Penchard

Penchard is a common French, located in the department of Seine-et-Marne and the area Île-de-France.

Its inhabitants is called Penchardais.

Geography

History

Typical small village of Seine-et-Marne, Penchard is especially known for its role in the first days of the Battle of the Marne, at the time of the First World War. September 2nd, 1914, the Germans are in Meaux, a last effort must bring them to Paris, that the government has just evacuated. In front of them, the exhausted French Army moves back almost without stop since the beginning of the conflict. But the Germans ideally placed at North (southern of Oise) decide to encircle large French troops and go down along the current RN330 to take out of Paris vice and the troops which are cut off there. They thus lend their right side to the garrison of Paris, and particularly the 6th army of the Général Maunoury. Maunoury tackles on September 5th, 1914 on the line of Ourcq, with for main aim the wooded heights of Monthyon and Penchard, on which the Germans have positions of artillery and observation posts ideally placed. The Moroccan Brigade attacks on Penchard, and to the price of heavy losses manages to be established in the village about midday. The Morrocans progressed to the body to body in the orchards and the gardens, losing nearly 1200 combatants. The position will be abandoned in the evening, because the attack of the 55e division having failed on the hill of Monthyon, Penchard remains under the fire of the German artillery which is positioned there. The German forces will evacuate the village in the night, and considering their position too exposed will fold up themselves on Chambry. It is the beginning of the reversal of the French Army, which will find the resources to push back the German armies beyond the Marne, where will begin the trench warfare. It should be noted that it is with the foot of the hills of Penchard that the poête Charles Péguy found death, while launching an attack on Monthyon.

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