Langemark

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Extension of Langemark and geographical position in Belgium
Consecration at the Langemarck Monument (July 10, 1932)

Langemark is the capital of the municipality of Langemark-Poelkapelle in the province of West Flanders in the Belgian region of Flanders . In the first half of the 20th century, the place name was written both Langemark and Langemarck . The German War Cemetery Langemark is located near Langemark .

Battle of Flanders and the myth of Langemarck

During the First World War , the First Battle of Flanders took place in October and November 1914. A loss-making German attack took place on November 10 near the village of Langemarck. The regiments involved in this consisted largely of young volunteers. Initiated by the Supreme Army Command (OHL), a transfigured view of this battle was propagated in the German Reich; The OHL indicated the actual location of the fight - six kilometers northwest between Noordschote and Bikschote - as the location west of Langemarck . The death of the soldiers was elevated to the "Langemarck myth" by propaganda .

Sandstone blocks frame the entrance of the Langemarck monument inaugurated on July 10, 1932 at the German military cemetery in Langemark. On the occasion of the inauguration, Josef Magnus Wehner , who himself had been wounded on the Western Front, gave a speech that later became widespread and underpinned the Langemarck myth. The names of those who fell there were carved on oak panels in the hall . At the front of the burial site there was a poppy- planted honor room with three former concrete shelters. The front course of the battle was represented by a line with 52 stone sarcophagi bearing the inscriptions of student corporations and participating units. A paved path leads along them. The honor room was enclosed by a wide moat.

The 27th SS Volunteer Grenadier Division "Langemarck" of the Waffen-SS was given the honorary name Langemarck on May 31, 1943 .

Web links

Commons : Langemark  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Remarks

  1. ^ Cf. the maps Carte de la Flandre occidentale published on behalf of the Belgian state by the Institut cartographique militaire, Bruxelles . 1906. Kaart van West-Vlaanderen (scale 1: 100,000, four sheets, colored) and the Carte de Belgique au 100000, Kaart van Belgie op 100000 (Brussels 1934–1942), sheet IV. Tournai from 1939.
  2. ↑ Historical postcards from Langemark from the years 1914–1940: Example 1, Example 2 , Example 4 , Example 5 , Example 6 , Example 7 (German) .
  3. ↑ Curt Badinski : From a great time. Reminder sheets of the Jäger-Feld-Battalion No. 9. World War 1914–1918. Volume 1, Lauenburgischer Heimatverlag, Ratzeburg 1932.


Coordinates: 50 ° 55 '  N , 2 ° 55'  E