Panel 16 Mortsel Bombing 5 April 1943

Text on panel 16
April 5th, 1943
Bombing of Mortsel

Cemetery [/ i]
April 9, 1943, the day of the funeral
Four days after the air raid, most of the 936 victims were buried. Until today, the countless white crosses remind us of the dead. The goodbye on that Friday morning was a national tribute. After a mass for ten missing in Antwerp cathedral, a procession left as far as Mortsel. The other victims were waiting in wooden boxes loaded on trucks on the Gemeenteplein. A ceremony was held under the direction of the cardinal. From there the procession continued with all the victims to the cemetery.

Witnesses tell [/ i]
"They were in coffins as thin as orange containers. There were gaps between them so you could see those people lying there. They were being loaded onto trucks, because all the hearses were already in use.

"The funeral was never ending. We stood with our school on either side, all sorts of trucks passing by. There were thousands of people. It took hours for that procession to reach the cemetery."

"A large crowd was waiting in front of the square. Whenever a truck stopped at the gate, a master of ceremonies came. He was wearing a black suit with a top hat. He had a list and read the name of the person each time. which was unloaded. So the family could follow the body to the grave. "

This walk was realized by the city of Mortsel in collaboration with Pieter Serrien.

Via the central path, you arrive at the Ereperk of April 5, 1943

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Source

• Text: Mia van den Berg
• Photos: Mia van den Berg