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Origin and history

The monument to the dead of Cabannes, dedicated to the victims of the First World War, was designed by sculptor François Carli. It is distinguished by a model of a hairy in defiant attitude, standing on a pedestal beside a rock. This artistic choice symbolizes the resistance and sacrifice of Provencal soldiers, some of whom belonged to the 15th Corps, unjustly criticized by Marshal Joffre after the events of 1914.

The official inauguration took place on 2 October 1921, in the presence of the inhabitants and local authorities. The monument lists 78 names of soldiers who died for France, with particular attention to the victims of 1914, all from the 15th Corps. This historical detail reflects the regional tensions related to the memory of the Great War, where Provencal units were wrongly accused of failure.

Ranked as a Historical Monument by decree of 22 February 2010, the work also includes the frame grid in its protection. Located in Place des Poilus in Cabannes (Bouches-du-Rhône), it remains a central place of commemoration for the commune, recalling the heavy toll paid by the Provençaux during the conflict.

The construction of this monument is part of a national context of mourning and reconstruction, where each city of France erected similar tributes. In Cabannes, the choice of a defiant hair rather than a peaceful allegory illustrates a desire to convey an image of courage and resilience, in response to the controversies experienced by local soldiers.

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