Notre‑Dame in War: Protection and Symbolism

Notre‑Dame became a civic sentinel during the world wars. Sandbags, guard posts, and protocols shielded stone from shock and shrapnel.

🪖 Protective Measures

• Sandbagging: Façades and windows buffered against blasts.
• Monitoring: Patrol logs kept in sacristy records.
• Repair cycles: Chips and cracks cataloged by masons.

🗓️ Events & Presence

• WWI: Precautions for artillery and air raids.
• WWII: Occupation era vigil and symbolic services.

The cathedral’s steady presence helped anchor civic morale.

[^memory]: Wartime diaries note the cathedral as a point of orientation and hope.