Memorial Resistance Fighter Louis Schmidt

The Koning Verwinsplein was inaugurated on February 23, 1936 on the occasion of the 2nd anniversary of the death of King Albert I.

Louis Schmidt was born on April 5, 1877 in Lodelinsart. He studied engineering at the University of Liège and then moved to Etterbeek in 1911.
In April 1915 he went as a volunteer to the First World War.
On November 13, 1916, he became a lieutenant with the Telegraphy Company.
From January 1933 to 1944 he was mayor of Etterbeek.
During the Second World War he joined the resistance from the start and was arrested by the Gestapo on 21 April 1942 for acts of resistance. He was deported to Breslau where he died in captivity on February 13, 1944.

The monument to Mayor Louis Schmidt was inaugurated on September 14, 1947. It was designed by the architect Henri Derée, the sculptor was Jules Beernaerts and the contractor Armand Detry.
The monument has the shape of a semicircular bluestone platform, accessible by a few steps, interrupted by a high bluestone with the bronze bust of Louis Schmidt, signed "J. Beernaerts / 1946".
Behind it are six white stone pillars connected by a cross inscribed with the dates "1914-1918" and "1940-1945". The pillars are connected to the base by two bas-reliefs, flanking a high central panel on which the text: "Salus patriae / suprema lex" (for the salvation of the fatherland / the welfare of the fatherland must be the supreme law) .

Source: Inventory of architectural heritage – Brussels-Capital Region
Wikipedia

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Source

• Text: Marie-Christine Vinck
• Photos: Marie-Christine Vinck