1918 WWI Soldiers Saving Joan of Arc Statue Reims Vintage Postcard

About This Vintage Postcard

This powerful World War I scene captures a critical moment of cultural preservation in Reims, France. French soldiers and workers are shown using a massive timber derrick to lower Paul Dubois' celebrated equestrian statue of Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc) into a transport truck. The statue, originally inaugurated in 1896, stood prominently in front of the Reims Cathedral, which is visible in the background protected by thousands of sandbags. Because the city was under constant German artillery bombardment, the statue was removed in 1918 to prevent its destruction. This postcard serves as a haunting historical record of the lengths taken to protect national symbols of French identity during the Great War.

Details

Era: Divided Back (1918)
City: Reims
State or Region: Marne
Country: France
Topic: World War I History, Cultural Preservation, Joan of Arc, Reims Cathedral, Military Engineering
Condition: Uncirculated
Postage: Unposted; no postmark or stamp
Address Side: divided back
Orientation: Horizontal (Landscape)
Artist / Photographer: L.C.H. Paris
Publisher: L.C.H. Paris
Printer: Unknown
Print Type: Collotype

Additional Information

The production date is narrowed to 1918, the specific year the statue was dismantled and evacuated to Paris for safety. The card is part of a war-era series by L.C.H. Paris, marked Visé Paris on the front, indicating it passed through the official military censorship bureau during the conflict. The back features a small circular printer's mark containing the name Hantier, a specialized firm that produced high-quality topographical and documentary cards during the early 20th century.

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