Army Quote by Maynard Owen Williams
“Statues and children frame the Eiffel Tower and its watery image. When the Germans occupied Paris, they housed a beacon light in the Tower to guide their night planes. The victorious United States Army requisitioned this landmark as a radar transmission point.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Great Cities of the World by Maynard Owen Williams, 1935
The Eiffel Tower has been repurposed for military signaling, showing how iconic structures can serve strategic roles in conflict.
In simple terms: Famous landmarks can become wartime tools.
Key Takeaway
Recognize dual uses of architecture.
Themes
history
military
architecture
technology
war
recognition
strategic
communication
symbolism
Mood
reflective
serious
thoughtful
Type
historical
analytical
When to use this quote
- wartime signaling
- military occupation
- civilian adaptation
Key Concepts
war
communication
technology
Questions to Reflect On
- How does repurposing affect a monument's meaning?
- What responsibilities do societies have to protect heritage?
A Different Perspective
Military use can endanger cultural heritage.
![“Being the most striking manifestation of the art of metal structures by which our engineers have shown in Europe, it [the Eiffel Tower] is one of the most striking of our modern national genius.” quote by Gustave Eiffel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/084/gustave-eiffel-40993_architecture_being-the-most-striking-manifestation-of_643147.jpg)
![“Like man himself, who is the only one not to know his own glance, the [Eiffel] Tower is the only blind point f the total optical system of which it is the center and Paris the circumference.” quote by Roland Barthes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a97/roland-barthes-1062_eiffel-tower_like-man-himself-who-is-the-only-one-not_2389435.jpg)
![“In order to satisfy this great oneiric function, which makes it not a kind of total monument, the [Eiffel] Tower must escape reason. The first condition of this victorious flight is that the Tower be an utterly useless monument.” quote by Roland Barthes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/118/roland-barthes-1062_eiffel-tower_in-order-to-satisfy-this-great-oneiric-f_1078821.jpg)
![“I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect [Donald Trump], or then-president [Barack Obama]. But it's - I'm very clear. I voted for the change that put the Army Field Manual in place as a member of Congress. I understand that law very, very quickly and am also deeply aware…” quote by James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/761/james-mattis-9515_army_i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-th_3990.jpg)
