War Memorial Olne

This monument commemorates the 65 inhabitants of the municipality of Olne who were executed during the passage, on August 6, 1914, of the German troops. This was on the 2nd day of the war for Belgium !

Recalling that on August 4, 1914, Germany's unexpected attack on neutral Belgium began, these victims were executed on the 2nd day of the attack.

Among the victims was the Reverend Vicar of Olne, Bernard Resonnet (32 years old). He is buried in the cemetery of Olne.

Of the Warnier family, Nelly (teacher) was executed, as were her two brothers Edgar and Victor and their father Victorpepe (head teacher). In the cemetery of Saint-Hadelin 57 of the victims are buried in a mass grave. See also the monument in Riènssonsart.

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

It is known that as they passed through, the Germans would eliminate any resistance with fierce. Insurgent civilians who shot at passing troops, so called franc-tireurs, in worst case were shot, and their houses set on fire. Anything that delayed the passage to France (Duisland was following the von Schlieffen plan to attack the weakly defended northern 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.

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