Memorial Cemetery Bièvre

There is a memorial stone on a grave at the new cemetery in Bièvre.
On the left are the 17 names of "His martyrs of August 23-24, 1914"
On the right are the 18 names of "His victims of 1940-1945".

MAtélé, together with the municipality of Bièvre, made a documentary that looks back on the worst day the small Ardennes village has known. "The Martyrdom of Bièvre" follows the course of the battle at dawn on Sunday, August 23, 1914.

The German Fourth Army arrived near Bièvre on August 22. The battle actually started at night when the Germans and French fought in Porcheresse.
At the end of the battle won by the German army, the French withdrew to Graide and Bièvre. There they dug trenches along the railway line and the road to Houdremont.
Meanwhile, the Germans took revenge for their losses by burning almost the entire village of Porcheresse. They then continued their journey to Wellin and Haut-Fays where the men were taken hostage.

On Sunday, August 23 at 5:30 am, the German artillery began shelling near Haut-Fays. After the artillery it was the turn of the German infantry to enter the battle. Between Bièvre and Graide Station the French army tried to defend the railway line. The two French battalions were quickly overpowered and at 10:30 am they were ordered to leave the village. They retreated to Petit-Fays and Vresse.
Bièvre fell into the hands of the Germans. The battle with the French army had lasted just over two hours and losses were heavy on both sides.

After the withdrawal of the French soldiers, the nightmare for the inhabitants of Bièvre had only just begun. The Germans thought they could cross the region unhindered and they took revenge on the civilian population for the delay.
On August 23 and 24, for two days and two nights, the German army terrorized the village. In total, 17 people were murdered and 72 buildings destroyed. Residents were also forced to bury French soldiers killed in the fighting.

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Source

• Text: TracesOfWar
• Photos: Marie-Christine Vinck