commune
A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or comune or other derivations may also refer to:
Administrative-territorial entities
* Commune (administrative division), a municipality or township
** Communes of ...
Hauts-de-France
Hauts-de-France (; pcd, Heuts-d'Franche; , also ''Upper France'') is the northernmost Regions of France, region of France, created by the territorial reform of French regions in 2014, from a merger of Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Picardy. Its Prefectu ...
region of
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
Écoust-Saint-Mein is a farming village situated southeast of
Arras
Arras ( , ; pcd, Aro; historical nl, Atrecht ) is the prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais Departments of France, department, which forms part of the regions of France, region of Hauts-de-France; before the regions of France#Reform and mergers of ...
at the junction of the D956 and D5 roads.
History
During
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
, Écoust-Saint-Mein was located on the
Hindenburg Line
The Hindenburg Line (German: , Siegfried Position) was a German defensive position built during the winter of 1916–1917 on the Western Front during the First World War. The line ran from Arras to Laffaux, near Soissons on the Aisne. In 191 ...
when its inhabitants were evacuated by German forces. The church tower was mined and served as a landmark for gunners. Following the battle of Arras in 1917, it was captured by the Allies until it was recaptured by the Germans in March 1918 and finally retaken on 3 September 1918.
Population
Places of interest
* The church of St. Mein, dating from the sixteenth century.
* Traces of an old castle.
*
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
cemeteries.
In popular culture
In the 2019 film '' 1917'', Écoust-Saint-Mein is depicted as a ruined waypoint on the mission of the main character. The film's depiction of the town is largely based on actual history. As the town became a war zone during the
First World War
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
, the villagers had no choice but to abandon Écoust-Saint-Mein, returning after the war to rebuild. Fictional elements were also integrated, however, such as the river crossing the town.