View source for Château-Thierry American Monument

{{Short description|World War I memorial in France}}
{{Infobox military memorial
|name         = Château-Thierry American Monument
|body         = France
|image        =  30th Infantry Division Monument Front2.JPG
|caption      =
|commemorates = the involvement of US forces during World War I
|unveiled     =
|coordinates  ={{coord|49|2|31|N|3|22|19|E|display=it}}
|nearest_town = Château-Thierry, France
|designer     = [[Paul Cret]] <br /> Alfred Bottiau
|inscription  =
|commemorated =
|publisher=
|source=
}}
The '''Château-Thierry American Monument''' is a [[World War I]] memorial, dedicated in 1937, located near [[Château-Thierry]], [[Aisne]], France. Architecturally it is a notable example of [[Stripped Classicism]].
== Situation ==
The memorial is situated upon Hill 204<ref name=Frommer>''Frommer's France 2011'', p. 350.</ref> and commands a wide view of the valley of the river [[Marne (river)|Marne]]. It is located about {{convert|54|mi|km}} east of [[Paris]], {{convert|4.5|mi|km}} southeast of the [[Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and Memorial]], and {{convert|17|mi|km}} southwest of the [[Oise-Aisne American Cemetery and Memorial]].  It commemorates the achievements of United States forces that fought in the region during World War I.<ref name=abmc>{{cite web|url=http://www.abmc.gov/memorials/memorials/ct.php|title=ABMC Chateau-Thierry American Monument web page|publisher=American Battle Monuments Commission|access-date=28 January 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101119103643/http://abmc.gov/memorials/memorials/ct.php|archive-date=19 November 2010}}</ref> In 1918, the [[2nd Infantry Division (United States)|2nd]] and [[3rd Infantry Division (United States)|3rd United States Infantry Divisions]] took part in heavy fighting around the area during the [[Second Battle of the Marne]], which took place during the wider [[German spring offensive]].<ref>Homsher 2006, p. 32.</ref> The 4th Marine Brigade, which made a name for itself in the Battle of Belleau Wood, fought as part of the 2nd Infantry Division. The bodies of a number of US servicemen who were killed during the fighting are interred in cemeteries nearby.<ref name=Frommer/>
Two stone pylons mark the entrance to the memorial from Highway N-3 which runs from Paris to Château-Thierry.<ref name=abmc/> The monument consists of a double colonnade rising above a long terrace,<ref name=abmc/> as designed by [[Paul Philippe Cret]].<ref name=commission>The American Battle Monuments Commission 1983, p. 15.</ref> On its west facade are sculptured figures representing the United States and France.<ref name=abmc/>  The sculptor was the French-American artist [[Alfred Bottiau]].<ref name=commission/> The English inscription reads, "This monument has been erected by the United States of America to commemorate the services of her troops and those of France who fought in this region during the World War.  It stands as a lasting symbol of the friendship and cooperation between the French and American Armies."<ref name=commission/> On its east facade is a map showing American military operations that took place in the region and an [[orientation table]] pointing out the significant battle sites.<ref name=abmc/>
The [[Battle of Belleau Wood|Belleau Wood]] [[Iron Mike#Belleau, France|US Marines monument]] is located near the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery, about 9.3&nbsp;km northwest.<ref>Homsher 2006, p. 33.</ref>
== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:1952 André TOISON et la Maquette Cote 204.jpg|André Toison with a maquette
File:30th Infantry Division Monument Front.JPG|Detail of the building
File:American Monument Chateau Thierry Battle Map.jpg|Battle map on the front of the monument
File:Chateau-Thierry American Monument English Dedication.jpg|Dedication text in English
</gallery>
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
==References==
{{USGovernment|url=http://www.abmc.gov/memorials/memorials/ct.php|title=Chateau-Thierry American Monument|agency=American Battle Monuments Commission}}
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |author=American Battle Monuments Commission |title=Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and Memorial | year=1983 |location= Washington |publisher=American Battle Monuments Commission |oclc=20152771}}
* {{cite book| last=Homsher |first= David C. |title=American Battlefields of World War I: Chateau-Thierry{{snd}}Then and Now |year=2006 |publisher=Battleground Productions| isbn=978-0-9702443-0-7}}
* {{cite book |last=Prince |first=Danforth |author2=Porter,  Darwin |title=Frommer's France 2011 |year=2010 |publisher=Frommer's |isbn=978-0-470-61438-9}}
{{refend}}
== External links ==
{{commons category|Château-Thierry American Monument}}
* [http://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries-memorials/europe/chateau-thierry-monument#.VPDXj_nF9RI ABMC Chateau-Thierry American Monument web page]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090506052633/http://abmc.gov/copyright.php ABMC authorization]
{{World War I War Memorials in France}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chateau-Thierry American Monument}}
[[Category:World War I memorials in France]]
[[Category:American Battle Monuments Commission]]
[[Category:Paul Philippe Cret buildings]]
[[Category:Monuments historiques of Aisne]]