From the ashes of war

historic city

Located in the West Flanders province of Belgium, Ypres (also known ‘Ieper’) is the place where the Germans first used poison gas in World War I. In fact, the entire town of Ypres was wiped out during the war in 1915 (hence the British used to call it ‘Wiper’). Today, like a phoenix rising from the ashes, this town has regained its splendour, rebuilding all its major landmarks that had been destroyed. Ypres is best known for its war memorials and can rightfully be described as the town of several war graves. Thousands of people come to Ypres to pay homage to their near and dear ones who lost their lives in World War I.

During the War, the German Army surrounded Ypres on three sides, constantly bombarding the town. To counter this attack, the Allies joined the fray and re-captured the town from Germans. The Germans mounted another attack in April 1915, releasing poison gas to make the Allies retreat. The town was bombarded throughout the first World War.

After the war, the British and Belgians desired that the sacrifices made by soldiers from all over the world should not go unrecognised. The town was rebuilt on the lines of its original design, along with the memorials to war heroes.

The most important place to see in Ypres is the Menin Gate. This gate, which is more or less similar to the India Gate, was designed by Sir Bloomfield. The gate displays the names of almost 55,000 soldiers who were missing in action. They included Canadians, British, French, Australians and New Zealanders, apart from Germans.

The presence of a small replica of our national emblem near the mound by the side of Menin Gate makes one realise the sacrifice of our countrymen. More than 9,000 Indian soldiers, of the 1,30,000 Indians who are said to have fought the war, lost their lives. The Indian monument has been erected at the instance of our Government in March 2011.

Ypres Monument, unveiled in 1926 to honour the war victims, is another place to visit. A number of war graves are situated on the ramparts of the fort wall surrounding the Menin Gate. Every night at 8, in a poignant ceremony, the last post is sounded at the Menin Gate in memory of the victims of war.

The Cloth Hall and Belfry are the other famous landmarks of Ypres. The Cloth Hall was originally built in the 13th century, and after it was destroyed in the war, it has been rebuilt. A part of the building houses a museum that tells the story of World War I. The Town Hall, which was built in 1619, is another interesting place. There are a number of cathedrals and churches in and around Ypres. Once every three years, in the month of May, a famous parade called Cat Parade is held in Ypres.

For those interested in World War history, Ypres is definitely a must-see. One can reach Ypres either by rail or road from Brussels.