Besides the very heavy human losses, the Great War also left behind very heavy material losses, of which the destruction of nine villages (Beaumont, Bezonvaux, Cumières, Douaumont, Fleury devant Douaumont, Haumont, Louvemont, Ornes, Vaux), which are today cited in the "order of the Army".

The nine villages having "Died for France" and destroyed in 1916 are located in the Charny-sur-Meuse district. Before the war, the regrouped almost 3 000 inhabitants, mostly farmers.
They were forced to abandon their villages at the beginning of the battle of Verdun. Sadly for these inhabitants, the material destruction was such that in 1918, they were unable to regain their homes.

Furthermore, the high risk of explosions prevented them from rebuilding the villages. In 1919, a law granted each village a committee and a president having similar powers to that of a mayor.

In each village, construction of a small chapel and a war memorial ensued where the names of each child having died for their country are engraved.