Memorial Executed Moelingen

Text on the plaque:

Municipality of Moelingen
In August 1914, the Germans murdered 4 people and burned down 72 houses.

Were executed

POUSSET Michel
PUTS André
TIMMERS Henri
TIMMERS

Only from André Puts some data are known. He what born just across the border in Mesch (NL), was married and lived in Moelingen. He was 66 years old when he was executed in Visé on August 4th, 1914. He worked for the Belgian railroads. He is therefore also remembered on the monument aux morts at Visé and the monument at the a special commission was set up to rebuild the villages and towns that had suffered heavily from the German invasion in the early days and where many houses were burned down. This commission was called "Office des Régions dévastées on the height of Castert near Maastricht.

It is known that the Germans brutally and with great violoance countered any resistance as they passed through. Insurgent citizens who shot at passing troops, so-called franc-tireurs, were shot at worst, and their houses set on fire. Anything that delayed the passage to France (Germany followed the von Schlieffen plan to attack the weakly defended north side of France through Belgium, which demanded a meticulous timetable), was crushed with brute force. France had to be defeated before Russia had mobilized its army and Germany would be in a two-front war.

Near the junction of the main road Moelingen to Berneau (N653), the German Meuse Army was encamped in the fields towards the village of Voeren. This German army was awaiting the capture of the bridges at Visé before they could move on.

Near the Meuse at Moelingen on the border with the Dutch village of Eijsden, the Germans constructed a pontoon bridge in order to reach the other side of the Meuse and take Liège.

Germany thought they could overrun Belgium without too much resistance on their campaign to France. They were wrong. Belgium defended itself with pride and without fear.

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Source

• Text: Ed Lewandowski
• Photos: Joost Verheijden (1), Ed Lewandowski (2, 3, 4, 5)