War Memorial Antwerp

This memorial commemorates the Belgian fallen of the First and Second World Wars.

The war memorial has stood on the edge of the City Park since the early 1950s.
It is signed: "EDW.DECKERS // COMPAGNIE DES BRONZES BRUXELLES"
The groups of statues are made of bronze, larger than life size.
The front of the base reads in bronze letters: "1914-1918 / 1940-1945".

It is an exceptionally large monument with an equestrian statue of King Albert I in the center of a raised, rectangular plinth made of artificial and blue stone.
He is depicted in field uniform with helmet, a saber in his right hand and is seated on a walking horse.

On the left at a lower level we see a group of two manly figures and five soldiers, apparently after the battle: on the far left a soldier who has fallen backwards, supported by a half-kneeling wounded companion. On the right a fallen soldier lies on his stomach.
The two central figures stand upright with their heads raised towards the monarch and each hold a rifle in one hand and a regimental banner in the other.

The second group on the right consists of a lying, dead older man, with beard and naked upper body, surrounded by two grieving adult women and a frightened-looking child.

The monument represents three elements of the war:
-the strength and determination of the leader;
- the foot soldiers devoted to the leader and fighting and dying like heroes for their homeland;
- the innocent victims of war violence and the misery caused.
fallen of the First and Second World War.

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Source

• Text: Fedor de Vries
• Photos: Wesley van Rompaey (1), Marie-Christine Vinck (2, 3, 4, 5)