Memorial Patriots of Malmedy

This memorial commemorates the victims of Malmedy who lost their lives during the Second World War. Over the years, however, there has been an important evolution to determine which victims are intended. As early as 1946, the socialist councilor Louis Gob had made a proposal to erect a place of honor in the local cemetery for the heroes of Malmedy, 'le champ de repos de nos héros'. A separate tombstone would be placed next to a central stele for each hero. This idea didn't make it. Probably the limitation on only the memory of the "heroes" was sensitive and in 1948 another proposal was made for a rather symbolic honor for all victims of war, including the civilians killed during the American bombing. This suggestion was not withheld either because some councilors felt that the role of the active resistance heroes became insignificant. At the beginning of 1950, a new request came from 'Les Jeunesses patriotiques', a youth association with a strong sense of Belgian patriotism, and this time to erect a monument 'à la mémoire des prisonniers politiques et des résistants pou la patrie au cours de guerre 1940 -1945' (in memory of the political prisoners and resistance fighters of the 1940-1945 war'). This request was supported by the Prisoniers Politiques, the Work Refusals and the Club Wallon. A vigil was held on Thursday, July 20, 1950, until the next morning, on Friday, July 21, when this monument was inaugurated with great magnificence amid great political and military interest and in the presence of various patriotic associations. In 1989, the patriotic spirit was once again emphasized when, at the request of the cantonal association of political prisoners, a bronze plaque was placed with the names of 24 citizens of Malmedy who had died during resistance actions or in the concentration camps.

It is clear that this monument wishes to emphasize Malmedy's loyalty to Belgium and to oppose the pro-German attitude that was certainly present in the East Cantons during the interwar period and the war. In the spirit of the time, this Belgianism was also an implicit expression of Walloon, French-speaking culture.

The monument
The monument is the work of the architects Rousch and Moray. It consists of a huge boulder of local stone. The original text from 1950 was replaced in 1989 by 'A nos morts pour la Belgique. 1940-1945', 'Leur vie pour notre liberté'. ("In honor of our dead for Belgium. 1940-1945. They gave their lives for our freedom."). A bronze plate with a quatrain in Walloon by the local poet and resistance hero Henri Bragard was placed in the center. In addition, the plate with the names of 25 heroes was applied.

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Source

• Text: Jan Rymenams
• Photos: Hans Tasma (1, 2, 5), Jan Rymenams (3, 4)
• Remacle, J., La Mémoire de la seconde guerre mondiale à Malmedy de 1945 à nos jours, Malmedy, 2020