This is a statue in honoring those victims who were killed by the Germans during the Rape of Belgium.
The Rape of Belgium happened between August and September of 1914. The German troops were trying to get to France. In order to get there they had to go through Belgium first. The Belgians thought they had enough neutrality to shield them from what could happened. Germany's plan, Schlieffen Plan, violated that neutrality. German killed thousands throughout the area.
On August 25,1914 was the biggest invasion. The Germans ravaged the city of Leuven, burning the University's library of 230,000 books, killing 248 residents, and also forced the entire population of 42,000 out of the city. The Germans took all the food supply and modern industrial equipment and brought it back to Germany.
Many towns were destroyed, men, women, and children were killed. Some towns lost up to 665 community members.
Casualties-
Aarschot- 156 dead
Andenne- 211 dead
Tamines- 383 dead
Dinant- 665 dead
Leuven- 248
Total= 1,663
Many towns were destroyed, men, women, and children were killed. Some towns lost up to 665 community members.
Casualties-
Aarschot- 156 dead
Andenne- 211 dead
Tamines- 383 dead
Dinant- 665 dead
Leuven- 248
Total= 1,663
The Rape of Belgium was called this for media purposes. When you hear the "Rape of Belgium" it gets your attention and that is what they wanted. Putting it on newspaper headlines will get people talking about it.This picture was used as propaganda by America. When we show these things to people from America they are giving our troops support.
When Germany committed this crime it made other countries crimes look not as bad as they were when it first happened. Comparing what happened in the Baralong Incidents to what happened during the Rape of Belgium is really not comparable. The Germans killed over a thousand men, women, and children during the Rape of Belgium and between the two Baralong Incidents only twenty people were killed. When children are involved in killings it always seems worse because who would think to kill innocent children.
When Germany committed this crime it made other countries crimes look not as bad as they were when it first happened. Comparing what happened in the Baralong Incidents to what happened during the Rape of Belgium is really not comparable. The Germans killed over a thousand men, women, and children during the Rape of Belgium and between the two Baralong Incidents only twenty people were killed. When children are involved in killings it always seems worse because who would think to kill innocent children.