The German Fury in Belgium
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Naspeuringen van Paul Theelen: The German fury in Belgium The German fury in Belgium Inhoudsopgave The German fury in Belgium..........................................................1 Preface..........................................................................4 Introduction.....................................................................5 Chapter I: On the way to Liège ..................................................7 [19140807 ca 16:00 Maastricht].................................................7 [19140807 ca 21:00 Maastricht] ................................................7 [19140808 ca 8:00 Maastricht]..................................................7 [19140804 Visé]...............................................................12 [19140808 Visé] ..............................................................12 [19140808 Argenteau]..........................................................13 [19140808 Cheratte]...........................................................13 [19140808 19:00 Liège]........................................................14 Chapter II: In Liège and back to Maastricht ....................................15 [19140808 19:00 Liège]........................................................15 [19140809 6:00 Liège].........................................................16 [19140809 Liège]..............................................................18 [19140808 19:00 Haccourt].....................................................19 [19140808 19:00 Maastricht]...................................................20 Chapter III: Round about Liège .................................................21 [19140815 8:00 Visé]..........................................................21 [19180815 Liège]..............................................................22 [Sunday 19140816 5:00 Liège]..................................................23 [19140815 Liège] .............................................................24 Chapter IV: Vise destroyed: A premeditated crime................................27 [19140815 20:00]..............................................................27 [Sunday 19140816].............................................................27 [19140827]....................................................................30 Chapter V: Francs-tireurs? .....................................................32 [19140808 Visé]...............................................................33 [19140814 Visé]...............................................................33 [19140809]....................................................................33 Chapter VI: With the Flemings...................................................35 [19140812 Tongeren]...........................................................35 Chapter VII: Liège After the Occupation ........................................37 [Tuesday 19140818 21:00]......................................................37 [19140820 Riemst].............................................................37 [19140812 Riemst].............................................................39 [19140820 Riemst].............................................................39 [19140821]....................................................................40 Chapter VIII: Leuven destroyed .................................................42 [1914082x 7:00 Leuven]........................................................47 [Tongeren]....................................................................47 Chapter IX: Leuven under the mailed fist........................................48 [Maastricht]..................................................................48 [19140901]....................................................................48 [1914090x Leuven].............................................................49 [Tienen]......................................................................50 [one week in Leuven]..........................................................50 [Thursday]....................................................................51 Chapter X: Along the Meuse to Huy, Andenne and Namur ...........................54 [1914090x Namur]..............................................................54 [19140824 Huy]................................................................54 [19140822]....................................................................55 [19140814 Andenne]............................................................55 [19140820 18:00 Andenne]......................................................55 [19140820 4:00 Andenne].......................................................56 [19140823 Namur]..............................................................56 [19140823 12:00 Namur]........................................................56 [1914090x Namur]..............................................................56 [19140907]....................................................................57 Chapter XI: From Maastricht to the French frontier..............................58 The Destruction of Dinant ....................................................58 #216 1 Paul Theelen, Monarchstraat 19, 5641 GH Eindhoven 040-2814621 [email protected] Naspeuringen van Paul Theelen: The German fury in Belgium [19140909 7:00 Maastricht]....................................................58 [19140909 Brussels]...........................................................58 [19140909 Charleroi]..........................................................58 [19140822 7:00 Charleroi].....................................................58 [19140909 19:00 Charleroi]....................................................59 [19140910 9:00 Charleroi].....................................................59 [19140821 Dinant].............................................................60 [19140815 Dinant].............................................................60 [19140821 21:00 Dinant].......................................................60 [Sunday 19140823 6:30 Dinant].................................................61 Chapter XII: On the battle fields...............................................65 [19140914 Leuven].............................................................65 [Thursday 19140910 Aarschot]..................................................65 Chapter XIII: Round about Bilzen................................................67 [Saturday 19140926 Riemst]....................................................67 [Sunday]......................................................................69 [Veldwezelt]..................................................................72 [Lanaken].....................................................................73 Chapter XIV: During the siege of Antwerp........................................74 [191409xx]....................................................................79 Chapter XV: The ill-treatment of British wounded ...............................81 [Leuven]......................................................................81 [Friday 19141009].............................................................82 Chapter XVI: On the Yser........................................................88 [Torhout].....................................................................91 [Eernegem]....................................................................92 [Brugge]......................................................................92 [19141130]....................................................................92 5 Experiences of a Dutch journalist during four months with the German army in Belgium By L. Mokveld, War-correspondent of "DE TIJD" Translated by C. Thieme, London correspondent of "DE NIEUWE COURANT" With a preface by John Buchan, New York, GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY 10 #216 2 Paul Theelen, Monarchstraat 19, 5641 GH Eindhoven 040-2814621 [email protected] Naspeuringen van Paul Theelen: The German fury in Belgium #216 3 Paul Theelen, Monarchstraat 19, 5641 GH Eindhoven 040-2814621 [email protected] Naspeuringen van Paul Theelen: The German fury in Belgium Preface Among the many books published on the behaviour of the German Army in Belgium, this 15 account by a distinguished Dutch journalist must occupy a unique place. It is written by a neutral, who held, at the start, no brief for either side. It is written by an eye-witness, who chronicles not what he heard, but what he saw. It is written also by one who mingled with the German troops and was present at the inception of the whole compaign of outrage. Mr. Mokveld took his life in his hands when, with great courage 20 and devotion, he visited Visé and Liège and Leuven at the most critical moments. His character of neutral journalist was only a flimsy protection among the drunken and excited German troops. But his boldness was justified, for after many adventures he came safely through, and he was enabled in those early weeks to see the whole of Belgium from Liège to the Yser and from Antwerp to Dinant. The result is an admirable 25 piece of war-correspondence, which bears on every page the proofs of shrewd observation and a sincere love of truth and honest dealing. There is much in Mr. Mokveld's narrative to interest the historian. For example, he gives a fuller account than we have yet had of that obscure period when Liège had fallen, but its northern forts were still holding out. But it is less a history of 30 the campaign than a chronicle of those lesser incidents of war which reveal the character of the combatants.