The Last Belgian Offensive in 1914 (9 - 12 September 1914) - On 7 September, the army command decides to launch a second attack from the fortress of Antwerp with the aim of drawing away German troops and reducing the pressure on the French front. The Belgians succeed in recapturing Werchter upon which the Germans are forced to retreat behind the Dyle. They decide to continue the offensive and cross the Dyle. But the Germans attacked them heavily and there were many casualties. On 12 September, the offensive falters and the rapidly advancing German troops push the Belgians back. The Belgians decide to retreat towards Antwerp leaving many dead.
After the war, a collective cemetery was set up for them in Veltem-Beisem. More than 900 dead were given a final resting place here. Nearly 200 of them could not be identified. It would take until September 1918 before the Belgian army launched another offensive. This time an offensive leading to liberation.
link to Veltem-Beisem
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Attention: the War Dead Register only lists Belgian fallen soldiers.
The War Dead Register provides basic personal information (name, first name, date and place of birth, etc.) and does not contain military files (giving a complete overview of the military career). According to date of birth the files are kept either by the Royal Military Museum or by the Defence archives service. The files safeguarded at the Military Museum can be consulted on site (Parc du Cinquantenaire in Brussels). The files kept up till now by Defence are currently transferred to the General State Archives.
The date on which they will be once again available has not yet been determined.
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