Le Poilu libérateur, Statue and memorial in Metz, France
Le Poilu libérateur is a bronze statue on the Esplanade in Metz, France, depicting a marching World War I soldier. It stands on a raised base along a wide pedestrian promenade lined with benches and greenery.
After World War I ended, residents of Metz tore down a statue of the German emperor that stood on the Esplanade and quickly replaced it with a temporary plaster soldier, unveiled in January 1919. A permanent bronze version was installed in 1956, replacing an earlier stone figure that had been removed during the German occupation in World War II.
The statue stands on the Esplanade, one of the most central and walkable promenades in Metz, making it easy to reach on foot. A visit pairs naturally with a walk through the surrounding gardens.
The first Poilu placed on the Esplanade was a plaster figure put up within weeks of the armistice as a temporary solution. The 1956 bronze version was unveiled by Marshal Alphonse Juin, one of the last marshals of France.
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