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Origin and history

The memorial to the dead of the Eastern Army and the distant lands, also known as the East Gate, is a tribute to French soldiers who had fallen away from national territory during the First World War. Built in Marseille on the Kennedy cornice, it symbolizes the gateway to the East, in connection with the historic role of the city as a Mediterranean crossroads. The monument was designed to recall the sacrifice of the Eastern Poilus, often unknown compared to soldiers who died on the Western front.

Initiated in 1921 after a government authorization, the project was entrusted to architect Gaston Castel and sculptor Antoine Sartorio. Their design combines a monumental arch in white granite, decorated with motifs such as a crescent, a star and palm trees, with a statue of the Victory in bronze. Two winged female figures, representing the heroism of land and air fighters, frame the whole. The inauguration took place on April 24, 1927, marking the culmination of a national commemorative process.

The monument is distinguished by its landscape integration, with a staircase descending towards the sea, reinforcing its solemn character. Ranked as historic monuments on 24 May 2011, it is now fully protected, including the balustrade and surrounding soil. Its style combines reinforced concrete, stone and granite, reflecting the constructive techniques of the interwar period.

The location on the Kennedy cornice, facing the Mediterranean, is not annoyed: it highlights the link between Marseille, the symbolic gateway to the East, and the theatres of distant operations where these soldiers fought. Engraved inscriptions, such as "UNITMENT IN DEAD OF The Army of EASTS AND LOINTAINE LANDS", explicitly recall this geographical and memorial dimension.

Owned by the commune of Marseille, the monument is part of a series of commemorations after the Great War, but is distinguished by its national vocation and its maritime anchor. The available sources (Wikipedia, Monumentum) confirm its status as a major work of French memorial heritage, both artistic and historical.

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