Burning of Louvain
The Burning of Louvain (or the Holocaust of Louvain) was the German assault on the Belgian town of Louvain, part of the events collectively known as the Rape of Belgium, taking place during the First World War. Over the course of several days of pillaging and brutality 248 people were killed and 1,500 were deported to Germany where they were held at the Munster camp until January 1915. The University Library was completely destroyed after it was set on fire by the occupying German soldiers and 1,120 of the 8,928 homes in Louvain were similarly destroyed.
Events
When German troops arrived in the town on 19 August the townspeople had already been disarmed by municipal authorities who feared German reprisals could be provoked by local resistance. The people of Louvain were frightened, having heard reports of mass killings in other nearby towns. For several days the occupation of Louvain by 15,000 German troops was tense. Posters warned of harsh punishments if any weapons were found, hostages were taken, and the doors of homes were to be left open throughout the night. Then, on 25 August, chaotic shooting broke out. Bayonet wounds and possible signs of torture were found on the bodies of the victims. The Germans claimed that Belgians had fired at them, which historians judge to be extremely unlikely based on the circumstances in the town and the fact that the residents had already been disarmed.
The Germans burned the University Library and many of the wealthiest homes in the town. As Louvain burned the killings and harassment of the population continued for several days. Residents were driven from their homes at gunpoint. Some were beaten and shot in front of their families, others were killed as they fled from their burning homes. A letter from a German soldier describes the pillage of the town: "Homes are searched and whatever is left is just requisitioned, as it is called. In proper German this is called "taking away"; whether it pleases the owner or not is of no concern and does not bother anyone." The Daily Mail called it the "Holocaust of Louvain".
References
- Kramer, Alan (2007). Dynamic of Destruction:Culture and Mass Killing in the First World War. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-280342-9.