Memorial Former German War Cemetery Roggeveld

This monument is part of 24 artworks scattered throughout the Westhoek belonging to the project "Gefallene Landschafsmarkierungen". There are 3 identical works of art. These are located in Koekelare, Messines and Zonnebeke. However, this is the only one that effectively commemorates a cemetery hence the crosses on the base.

The former German cemetery "Ehrenfeld 156 "in Esen was located near the farmstead 't Roggeveld in the old Roeselare street. A field hospital stood on the corner of both streets and 1,538 fallen soldiers were buried in this cemetery.

The most famous of them was Peter Kollwitz, son of German sculptor Käthe Kollwitz. He was killed on 23 October 1914 near the Roggeveld and was buried here. After visiting his grave in 1926, she created the "The Mourning Parents" in blue Belgian granite. This sculpture group was placed in the cemetery in 1932 and when the fallen were moved to Vladslo in 1956, the sculpture group "The Mourning Parents" moved with them.

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Source

• Text: Francky de Rous
• Photos: Francky de Rous