To commemorate the centenary of the First World War, the association sauvegarde du fort de Leveau (Leveau Fort Safeguard Association) has launched a vast research project on the soldiers of the Maubeuge stronghold who defended the town during the battle of 1914.

Initially focused on identifying soldiers who died in combat or in captivity, this work has gradually been extended to include all the soldiers who took part in the defense of Maubeuge. In 1914, the garrison numbered almost 45,000 men, many of whom have long remained anonymous in our collective history.

Thanks to the exploitation of numerous sources, over 36,000 soldiers have now been identified. For each of them, an individual file has been drawn up, containing essential information about their military career.

This research has led to the creation of an online database, accessible to the general public, families, historians and genealogists. This unique tool sheds new light on the composition of the Maubeuge garrison: soldiers’ geographical origins, regiments to which they belonged, places of combat, captivity and death.

A tool for remembrance and transmission, Les Défenseurs de Maubeuge takes a fresh look at this long-ignored battle, and pays tribute to those who have been forgotten for over a century.