Gerbéviller () is a commune in the

Meurthe-et-Moselle Meurthe-et-Moselle () is a '' département'' in the Grand Est region of France, named after the rivers Meurthe and Moselle. Its prefecture and largest city is Nancy and it borders the departments of Meuse to the west, Vosges to the south, ...

department in north-eastern

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

. It is 33 km (

as the crow flies The expression ''as the crow flies'' is an idiom for the most direct path between two points. Etymology The meaning of the expression is attested from the early 19th century, and appeared in the Charles Dickens novel ''Oliver Twist'' (1838): ...

) south east of Nancy and 73 km south-south-east of

Metz Metz ( , , , then ) is a city in northeast France located at the confluence of the Moselle (river), Moselle and the Seille (Moselle), Seille rivers. Metz is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Moselle (department), Moselle Departments ...

. Culturally and historically, it is part of

Lorraine Lorraine, also , ; ; Lorrain: ''Louréne''; Lorraine Franconian: ''Lottringe''; ; ; is a cultural and historical region in Eastern France, now located in the administrative region of Grand Est. Its name stems from the medieval kingdom of ...

Geography

The town lies on the banks of the river Mortagne, which flows northwestward through the commune. The

Château de Gerbéviller The Château de Gerbéviller is a chateau in the small community of Gerbéviller in Lorraine (region), Lorraine, France. The site has been occupied since at least the 12th century. The present buildings date from the 17th to 19th centuries, and in ...

and its park lie to the west of the town. Both are designated historical monuments.

History

Around August 24, 1914, the town was occupied by German troops in

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. In retaliation for the stubborn defense of the town by the French 2e Bataillon de Chasseurs à Pied, and for the actions of French civilians who took up arms to assist in the defense, the German occupiers systematically burned and pillaged about 80% of the town and massacred its population. The town is known for the action of

Amélie Rigard Amélie Rigard (16 February 1854 – May 1925) was a French nun. She is known for having kept a village hospice open to treat the wounded of both sides during the first months of World War I (1914–18). Early years Amélie Rigard was born on 16 ...

. As Sister Julie, she kept running the hospice in Gerbéviller during the occupation. She was awarded the

Legion of Honour The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and Civil society, civil. Currently consisting of five cl ...

in 1915.

References

Communes of Meurthe-et-Moselle World War I massacres World War I crimes by Imperial Germany Massacres in 1914 Massacres committed by Germany War crimes in France {{Lunéville-geo-stub

Geography

History

See also

References