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| The view of no-mans-land from a recreated trench near Ypres. |
On this day, 11 November 2019, one hundred and one years ago, the madness which was the First World War came to an end. The Guns on the Western front fell silent. Yesterday, 10 November 2019, I visited the battlefields around the town of Ypres (Ipres) in Flanders Fields in Belgium. The first major battle of the first world war took place here at Langemark about 6 km away from Ypres and became known as the "Slaughter of the Innocence". The German army at that stage was made up mostly of very young, often school children, who only had a few weeks of basic training. They came up against a very well trained regular (professional) British army. Many of these young volunteers (around 3000) were killed and they graves can be seen in the Langemark German cemetery. There are around 44 000 Germans buried there. There is a mass grave with some 24 917 bodies in at the entrance to the cemetery. The names of the German missing are listed on the walls of the cemetery. What is really sad is that the Allied countries are doing everything possible to never forget. On the Germany side, they do not want to remember the First World War, and the many millions of German soldiers who fought and died are all but forgotten by their own country. It is the Australian, New Zealanders, British, Canadians, South Africans that visit their graves and pay their respect!
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| German graves. Many soldiers buried in one grave. |
For four years, the area around Ypres was a battleground where a victory was seen when a few meters were won. There were three major battles in the area. The first battle of Ypres, the second battle of Ypres and strangely enough the 3rd battle of Ypres.The 3rd battle of Ypres has become better known as the battle of Passchendaele. This is widely regarded as the worst battle of the first world war. Not so much because of the heavy fighting (which there was) but for the appalling conditions under which it was fought. Mud, mud and more mud. Sticky clay that claimed also as many lives as enemy fire. Thousands of men got stuck in the mud and with no way to get them out, died there. in this mud. This must rank as an even bigger blunder of General Haig, who previously planned the disastrous Battle of the Somme. The deaths of some 800 000 men can be chalked up to the stupidity and stubbornness of Haig!
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| Mass grave for about 24 000 German soldiers |
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| Names of the German missing |
There is basically no evidence of the four long years of battle which took place here, apart from the many cemeteries which can be found all over the place. Most of the soldiers who fought and died here have no known grave. Their names are listed on the various walls at places like Tyne Cot Cemetery and the Menin gate. Row upon row of names of the missing men!
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| The battlefields today. Who could tell of the misery the men when through on this bit of farmland? |
I did a tour with Quasimodo Tours (info@quasimodo.be). This was booked through Get your Guide (
www.getyourguide.com).
The tour was really great. A nice bus and a very good knowledgeable guide and driver. I would highly recommend this to anyone interested in a tour to this region.
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| The direction to Ypres about 4 km away. |
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