Grandcamp-Maisy Battery
The World Peace Statue stands at the entrance to Grandcamp-Maisy, a coastal town located on the road to Vierville-sur-Mer.
During the Second World War, Grandcamp-Maisy played a crucial role in the Atlantic Wall, a vast defence system built by the Germans along the west coast of Europe to prevent any Allied landings.
Strategically located, Grandcamp-Maisy overlooks the Grand Vey Bay and the Vire estuary, about 4 kilometres west of La Pointe du Hoc and Omaha Beach.
The Germans fortified Grandcamp-Maisy with two batteries, known to the Allies as La Martine and Les Perruques.
These batteries had a firing range extending as far as Omaha and Utah beaches. Minefields and anti-tank defences were also deployed to protect these installations.
In the weeks leading up to the D-Day landings, the Germans established a third battery within the village itself, thus reinforcing their defensive positions along the coastline.
Unfortunately, the Allied bombings failed to neutralise the German batteries in the early hours of D-Day, and the Germans opened fire on the American troops landing on Utah Beach. It was only on June 7th that the Allied navy succeeded in destroying these batteries.
The Allies advanced significantly in the following days. On June 8, the 3rd Battalion of the 116th US Infantry Regiment, supported by the 743rd Tank Battalion, captured Grandcamp.
After the war, the site of the batteries was filled in. However, thanks to old German topographical maps, Garry Stern rediscovered the site and acquired it to create an open-air museum extending over 4 kilometres.
You can explore trenches, bunkers and various German equipment, providing insight into the difficult conditions faced by soldiers during the conflict. A Memorial Monument, dedicated to the Rangers, now stands on the site of the Maisy Battery, in memory of the events that took place during the Second World War.
World Peace Statue, a gift from the Chinese sculptor Yao Yuan
Yao Yuan, a renowned Chinese sculptor, created a statue in homage to the acts of bravery of the American Rangers at Pointe du Hoc. Despite being sentenced to work in a factory during the Cultural Revolution, Yao Yuan later dedicated his life and work to promoting world peace.
Among his most notable works are the Peace Statue for Korea (1995) and another for Russia (2000). In 2011, he created a stainless steel statue, a symbol of peace and friendship, which now stands in Friendship Square in Beijing.
His commitment to peace led him to create the World Peace Statue of Grandcamp-Maisy, a larger and more elaborate version of his Beijing sculpture.
He generously donated this masterpiece to the Normandy Region as a tribute to all those who fought in Normandy during the Second World War.
Twenty Chinese workers from Yao Yuan’s workshops were specially flown to Normandy to install this impressive 8-ton statue, highlighting the international scope of his work.
Chinese Flying Goddess – Christian Angel of Peace
Yao Yuan’s representation of World Peace in his Statue comes out as a mixture of Eastern and Western artistic influences.
The figure, depicted as a young woman releasing the Dove of Peace, symbolises grace and freedom. This imagery draws on Asian and Western traditions, evoking the Chinese Flying Goddess or the Christian Angel of Peace.
Yao Yuan employed a fluid calligraphy, a technique imbued with meanings of harmony, balance, serenity and tranquillity to create the statue. This fluidity not only gives lightness to the sculpture, but also reflects the fundamental principle of Asian thought: the concept of yin and yang, or the harmony of existence.
He achieved a harmonious balance between symmetry and asymmetry, with symmetry symbolising stability and tranquillity, while asymmetry represents grace and fluidity.
Two Chinese characters engraved on the statue signify Modesty and Harmony, and Peace and Tranquillity. Furthermore, the inclusion of the letters “V” for Victory and “W” for World, Adoration and Warmth further enriches the symbolism, and the shape of the “V” resembling arms embracing the world.
Symbolism of the colours
The symbolism of the colours adds further depth to his message.
The white of the steel and the sky blue represent Peace and Reason, highlighting the importance of calm and rationality in the face of conflict and injustice. In contrast, the red granite base symbolises the bloodshed by the war, forcefully recalling the sacrifices made.
The green of the surrounding lawn symbolizes Tranquility and Serenity, evoking the peaceful landscapes of Normandy. Green is also often associated with Growth and Renewal, suggesting a potential for Healing and Reconciliation.
Finally, the silver statue symbolises the Eternity of Peace, suggesting a timeless commitment to promoting Harmony and Understanding.
As the young woman depicted on the statue takes flight, she carries a message of Hope:
When we all want peace,
Why is the world full of conflict?
Why are endless wars still ravaging the earth?
Why do famine, poverty and plague still keep humanity in bondage?”
Her prayer is simple:
“Citizens of this global community love our earth!
Together let us stop war and live in harmony!”
The emotional inauguration ceremony took place on June 3, 2004, at 2:00 PM. This landmark event commemorated the 60th anniversary of the Normandy landings. Among those present were the French Minister for Equal Opportunities at Work, Mr Zhao Jinjun, the Chinese Ambassador to France, and representatives of allied nations. The surviving US Rangers were honoured as guests of honour.
Peregory Monument
The Peregory Monument, near the World Peace Statue, pays tribute to the exceptional courage of Sergeant Franck Peregory of the 29th US Infantry Division.
On June 8, 1944, he displayed extraordinary courage by attacking a group of German soldiers single-handedly. He neutralised eight enemy combatants and captured thirty-five others on the spot.
Tragically, Sergeant Peregory lost his life in combat six days later. In recognition of his selfless heroism, he received the Medal of Honour posthumously, the highest military decoration in the United States.
Department of Calvados
Coordinates: Lat 49.386802 – Long -1.037059
War Memorials:
Juno Beach: Bernieres-sur-mer – Corseulles-sur-mer – Graye-sur-mer – Douvres-la-Delivrande
Gold Beach: Arromanches – Ver-sur-mer
Sword Beach: Ouistreham-Riva Bella
Landing Beaches:
Sword – Gold – Juno – Omaha – Utah
Rediscover all the landing beaches during the 75th Anniversary Commemorations and Standing with Giants in Ver-sur-mer (2024)
