BATTLE OF THE YSER YPRES I

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1 YPRES SALIENT North Dear Student, This worksheet is meant to allow you to pause for a moment longer by certain items in the museum. This doesn t mean you cannot look around at other objects, stories, or themes in the museum - on the contrary! You can take photos in the museum as long as you don t use flash. BATTLE OF THE YSER YPRES I After the fall of Antwerp (7-10 october 1914) the war shifted to the Westhoek. Here the war movement stranded. During the bike tour, we will drive through the northern part of the Ypres Salient. You can see how it was formed here (10). Question: Which army or armies took up the defence of Ypres at the end of November 1914? Educatief Worksheets Pakket In Flanders In Flanders Fields Fields Museum Museum - Ypres - Ieperboog Salient North Noord Bike Bus 1

2 YPRES II In order to get the front moving again, the military sought new weapons to break through the lines. Scientists such as the German chemist Fritz Haber, who made possible large-scale attacks using gas from 1915 onwards, aided them in their efforts. Gas was used on the front for the first time at Ypres. This attack marked the beginning of the Second Battle of Ypres, which resulted in more than fatalities in around a month s time. Willi Siebert witnessed the first gas attack on 22 April Task: Listen to their stories. Question: Do you agree with Fritz Haber s position? Task: Find the name and function of this object. During the tour, we will see this on location. 2

3 YPRES SALIENT Here you see a representation of the Ypres Salient in a contemporary landscape. Question: Which colour is used to represent the German front line? THE TRENCH WAR THE UNDERGROUND WAR Trenches were zigzag-shaped to limit damage by a direct strike or attack. Barbed wire barricades were placed in front of and between the lines. To keep the trenches as dry as possible, wooden walkways were laid on the ground, and from 1916 onwards in combination with wooden A-frames when possible. Shelters were dug out here and there along the lines, and later bunkers were built. Question: Do you recognise all the objects in the display case? If not: Describe, draw or photograph one of them and ask additional information from the guide at this location during the tour. 3

4 YPRES III After the failure of the French army in France in the spring of 1917, British commander Sir Douglas Haig decided to make an attempt at breaking through the Ypres Salient to reach the coast. The bloody offensive lasted a hundred days and took place in terrain that was often made impassable by artillery fire and rain; the prize was a ridge called Passendale (a target that should have fallen within 72 hours, according the plan) that was only cleared after five months. A total of more than deaths and many wounded on the allied side alone received sharp criticism, even among the allies own ranks. Look at the Third Battle of Ypres through the eyes of Ellen Newbold La Motte, Enid Bagnold and Harvey Cushing. Question: Which account touches you most? 4

5 IN FLANDERS EARTH The war may have vanished in time, but thousands of aerial photos taken during the war bring it back to life in an instant. Task: Find the canal that runs from Ypres past Boezinge. Place the historical photos in the contemporary landscape and see how the landscape has changed. 5

6 COMMEMORATION Never had so many nations asked so many sacrifices of their people, and never had so many subjects from all walks of life given their lives in service to the state. The fatherland promised to honour their memory. Among the British, everyone who had died in service was commemorated individually and equally. Because of equality in death, the British dead did During the bicycle tour, we follow Elizabeth as she searches for her son s grave, among other things. The List of Names is a list on which there is room for citizens and soldiers alike, regardless of their nationality or whether they were friends or former enemies, both for Belgians who perished in their own country and non-belgians who died here or were fatally wounded here and died elsewhere. Task: Add your own name to the List of Names. How many people share your name? not have to be repatriated. 6

7 THE LAST WITNESS We shiver in the chill November wind, but most of all at the thought of how terrible his appearance must have been when his mates saw him, with torn flesh, blood and entrails... Koen Koch, while digging up body no. 206 at the industrial estate in Boezinge. Our bike tour passes through the trajectory where archaeologists found more than 200 bodies of soldiers from the Great War during the construction of the industrial estate... YPRES, CITY OF PEACE The war that never ends... On 11 November 1918, British Prime Minister David Lloyd George declared: At eleven o clock this morning came to an end the cruellest and most terrible war that has ever scourged mankind. I hope we may say that thus, this fateful morning, came to an end all wars. A vain hope... if you look at it that way... Question: Which conflict broke out in the year of your birth? And yet... And yet we cannot leave it for what it is. We still believe things can be different. For this reason, the City of Ypres awards the Peace Prize every three years. And everyone who has made an effort to combat feelings of hate and revenge among (former) enemies and to lay the foundations of peaceful cooperation through reconciliation, forgiveness and compassion is eligible for the award. Question: Who in your opinion, should be considered for the Peace Prize? Mail your answer to vrede@ieper.be 7