue, placed on the south face of the memorial, captures the essence of a Basque peasant. With his back to the obelisk, his gaze is fixed on his distant homeland. In his right hand, he holds the makila, the traditional Basque walking stick, a symbol of strength and tradition. Dressed in traditional costume, he wears the classic white shirt cinched with a fabric belt, enhanced by a vibrant red scarf and, of course, the iconic Basque beret.

Monument des Basques
Monument des Basques

Carved laurel wreaths adorn the sides of the obelisk, each meticulously bearing the name of the department of origin of the men of the 36th Infantry Division: Hautes-Pyrénées, Landes, and Basses-Pyrénées.

Above each wreath, the division’s monogram, 36 R.I., is engraved in stone, forever bearing witness to their bravery.

Higher up on the obelisk’s shaft, a first Croix de Guerre is engraved to the left of the statue, above the names of the regiments and garrison towns of the 36th Infantry Regiment: the 218th Infantry Regiment from Pau, the 14th Artillery Regiment from Tarbes, and the 249th Infantry Regiment from Bayonne.

To the right, the second Croix de Guerre overlooks the regiments of the 18th Infantry Regiment from Pau, the 49th Infantry Regiment from Bayonne, and the 12th Infantry Regiment from Tarbes, as well as the 34th Infantry Regiment from Mont-de-Marsan.

Monument des Basques – Dedications

A commemorative plaque for the Battle of Gozée (23 August 1914) is affixed to the base of the statue and bears the following inscription:

“Aux vaillants combattants français du 49 ème R.I. – Tombés à Gozée, le 23-8-1914 pour la défense de la justice et de la liberté. – Les groupements patriotiques de Gozée, le 8 mai 1960″

“To the valiant French fighters of the 49th R.I. Fallen in Gozée on 23-8-1914 for the defense of justice and freedom. Gozée patriotic groups, May 8, 1960 “

A square column topped with a soldier’s helmet flanks the back of the Monument des Basques and bears the following dedication:

“A la gloire de la 36ème Division d’Infanterie qui prit une part glorieuse à toutes les batailles
de la guerre 1914-1918

“‘To the glory of the 36th Division of Infantry who took a glorious part in all battles of the war of 1914-1918 “

The list of the various assaults follows this dedication. Finally, the names of the generals who commanded the division are engraved further down, at the base of the column. The Monument des Basques was listed as a Historical Monument in 2003.

Department of Aisne – Craonnelle – Road D89 – Picardie
Coordinates: Lat 49.430553 – Long 3.75948

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