| Belgium, a country in the northwest of Europe on the | | | | in the First Battle of Ypres (31 October to 22 |
| North Sea. In ancient times Belgium was inhabited by | | | | November 1914). In the Second Battle of Ypres (22 |
| the Belgae, the region was part of the Carolingian | | | | April to 25 May 1915) the German force used poison |
| and Roman empires before breaking up into a | | | | gas for the first time on the Western Front and |
| number of feudal states during the middle Ages. The | | | | seized high ground east of Ieper. The first gas attack |
| region occupied by present-day Belgium passed to | | | | occurred against British, Canadian and French soldiers, |
| the Hapsburgs in the 15th century and then to the | | | | including both metropolitan French soldiers as well as |
| French in the 18th century. After the defeat of | | | | Senegalese and Algerian tirailleurs (light infantry) from |
| Napoleon in 1815, Belgium was given to the kingdom | | | | French Africa. Of the battles in the World War I, the |
| of the Netherlands, from which it gained | | | | largest, most-known, and most costly in human |
| independence as a separate kingdom in 1830. Brussels | | | | suffering was the Third Battle of Ypres (21 July to 6 |
| is the capital and the largest city of Belgium. | | | | November 1917, also known as the Battle of |
| Belgium was an important chapter in the World War I. | | | | Passchendaele) in which the British, Canadians, |
| After the sudden occurence of World War I (Aug., | | | | ANZAC and French forces recaptured the |
| 1914), Belgium was invaded by Germany in order to | | | | Passchendaele ridge east of the city at a terrible cost |
| attack the French by the easiest route, this | | | | of lives. After several months of fighting, the battle |
| unashamed violation of Belgian neutrality shocked | | | | resulted in nearly half a million casualties to all sides, |
| much parts of the world and brought Great Britain | | | | and only several miles of ground won by Allied forces. |
| into the war, as one of Belgium's guarantors. The | | | | Ieper was all but destroyed by the artillery fire. |
| unexpected resistance of the Belgians against such | | | | Many landmarks and memorials of the World War I |
| heavy odds won widespread admiration, and German | | | | and museums are worth visiting in Ieper. |
| atrocities in Belgium, publicized by the Allies, played an | | | | 1. Menin Gate Memorial - Memorial dedicated on 24 |
| important part in strenghtening U.S. opinion against | | | | July 1927 to the missing British and Commonwealth |
| Germany. All of Belgium except a small strip in West | | | | soldiers who fell in Belgium during World War I. It has |
| Flanders, which served as a battle front throughout | | | | a Last Post Ceremony each night at 8:00 PM as a |
| the war (Ieper or Ypres), was conquered by Oct. 10, | | | | way for the Ypres citizens to express their gratitude |
| 1914, and the people suffered under a harsh | | | | towards those who died for Belgium's freedom. |
| occupation system. The Belgian army fought in West | | | | 2. Flanders Fields Museum - It is located right in the |
| Flanders and France throughout the war under the | | | | center of the Ypres Cloth Hall. This museum gives an |
| leadership of Albert I. | | | | excellent overview of World War I. It is a sort of an |
| Ypres or Ieper, a Belgian municipality located in the | | | | experience that takes you right into the daily life |
| Flemish province of West Flanders. During World War | | | | during the war. |
| I, Ieper was the centre of serious and sustained | | | | 3. Memorial Museum Passchendaele - A Museum in a |
| battles between the German and the Allied forces. | | | | beautiful setting, conveying the story of the Great |
| During the war, English soldiers nicknamed the city | | | | War in chronological order. It has lots of information |
| "Wipers." | | | | on the different battles and a large selection of |
| The Allied forces captured Ieper from the Germans | | | | authentic artifacts on display. |