Memorial Via Dolorosa Visé

Next to the town hall (photo 4 and 5) of the city of Visé a special monument was erected of stacked 75mm shells from the 1st World War. On top is a "X" also from the 1st World War. The monument would have barbed wire as a reminder of the barbed wire fences in front of the trenches, but the barbed wire has unfortunately disappeared.

The 36 stacked shells (duds with the detonation removed) mark the commemoration of 100 years of the beginning of the 1st World War for Belgium. The attached description lists the towns and villages that suffered most during the advance of the German troops. The project is named after the 'Via Dolorosa,' the road of suffering.

'Via Dolorosa' was a project that ran throughout Belgium, and where monuments were placed in various municipalities in 2014. It follows the first months of war for Belgium from the town of Gemmenich to the front in the Westhoek, where the Belgian army held out behind the Yser River until the end of the war.

A similar monument to the one in Visé has been erected near the river Dender in the city of Aalst (East Flanders).

Gemmenich Aug. 4th, 2014, the town where the Germans crossed the Belgian border. A monument named after Via Dolorosa is also located here.

Visé, Aug. 4th, 2014, the town that was almost completely destroyed when the German troops wanted to attack the city of Liège via a circumferential movement along the other side of the Meuse River.

Au fil de l'yser (along the river Yzer), Oct. 17th, 1914, the place in the Westhoek where the Belgian army had retreated behind the river Yzer and where throughout the four years of war, the Belgian army endured heavy fighting in the trenches.

Mons (Bergen), where the British Exepedionary Force (BEF), came to the aid of the Belgian army, but suffered a heavy defeat and had to retreat together with the Belgians to the west.

Zonnebeke, the place where the Germans launched their final offensive on the city of Ypres, but their advance stalled. Although German scouts had already been in Ypres, later on left the town. When they later wanted to push through Ypres again with the main force, it was too late. Ypres was heavily defended by the British and Belgians.

Comines, Warmeton (Ploegsteert), the place where the winter offensive stalled and where the "Christmas Truce" with the Germans was celebrated.

Diksmuide, a village on the Yser also in the Westhoek where heavy fighting took place during the war years. The village was in the front lines and was heavily damaged. Many Belgian soldiers (Flemings and Walloons) lost their lives here while defending their country.

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Source

• Text: Ed Lewandowski
• Photos: Ed Lewandowski
• www.wo1.be/nl/nieuws/46512/via-dolorosa-volgt-de-eerste-oorlogsmaanden