# Havrincourt > commune in Pas-de-Calais, France **Wikidata**: [Q375743](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q375743) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Havrincourt) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/havrincourt ## Summary Havrincourt is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France, located approximately 20 kilometers southeast of Arras. The small rural community has a rich military history, notably being the site of a significant World War I battle in September 1918, for which it was awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918. Today, it serves as a traditional French commune within the canton of Bertincourt and the arrondissement of Arras. ## Key Facts - **Location**: Pas-de-Calais department, Hauts-de-France region, northern France - **Administrative divisions**: Canton of Bertincourt, Arrondissement of Arras - **Country**: France - **Coordinates**: 50.111111°N latitude, 3.086111°E longitude - **Population history**: 421, 408, 412, 403, 403, 405, 389, 373, 357, 351 (various census years) - **Wikipedia title**: Havrincourt - **Wikidata description**: commune in Pas-de-Calais, France - **Sitelink count**: 45 - **Military recognition**: Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (awarded April 2, 1915) - **Related battle**: Battle of Havrincourt (fought September 12, 1918) - **Commune status established**: 1789 (commune of France territorial subdivision) - **Department established**: March 4, 1790 (Pas-de-Calais) ## FAQs **What is Havrincourt known for historically?** Havrincourt is notably known for the Battle of Havrincourt, which took place on September 12, 1918, during World War I. This battle was part of the Hundred Days Offensive that ultimately led to the Allied victory. The commune was awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 in recognition of the destruction it suffered and the military events that occurred on its soil. **What administrative region does Havrincourt belong to?** Havrincourt is located in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France. It falls within the canton of Bertincourt and the arrondissement of Arras. The commune is part of the French territorial system as a municipal subdivision, a status that dates back to 1789. **What awards or military honors has Havrincourt received?** Havrincourt was awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918, a French military decoration instituted on April 2, 1915, to recognize military valor and damage suffered during World War I. This decoration indicates that the commune experienced significant combat and destruction during the war. **What is the geographic position of Havrincourt?** Havrincourt is situated at coordinates 50.111111°N latitude and 3.086111°E longitude, placing it in the northern French department of Pas-de-Calais, approximately 20 kilometers southeast of the city of Arras. The commune lies in a region that saw extensive fighting during both World Wars. ## Why It Matters Havrincourt matters as a symbol of the profound impact that World War I had on French rural communities. The awarding of the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 signifies that this small commune was directly caught in the devastating military operations that swept across the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region. The Battle of Havrincourt on September 12, 1918, represents a pivotal moment in the final months of the war, when Allied forces pushed back German defenses in the Hundred Days Offensive. The commune's historical significance extends beyond mere location—it represents the human cost of war on civilian populations and agricultural communities. The destruction and suffering experienced by Havrincourt exemplifies the broader pattern of devastation that characterized much of northern France during the conflict. Today, the commune serves as a reminder of the importance of remembering the sacrifices made during the Great War and the resilience of French rural communities in the face of occupation and combat. Furthermore, Havrincourt's place within the administrative structure of the French department system demonstrates the continuity of local governance and community identity that persists despite the upheavals of the 20th century. The commune maintains its role as a territorial unit within the modern French Republic, preserving its historical identity while contributing to the contemporary fabric of the Pas-de-Calais department. ## Notable For - **World War I Battle Site**: Location of the Battle of Havrincourt on September 12, 1918, a significant engagement during the Hundred Days Offensive - **Croix de Guerre Recognition**: Awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 for military valor and suffering during World War I - **Historic Department**: Situated in Pas-de-Calais, one of the French departments most heavily affected by both World Wars - **Rural Heritage**: Represents the traditional French commune structure in agricultural northern France ## Body ### Geography and Location Havrincourt is positioned in the Pas-de-Calais department, located in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France. The commune sits at coordinates 50.111111°N latitude and 3.086111°E longitude, placing it approximately 20 kilometers southeast of Arras, the prefecture of the arrondissement. The terrain of the region consists primarily of agricultural plains, characteristic of the Somme river valley area that saw extensive military activity during both World Wars. The commune falls within the canton of Bertincourt, an administrative division that groups together several smaller communities in the southern portion of Pas-de-Calais. Administratively, Havrincourt is part of the arrondissement of Arras, which serves as the administrative center for this cluster of communes. The department of Pas-de-Calais itself was established on March 4, 1790, during the French Revolution, as part of the initial division of France into departments. ### Historical Significance The most notable event in Havrincourt's history was the Battle of Havrincourt, which occurred on September 12, 1918, during World War I. This battle took place as part of the broader Hundred Days Offensive, the final series of battles that led to the defeat of Germany and the end of the war. The fighting in and around Havrincourt was part of the Allied push to break through German defensive positions in the Somme region. In recognition of the destruction the commune suffered and the military events that occurred on its territory, Havrincourt was awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918. This French military decoration was instituted on April 2, 1915, and was awarded to communities that had been particularly affected by combat or that had demonstrated exceptional bravery during the war. The decoration serves as permanent testimony to the sacrifices made by the commune and its residents during the conflict. ### Administrative Structure Havrincourt operates as a commune of France, which is the smallest territorial subdivision for municipalities in the French administrative system. The commune as an administrative unit was established in 1789 during the French Revolution, replacing the previous system of parishes and lordships. As a commune, Havrincourt maintains local governance through a municipal council and mayor, while also participating in intercommunal structures for services and planning. The commune is nested within a hierarchy of administrative divisions: it belongs to the canton of Bertincourt, which in turn is part of the arrondissement of Arras. The arrondissement of Arras is one of several arrondissements within the Pas-de-Calais department, serving as an intermediate administrative level between the department and the cantons. This structure reflects the Napoleonic administrative system that remains largely intact in contemporary France. ### Demographics and Population The population of Havrincourt has fluctuated over the years, with recorded figures showing numbers in the range of 350 to 421 residents across various census periods. These population figures are typical for small rural communes in the Pas-de-Calais department, where agricultural communities have experienced gradual decline in recent decades as younger residents have moved to larger urban centers for employment and education. The demographic pattern reflects broader trends in rural France, where many small communes face challenges related to aging populations and limited economic opportunities. However, these communities also maintain their role as centers of agricultural production and as repositories of local cultural heritage and traditions. ### Military Context and Legacy The awarding of the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 places Havrincourt among the numerous French communes that received recognition for their suffering during the First World War. The Nord-Pas-de-Calais region was particularly devastated by the conflict, as it became the site of some of the war's longest and most brutal fighting, including the Battle of the Somme and the Battle of Verdun. The Battle of Havrincourt specifically occurred during the Allied advance that followed the German Spring Offensive of 1918. On September 12, 1918, Allied forces launched coordinated attacks against German positions in the region, achieving significant gains that contributed to the eventual armistice of November 11, 1918. The battle's success helped push German forces back from positions they had held for much of the war. ### Regional Context Havrincourt exists within the broader context of Pas-de-Calais, a department that has played significant roles in French and European history. The department has been a crossroads of conflict for centuries, due to its strategic position between Paris and the Low Countries. The flat terrain of the region has made it both economically valuable for agriculture and strategically important for military operations. The canton of Bertincourt represents a cluster of rural communities that share common historical and cultural characteristics. These communes typically maintain agricultural economies based on cereal production and livestock farming, patterns that have defined the region for centuries. The arrondissement of Arras serves as the administrative, economic, and cultural center for this portion of Pas-de-Calais, with Arras itself being a historic city known for its belfry and baroque architecture. ### Contemporary Status Today, Havrincourt continues to function as an active commune within the French Republic. With a sitelink count of 45, the commune has a modest but established presence in digital knowledge resources. The Wikipedia article titled "Havrincourt" provides basic information about the commune, while Wikidata entries capture its administrative classifications and geographic coordinates. The commune maintains its role within the French administrative system, participating in departmental and regional governance structures while preserving its local identity and heritage. The memory of its wartime experience remains an important part of its identity, with the Croix de guerre serving as a permanent reminder of the sacrifices made by the community during the First World War. ## References 1. BnF authorities 2. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018 3. INSEE code 4. répertoire géographique des communes 5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 6. Annuaire de service-public.fr 7. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017 8. Populations légales 2016 9. Populations légales 2017 10. Populations légales 2018 11. Populations légales 2019 12. Populations légales 2020 13. Populations légales 2021 14. Populations de référence 2022 15. Populations de référence 2023 16. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419) 17. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies 18. GeoNames 19. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z) 20. [2016](https://data.geopf.fr/telechargement/download/GEOFLA/GEOFLA_2-2_COMMUNE_SHP_LAMB93_FXX_2016-06-28/GEOFLA_2-2_COMMUNE_SHP_LAMB93_FXX_2016-06-28.7z) 21. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)