Entre inventaire et propagande : les destructions du patrimoine en Picardie vues par la Section photographique et cinématographique de l’armée (SPCA)

• Main Author: Lieutenant David Sbrava
• Format: Article
• Language: fra
• Published: Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication 2014-03-01
• Series: In Situ : Revue de Patrimoines
• Online Access: http://journals.openedition.org/insitu/11012

In March 1917, the German troops undertook a broad, strategic retreat of their forces present in Picardy. Baptised Alberich, this operation had dramatic consequences for the Picardy region: prior to their departure, the German army destroyed many churches, stately homes, roads, bridges, factories or farms, destroying for ever elements of the heritage which were often very old. The French Section photographique et cinématographique de l’armée (SPCA) was mobilized to draw up an image inventory of the ruins of Picardy, contributing, on the one hand, to the work of restoration carried out after the war, but also feeding propaganda against the Germans, held accountable for the ruins.