HARRY TRUMAN SPACE

THE GREAT WAR and the Château de Montigny-sur-Aube

In 1918, the entire Châtillonais region, and more specifically the Château de Montigny-sur-Aube, welcomed, in a single surge of enthusiasm, all these future battalions of young Americans, who often came without hesitation, but also without knowledge of the handling of weapons, to train, among other things, on the heights of the village of Montigny-sur-Aube in firing the 75mm gun, a few cables' lengths from the headquarters of the American Expeditionary Force located in Chaumont (Haute-Marne) under the command of General John PERSHING.

Harry S. Truman, then 34 years old, was one of them. He arrived as an officer and left with the rank of captain after successfully completing intensive, high-level military training.

This period of his life forever marked his perception of the world and of Europe, as evidenced by all his correspondence with his family and his biographer David McCullough, allowing him to discern in him an undeniable soul of a leader that would lead him to the highest step of power as President of the United States from 1945 to 1953.

Inauguration and commemoration of the centenary of Harry Truman's presence at the castle

As part of the celebration of the centenary of the end of the Great War in the presence of Clifton Truman Daniel (grandson of Harry Truman) and American and French authorities, civil and military, the Harry Truman Space at the Château de Montigny-sur-Aube was inaugurated on October 11, 2018.

The Harry Truman Space

Created in the castle grounds to commemorate his presence in 1918, the stele is made of Semond stone. The sculpted facade features the thirteen stripes of the American flag, representing the 13 founding states that united to form the United States of America. It is surmounted by an enameled metal commemorative plaque, created by the Harry Truman Presidential Library and Museum (Independence, MO, USA), and covered with a 1914 American flag with its 48 stars. It was unveiled by his grandson, Clifton Truman Daniel, in the presence of representatives from the United States Embassy and the French government, Mr. and Mrs. Len Robert Small, and descendants of André Martin, the château's former owner, who came specially from America to express their eternal gratitude to the American people. Engraved on the back of the stele are the names of all those (institutions and individuals) who made this commemoration possible.

Harry Truman's Letters

During his stay at the Château de Montigny, Harry Truman wrote 9 letters to his fiancée Bess, which you can find in the book "Harry Truman The Great War" on sale at the Château de Montigny-sur-Aube. If you wish to read the contents of these letters in detail, the book is available at the reception of the castle for €15. You can also find there a book on the Battle of Châtillon, written by an American officer in 1920, upon his return to the United States and translated into French.

These letters contain descriptions of the castle, its grounds, and its interiors. They also include Harry Truman's views on France and the French people, as well as descriptions of some of his activities during his artillery training.