War Memorial Kortrijk

The memorial for the First World War, festively inaugurated on July 15, 1923, stands at the foot of the Belfry on the Grote Markt.
It was designed by city architect Joseph Demeere, created by sculptor Godfried Devreese and executed by the Fonderie Nationale des Bronzes, St. Gilles-Bruxelles.
It commemorates the fallen, executed and forced laborers from the First World War, later a round stone was added for the victims of the Second World War.
The lying lion at the bottom of the monument served as inspiration for the Menin Gate in Ypres.

At the top it says: "The city of Kortryk / to her sons"

The monument contains three bas-reliefs. A farewell scene is depicted on the left plate.
On the right a dead soldier, welcomed as a hero by his wife and child. This woman represents the "City of Kortrijk", which pays tribute to a fallen soldier.

Between the two reliefs "1914 – 1918" there is a quote from King Albert I from 1914:
"I trust our future.
A country that defends itself
commands everyone's respect,
that country will not perish."

The round stone in front of the lion reads:
"To the military, political
and civilian victims
of the war 1940 – 1945"

In 2006, two memorial stones were added for the victims of 1940-1945.
On the left are the names of the fallen soldiers 1940-1945.

On the right is the text:
"We commemorate all victims
which fell in 1940-1945
in military actions,
acts of resistance and bombings.

We remember the refugees,
the hardship, the fear,
the destruction, the deportations,
the extermination camps
and compulsory employment.

We cherish
peace and freedom"