Monument aux Morts de la Légion étrangère, War memorial at French Foreign Legion Museum in Aubagne, France.
The Monument aux Morts de la Légion étrangère is a war memorial at the Foreign Legion Museum consisting of a rectangular cenotaph faced with white marble plates that list names, topped with a bronze globe. The globe is marked with locations where the Legion fought across the world.
The monument was originally built in 1931 at Sidi-bel-Abbès in Algeria, where the Foreign Legion was stationed for many decades. It was taken apart and reconstructed in Aubagne in 1962 after Algeria gained independence.
Four bronze statues at each corner show legionnaires dressed and equipped as they appeared across different eras from the 1800s onward. These figures allow visitors to observe how the soldiers' appearance and kit changed over time.
The memorial is best viewed during daylight hours to see the details of the marble plates and bronze figures clearly. The museum grounds offer parking and good accessibility for visitors with mobility concerns.
Legionnaires funded this memorial's construction by contributing one day of their monthly salary each month for four years. This unusual funding method reflects the soldiers' personal dedication to honoring their fallen comrades.
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