Ignace Hoff enlisted in 1870 wrongly convinced that his father had been shot by the Prussians; a brother, a franc-tireur, was indeed killed in action. Twenty-three mentions in army dispatches followed, the last for his fifty-first enemy killed, and the Prussian general staff put a price on his head. Auguste Bartholdi, the creator of the Statue of Liberty, sculpted the statue that watches over him.
The story
Ignace Hoff has his statue in Père-Lachaise, in Division 4, and it is signed Auguste Bartholdi — the sculptor of the Statue of Liberty, who made it his last work. The base carries three words only: “Le sergent HOFF.” His first name is not there.
Born at Marmoutier, in the Bas-Rhin, on 20 July 1836, Hoff had been a sergeant for a year when war broke out: enlisted at twenty, he had served with the colours since 1856. In 1870 he believed — wrongly — that the Prussians had shot his father, and one of his brothers was killed in action. His own war dates from there.
During the siege of Paris he mounted night ambushes with small squads of volunteers: twenty-seven Prussians lost their lives in them, and the German staff put a price on his head. Taken prisoner at the battle of Champigny, he spent more than three months in a camp near Cologne under the false name of Wolff, without anyone seeing through it.
The Republic then gave him its monuments to guard: the square des Arts-et-Métiers, then five years at the Vendôme Column, finally the Arc de Triomphe. He died in 1902, the day before he was to retire. The City granted him a free plot by order of 20 August 1902, and a public subscription paid for the statue, which Bartholdi had cast in 1904 — the year of his own death.
The grave
A funerary statue signed Auguste Bartholdi (1834-1904), the creator of the Statue of Liberty: few tombs at Père-Lachaise bear a signature so known throughout the world, and this one is for a sergeant. The plinth says only three words: “Le sergent HOFF” — Sergeant Hoff. His first name, Ignace, does not appear. The plot was granted to him free of charge by prefectoral order of 20 August 1902.
On site, do not miss
A statue signed Auguste Bartholdi — the creator of the Statue of Liberty. The plinth bears three words: “Le sergent HOFF.” His first name, Ignace, does not appear.
Visitors' questions
Where is Sergeant Hoff's grave?
In Division 4, avenue Principale, third row. You know it by its statue, the work of Auguste Bartholdi; the plinth carries three words: “Le sergent HOFF”. The plot was granted him free of charge by prefectoral order of 20 August 1902.
Gioachino RossiniWho sculpted his statue?
Auguste Bartholdi (1834-1904) — the maker of the Statue of Liberty. Few graves at Père-Lachaise are signed by a sculptor of such worldwide fame, and for a plain sergeant at that.
Frédéric CournetWhy did he enlist?
For a family revenge: he believed — wrongly — that the Prussians had shot his father, and his brother, a franc-tireur, had been killed in action. He enlisted at once, was made sergeant for his conduct under fire, and ended as a warder at the museum of the Invalides.
Victor NoirHow many times was he mentioned in dispatches?
Twenty-three times in army orders — the last for bringing down his fifty-first enemy soldier. Taken prisoner at Champigny, he had a price on his head from the Prussian staff.
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