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Origin and history

The monument to the dead of Vichy is located square of General Leclerc, in the thermal district, near the large hotels. It consists of a block of granite in the shape of a podium, supporting two bronze sculptures: a pyramidal bas-relief representing a military assault and an allegorical statue crowning the whole. The bas-relief staged soldiers from different units, under the protection of a winged Victory, while the statue symbolizes a warrior defending the homeland, dressed in antiques with a shield with the city's weapons.

The idea of the monument emerged in 1919, with a public subscription launched for its financing. The square of the Nations (now General Leclerc Square) is chosen as a location. A first competition in 1922 named Paul Roussel as winner, but legal and financial conflicts delayed the project. In 1927, Charles Plas resumed production, delivering a first version in 1931. Despite controversy over costs and deadlines, the monument was officially inaugurated on November 11, 1935, though not completed. It is listed for historical monuments in 2019.

The bas-relief, of great precision, represents realistic combat scenes, with soldiers with various uniforms (fantasins, alpine hunters, colonial troops) and detailed equipment (adrian shells, machine guns, Saint-Chamond tanks). The Victoire, with a Phrygian cap, guides the fighters in a theatrical gesture. The summital statue, a young warrior in Greek tunic, aroused criticism among veterans, who would have preferred a more realistic representation of a hairy one.

The monument remained the property of the committee until 1937, before being assigned to the city of Vichy. Its history reflects the political and social tensions of the inter-war period, marked by debates about the memory of the Great War and artistic controversies. Today, it is a major testimony of the commemorative art of the 1920s and 1930s, combining classicism and realism.

The work is signed by sculptor Charles Plas, assisted by architect Marcel Delmeule and founder Henri Rouard. Its location, in the center of a busy square, makes it an accessible place of memory, although its partial completion (a bas-relief or a bay palm was planned at the back) recalls the hazards of its creation.

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