Today’s postcard takes us back to Autumn 1914 along the banks of the Yser, on Belgian territory, about 30 kms from the French border. We can witness the desperate defense of the last portion of Belgian territory not yet under German control.
To remind ourselves, a century earlier, after the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815, Belgian territory changed from French to Dutch hands.
This is not the time to go into too much detail, but it must be said that putting a Catholic territory into powerful Protestant hands, was not a very good idea and Belgium’s annexation to Holland took place during the 1830 revolution.
The French minister, Talleyrand, ambassador in London, then proposed to share out the Belgian territory between France and the British Empire, to which the Belgians replied “Don’t even think about it”. Belgium wanted its independance.
So the European powers met in London to try and find a compromise. The recollection of Waterloo, where the important European powers fought against each other on Belgian territory, was still fresh in everyone’s memories. The succession of a German prince , Queen Victoria’s cousin, to the Belgian throne, seemed to be an acceptable compromise. We were in 1831 and Leopold 1st became King of this new buffer state.
In London in 1839, the European powers agree that Belgium will be neutral and an attack of any kind against them would produce a reply from the other important powers.
The German Empire and its army spent a good part of the 19th century plotting a military plan, which would allow it to annihilate its eternal enemy: France. The Schliefen plan which materialized in 1905, had however one obstacle: one had to cross neutral Belgium, come what may.
After this “flashback” we are back again in 1914. France and Germany are at war and the Germans ask Belgium for the right to cross its territory to enable them to attack France. Belgium refuse them access to their territory and the Germans therefore declare war on Belgium and steamroll into their territory. Belgium ask for help from those countries which signed the Treaty of London in 1839, to face up to the disproportioned German attack.
The resistance of the Belgian army in towns such as Liège and Antwerp, help to slow down the German attack, but in October, 95% of Belgian territory is occupied by the Germans. It is what is called a “Race to the Sea”. The British, who had hoped to stay neutral, find themselves forced to enter into war only 38 days after the Sarajevo attack.
The British Empire’s entry into the war, leads to the Commonwealth’s entry too. In a small corner of Belgian territory, there are soldiers from Canada, India, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand …
Not even 100 years have past since Waterloo and whereas in Waterloo the whole of Europe fought in Belgium, now the whole world is fighting on Belgian territory.
What is left of the Belgian army, under King Albert 1st, fiercely defends the last sections of its territory, trying to avoid at all cost that the Germans cross the River Yser. We are a stones throw away from the coast, on a polder plain land, situated at about 3 metres below sea level. The confrontations are very violent.
Belgians, French and British soldiers try to form a front line to prevent the German soldiers access to the coastal Town of Dunkerk in France, key post for supply of troops. The German attacks are brutal. The Belgians resist but don’t look as if they can do so for much longer.
At almost the same time, a few kilometres south, the first Battle of Ypres is taking place. This small corner of Flanders will be the scene of the First World War’s bloodiest fights.
On the banks of the River Yser, the situation becomes desperate and at the end of 1914, an old idea comes to mind to prevent the German advance: to open up the floodgates protecting the polders and thus inundate the German positions. Theoretically, the Allied positions should be safe from the flooding, thanks to an embankment which the elevated slope of the railway line forms between Dixmude and Nieuport.
To begin with, King Albert 1st did not appear enthusiastic at the idea of seeing what was left of his kingdom transformed into a marshland of brack water, but he finally gives in and on the 21st October the floodgates are opened for the first time . At first the results are limited. The situation of the Belgian troops becomes unbearable as the days go on and they lack in ammunition. On the 22nd October, at Dixmude, the German attacks are repelled no less than fifteen times.
The floodgate manoeuvres continue during the following days. It is important to resist at all costs. The Yser plain is progressively flooded, creating a sort of muddy swamp, from which it is impossible to advance. On the 1st November, the Germans have no other choice but to retract into higher positions.
The operations to control the flooding of the Yser plain will continue throughout the war’s four-year duration, in order to keep the German forces at a distance and to transfer the battle front further south, to the town of Ypres, mentioned above.
Let this article be dedicated to the memory of the Yser heroes.
Translated by Sue Dangotte