Images(2)

The Heroes of Verdun Medal

Period1916

MediumBronze

DimensionsDiameter: 0.38 × 2.63 in. (1 × 6.7 cm)

SignedThe artist's signature appears on the reverse of the medal at far right, reading "Ch. Pillet." The artist's monogram "CH" appears on the medal's obverse, at the far lower left. The Paris Mint cornucopia mark appears next to "BRONZE" stamped into the edge of the medal.

ClassificationsThe Robert Hartshorne World War I Collection

Credit LineGift of Mary Minturn Adams in memory of her Hartshorne Ancestors, 2018

Object number2018.10.20.3

DescriptionA circular medal struck in bronze, commemorating the Battle of Verdun during World War One. On the obverse, the images of General Petain, General Nivelle, and General de Curieres de Castelnau are placed above the central inscription "A LA GLOIRE DES HEROS DE VERDUN MCMXVI" (To the Glory of the Heroes of Verdun 1916." Below the central inscription, the Croix de la Legion d'Honneur (Cross of the Legion of Honor) and the Croix de Guerre (War Cross) dangle from two crossed laurel branches. On the reverse, a female image of the French Republic, wearing a Phrygian cap and holding a staff, rests her hand on the shoulder of the female figure of the French Army, wearing cloak and breastplate and holding a sword, confronting the Imperial Germal eagle in the foreground. The town of Verdun can be seen in the background. The motto "ON NE PASSE PAS" (They shall not pass) is inscribed in the lower right quadrant. The artist's signature "Ch. Pillet" appears above the motto at the far right. The word "BRONZE" with the cornucopia of the Paris Mint is impressed along the edge of the medal.
Curatorial RemarksSculptor, engraver and medalist Charles Pillet was born in Paris in 1869. He studied with Henri-Michel-antoine Chapu and Jules-Clement Chaplain. Pillet was awarded the first Grand Prix de Rome engraving medal in 1890 and became a member of the Societe des Artistes Francaise in 1898. He died in 1960. Pillet's medal commemorates the Battle of Verdun. In February of 1916, German forces under General Erich von Falkenhayn pushed towards French defenses around Verdun but by mid July of that year the prolonged attack was called off. Falkenhayn was dismissed after his forces' failure. The French retook their losses, finally grinding to a halt in December of 1916. Germany and France suffered combined casualties at Verdun of more than 700,000. The medal includes the likenesses of three French generals who contributed to the French Army's success at Verdun. Henri Philippe Petain (1856 - 1951) was known after the battle as the "Lion of Verdun." Due to his continued military successes, he was appointed Marshal of France by the end of the war. He served as head of the French Army during peacetime. In June of 1940 he was appointed Prime Minister of France. During the Second World War, Petain's government assisted the Nazi occupation and enacted numerous fascist laws. After the war, Petain was tried for treason and convicted. His death sentence was commuted due to his age. He died in 1951 at the age of 95. Robert Nivelle (1856 - 1924) was a French artillery officer and was credited with the statement "On ne passe pas" (They shall not pass) during the battle of Verdun, which became a rallying cry for the French Army throughout the war. The third figure is Noel Eduard, vicomte de Curieres de Castelnau (1851 - 1944), who was responsible for the initial defense at Verdun. Three of Castelnau's sons were killed during the war.NotesThis medal was collected by Robert Hartshorne during his service in the First World War. Hartshorne joined the American Red Cross in 1916. His association with that organization apparently put him in touch with the American Committee for Devastated France, which intended to introduce modern American farming methods in those battlefield areas heavily damaged near Rheims. Hartshorne arrived in France in May of 1918 and returned to the United States at the end of December the same year. Hartshorne collected numerous medals, uniform insignia, and souvenirs commemorating his time abroad. For a more complete biography of Robert Hartshorne, please see the portrait miniature of Robert Hartshorne (accession number 2018.10.9).

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