War Memorial Lisogne

The Lisogne war memorial commemorates the war victims.

"Remember the brave
Died for the Fatherland"

The names of the fallen soldiers, fighters and deportees are mentioned.
The names of the civilians and children who were shot by the Germans on August 23, 1914 are also listed.

Around August 21, an entire German army corps advanced to Dinant to take the city. The commander is deeply convinced that the population will resist "encouraged by the clergy and the chauvinistic press" and orders very strict action.
When the first German scouts entered the city on the evening of August 21, they immediately started killing civilians and setting fires. They were quickly driven out by the French, but in the darkness the Germans could not see who was shooting at them and they are convinced that they are mainly civilians.
Thousands of civilians then flee to the left bank of the Meuse where they seek protection from the French, but most Dinantes stay at home "in good faith that nothing has happened that could be regarded as a hostile act".
On August 23, all hell breaks loose. The Germans launch a major attack and it immediately becomes clear that they regard both the French and the residents of Dinant as enemies. Massacres immediately take place on a large scale in various neighborhoods. Hundreds of civilians and children are put in cold storage. shot in blood, houses are set on fire.

Next to the monument is a bronze memorial plaque for Eloy WALDOR, a teacher in Dinant.
"Lisogne August 23, 1914
The teachers of the "Cercle
de Dinant" to their lamented colleague
Eloy WALDOR"

Below that hangs a 2nd plate:
"Eloy Waldor was at the turn of the 20th century
teacher in Lisogne. On August 23, 1914 he left
to Dinant. Just like hundreds of others
he was shot by the Germans.
In 1923 his colleagues left the area
this memorial plaque on the wall
from his school.
In addition to the wear and tear over time, it became several
times damaged by vandalism,
broken down by strangers and thrown in the trash.
In 2002 it was recovered and restored
by the Patriotic Association of the 3 villages
(Awagne, Lisogne and Loyers).

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Source

• Text: TracesOfWar
• Photos: Marie-Christine Vinck