In 1916, under the leadership of Joseph Joffre, Cambodians aged 16 and older were recruited into the French army to take part in World War I. These Khmer soldiers were sent to fight in Europe as part of France’s war effort.
To honor their sacrifice, the French colonial administration later constructed a monument known as the War Memorial, dedicated to the Khmer-French soldiers who lost their lives during the war.
However, during the Khmer Rouge regime, the monument was heavily damaged after being bombed by revolutionary forces. Much of it was destroyed, while some surviving fragments were preserved at the National Museum of Cambodia.
Years later, following discussions between Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and French President Emmanuel Macron, the memorial was reconstructed to reinforce the historical ties and friendship between Cambodia and France.
The restoration took place at its original site within the garden in front of the French Embassy in Phnom Penh, designed by architect Dr. Ly Rasmey, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and the Phnom Penh Municipal Administration. Care was taken to preserve the monument’s original design.
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