Memorial Herduin - Millant

In the Battle of Verdun, on June 4, 1916, the 17th Company of the 347th Infantry Regiment, led by Second Lieutenant Henri Herduin, and the 19th Company of Second Lieutenant Pierre Millant, took up positions in the area of ​​Thiaumont's farm in Fleury.
At first the two companies, belonging to Commander Deverre's 5th Battalion, clung to the ground. However, the 347th RI's losses were heavy, especially among the officers.
During the German attack of June 8, 1916, the two had left their position because they ran out of ammunition and could not receive reinforcements, saving what was left of their company. They wanted to join the lines of the 293rd, but an officer refused to accept them into the regiment, urging them to retake their abandoned positions. The little troop ignored these unenforceable instructions and continued on their way to Verdun. This action was quickly reported to Colonel Bernard and General Boyer, who were in command of the division.
On June 11, 1916, they gave a written order, without trial, to execute both in Fleury Forest "before leaving their posts" three days earlier.
Herduin and Millan were rehabilitated posthumously on May 20, 1926.

On November 4, 2009, a stele was dedicated to them, a few hundred meters from the site of the execution, close to the monument to the dead and the votive chapel of Fleury.
The stele is a work by the Lorraine sculptor Paul Flickinger
The white stone monument consists of a peace dove and a blindfolded soldier, both hit by the same bullet. It symbolizes the lack of respect for human rights.

Behind the bust, two plaques pay tribute to the two officers:

In memory of Pierre MILLANT / Under Lieutenant of the 347th Regiment
Shot without trial on June 11, 1916 / in the forest of Fleury off Douaumont
Rehabilitated in 1926. His body has been exhumed. / in 1919 and rest in the National Necropolis / of Douaumont, grave no. 6177 "

In memory of Henri Herduin / Under Lieutenant of the 347th Regiment
Shot without trial on June 11, 1916 / in the forest of Fleury off Douaumont
Rehabilitated in 1926. / His body was exhumed in 1919 /
and rest at the Eastern Cemetery in Reims "

On the pedestal is inscribed a plaque with an excerpt from the speech of French President Nicolas Sarkozy on November 11, 2008 in Douaumont:
"... those who were then executed had not disgraced themselves, had not been cowards, but had gone to the limit of their powers"
Nicolas Sarkozy
President of the Republic
Tuesday 11 November 2008
Douaumont

Source: Verdun-Meuse and Wikipedia

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Source

• Text: Marie-Christine Vinck
• Photos: Marie-Christine Vinck