Habonville – Then and Now

A brief excursion into the era of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–71:

Between Amanvillers and Habonville, alongside graves and cemeteries, there are several noteworthy monuments of German units that participated in the Battle of Gravelotte and Saint-Privat. West of Amanvillers and remote from the public road network, on the edge of the Cusse woods (Bois de la Cusse), lies the plinth of the monument for the 25. Großherzoglich-Hessische Division (25th Grand Ducal Hessian Division). Its units stood in the center of the battle on August 18, 1870, and suffered very heavy losses on the afternoon of that day during the futile attempt to capture the village of Amanvillers. The division returned to Lorraine in February 1916 and was deployed in the Battle of Verdun until the end of April 1916.

Originally, a bronze lion weighing approximately 300 kg was located on the plinth of the monument, which still exists today. The sculpture was torn down and stolen by unknown perpetrators between April 6 and 12, 2015. It has not reappeared.

Habonville - Monument to the 25. Großherzoglich-Hessische Division at the Bois de la Cusse. Here stood the Hessian troops during the fighting at Gravelotte and Saint-Privat on August 18, 1870 in the center of the battle
Habonville - Monument to the 25. Großherzoglich-Hessische Division at the Bois de la Cusse. Here stood the Hessian troops during the fighting at Gravelotte and Saint-Privat on August 18, 1870 in the center of the battle
Habonville - Monument to the 25. Großherzoglich-Hessische Division at the Bois de la Cusse. Here stood the Hessian troops during the fighting at Gravelotte and Saint-Privat on August 18, 1870 in the center of the battle
Habonville - Monument to the 25. Großherzoglich-Hessische Division at the Bois de la Cusse. Here stood the Hessian troops during the fighting at Gravelotte and Saint-Privat on August 18, 1870 in the center of the battle