All through World War I, the historic Belgium market town of Ypres was situated at a strategically critical spot close to the British front lines and is also without doubt one of the most well known parts of the Western Front as a consequence of the terrible struggle that happened here.
The city was basically in the middle of the Ypres Salient, a bit of the lines sticking out towards German lines. Historically, the town can certainly be traced back to the 1100s. In the face of ages of fighting and occupation, Ypres developed but the start of The First World War, ypres was under German occupation.
The First Battle of Ypres during October and November 1914 saw the Allies retake Ypres from the German Army and even with vicious fighting around Ypres right up until the war came to an end in 1918, the Germans didn't recapture the town.
Unfortunately, throughout the 4 years of The Great War, Ypres took a fearful toll as 4 major battles took place close to here. In the Second Battle of Ypres in April and May 1915, the Germans recaptured the high ground towards the east of Ypres. The zone contained the village of Passchendaele.
In 1917, without doubt one of the most ferocious battles of the Great War happened. The Third Battle of Ypres or Passchendaele saw Britain and her Allies recapture the ridge though with a terrible cost. From July and November 1917, there was approximately half a million deaths and injuries on both sides and Ypres was nearly destroyed by German heavy guns.
The renowned Cloth Hall and many other structures were destroyed and centuries of heritage went with them. In 1933, reconstruction began on the Cloth Hall and it was finally completed in 1967 having been fastidiously rebuilt to restore its historical past. Today, the Cloth Hall in Ypres is home to the In Flanders Fields Museum.
During The First World War, the Menin Gate was simply an exit cut from the eastern ramparts of Ypres. Many Allied soldiers would have marched through this exit on the way to the front lines. In 1927, the Menin Gate Memorial was unveiled. It commemorates the names of in excess of 54,000 men who are even now missing around the battlegrounds close to the Ypres Salient and each and every night, the Last Post ceremony takes place here at 8pm by the grateful citizens of Ypres.
The city was basically in the middle of the Ypres Salient, a bit of the lines sticking out towards German lines. Historically, the town can certainly be traced back to the 1100s. In the face of ages of fighting and occupation, Ypres developed but the start of The First World War, ypres was under German occupation.
The First Battle of Ypres during October and November 1914 saw the Allies retake Ypres from the German Army and even with vicious fighting around Ypres right up until the war came to an end in 1918, the Germans didn't recapture the town.
Unfortunately, throughout the 4 years of The Great War, Ypres took a fearful toll as 4 major battles took place close to here. In the Second Battle of Ypres in April and May 1915, the Germans recaptured the high ground towards the east of Ypres. The zone contained the village of Passchendaele.
In 1917, without doubt one of the most ferocious battles of the Great War happened. The Third Battle of Ypres or Passchendaele saw Britain and her Allies recapture the ridge though with a terrible cost. From July and November 1917, there was approximately half a million deaths and injuries on both sides and Ypres was nearly destroyed by German heavy guns.
The renowned Cloth Hall and many other structures were destroyed and centuries of heritage went with them. In 1933, reconstruction began on the Cloth Hall and it was finally completed in 1967 having been fastidiously rebuilt to restore its historical past. Today, the Cloth Hall in Ypres is home to the In Flanders Fields Museum.
During The First World War, the Menin Gate was simply an exit cut from the eastern ramparts of Ypres. Many Allied soldiers would have marched through this exit on the way to the front lines. In 1927, the Menin Gate Memorial was unveiled. It commemorates the names of in excess of 54,000 men who are even now missing around the battlegrounds close to the Ypres Salient and each and every night, the Last Post ceremony takes place here at 8pm by the grateful citizens of Ypres.
About the Author:
In the Great War, the Ypres Salient saw some of the worst action between 1914 and 1918.. Also published at The Destruction of Ypres During World War I.