DESTROYED VILLAGE OF LOUVEMONT CÔTE DU POIVRE

Created in the 2nd century AD, during the Gallo-Roman era, the village of Louvemont primarily lived off agriculture. A first church was built in the 11th century. It was replaced in the 17th century by the construction of the choir of a new church, whose nave and bell tower were erected in 1778.

With 300 inhabitants in 1846, its population had decreased to only 183 inhabitants by 1914, who mainly lived off agriculture.

In August 1914, the front line was about 6 or 7 km from the village. Civilian movement was thus very limited. Then, in October 1914, a push by the French army moved it further away from the dangers of sporadic German artillery fire.

On February 21, 1916, at the onset of the great German offensive, Louvemont was violently bombarded. Its defenders resisted until the evening of February 25, enduring the chaos and terrible destruction caused by the shells, and then fought with bayonets against the assaults of the German infantry.

From the end of February to mid-December 1916, the fiercest fighting took place on the Poivre Ridge, stretching from Louvemont to Vacherauville.

Finally, on December 15 and 16, 1916, the Germans abandoned the sector after General Mangin’s victorious offensive. The ruins of Louvemont then returned to French control until the end of the conflict.

Classified as a “red zone,” Louvemont was declared a destroyed village in 1919, benefiting from this unique status which allowed it to construct, between the two world wars, its war memorial and the Saint-Pierre-aux-liens shelter-chapel, inaugurated on May 3, 1930.

The inscription "In memory of Haudraumont and Mormont" on this monument recalls the lost existence of two small hamlets in the commune. Similarly, the addition of "Poivre Ridge" to its name reflects the desire of its former inhabitants to never forget this significant site which marked the tragic history of the 1914-1918 war and their commune.

To see:

• The Saint-Pierre-aux-liens shelter-chapel;
• The war memorial;
• The remains of the old cemetery;
• The reconstructed fountain and the stones and rows of trees marking the streets and the town hall-school.