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The Great War In Flanders - Diksmuide |
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Page 1 |
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In and around the Ypres Salient - Diksmuide. |
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The Yser Tower and the Paxpoort (Gate) |
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The Yser Tower and the Paxpoort commemorate the Flemish emancipation struggle and the 'no more war' principle. The first tower was dedicated during the Yser Pilgrimage of 1930 as a memorial to the many Flemish soldiers who gave their lives in this region. The annual pilgrimages became the symbol for the Flemish emancipation struggle. In 1965, the new Yser Tower was dedicated. This monument has housed a new museum since 1998 dedicated to the Yser Front, peace and the Flemish struggle. |
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The Trenches of Death or Death Trench |
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Three kilometres further along the Yser one comes across the 'Death Trench'. The Death Trench is a network of Belgian trenches and bunkers that formed one of the most dangerous positions of the Belgian army, at a distance of barely 50m from a German bunker. The Death Trench was under constant seige by German snipers. Recently the site was completely renovated and a new reception area was opened. |
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The 'Our Blessed Lady' Triangle |
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The 'Our Blessed Lady' triangle in Stuivekenskerke is situated between Nieuwpoort and Diksmuide. The church tower was an important Belgian outpost during the war. In the memorial chapel, among the vestiges of the bombarded church tower with its orientation table, and the memorial stones for several Belgian army units along the old 'railway verge' from Diksmuide to Nieuwpoort, you will become acquainted with some peculiar war relics. During World War 1, this former railway embankment formed the Belgian frontline. |
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The Battle of the Yser and the Battle for Diksmuide |
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By the middle of October 1914, the Yser and the canal to Ypres formed the last Belgian defensive line against the Germans. On 18th October they reached the Yser and the battle begins. Keiem, Tervaete, Schoorbakke and Diksmuide lie in the line of fire. The German troops succeeded in crossing the Yser, but during a combat pause the polders near the Yser are flooded on Belgian orders. By the end of October, the Germans had had enough. The water could not be conquered. Only a few small 'islands' on the western bank remained in German hands until 1918. Belgian and French troops stubbornly defended Diksmuide whilst German artillery fire reduced the city to rubble. Diksmuide is only conquered by the Germans on 10th November 1914. The Allied plans nevertheless succeed and the German advance dies down at the Yser and their Schlieffenplan finally fails. |
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