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Belgians Leave Antwerp
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Belgians Leave Antwerp
The Belgian Army is forced to evacuate Antwerp, overwhelmed by the German advance : at Maldeghem, near Bruges, a train carrying infantry crosses a column of cavalry
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Media ID 610199
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10117659
Advance Antwerp Belgian Belgians Bruges Cavalry Crosses Evacuate Forced Infantry Leave Overwhelmed
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EDITORS COMMENTS
October 1914: The Belgian Exodus - A Moment of Desperation at Maldeghem Amid the chaos and turmoil of the early days of World War I, the Belgian Army was forced to evacuate the strategic port city of Antwerp as the German advance overwhelmed the Allied forces. In this poignant photograph from the Mary Evans Picture Library, a train carrying infantry crosses a column of cavalry at Maldeghem, near Bruges. The image captures a moment of desperation and determination as the Belgian soldiers, many of whom were already weary from days of fighting, prepared to abandon their positions and retreat westward. The German advance, spearheaded by the powerful Schlieffen Plan, had been relentless. The Belgian Army, outnumbered and outgunned, had put up a valiant resistance, but the tide had turned against them. With the fall of Antwerp imminent, the decision was made to evacuate the city and withdraw to the fortified position at Ypres. The cavalry column in the photograph, with its horses laden with equipment and supplies, adds to the sense of urgency and movement. The infantry on the train, their faces etched with exhaustion and determination, are a testament to the resilience and courage of the Belgian soldiers in the face of overwhelming adversity. As the train chugs along, the soldiers would have looked back at the city they were leaving behind, knowing that they were abandoning it to the enemy. But they also knew that they were not giving up the fight. They were simply regrouping, reorganizing, and preparing to make their stand at Ypres, where they would hold the line against the German onslaught for months to come. This photograph is a powerful reminder of the sacrifices and struggles of the Belgian soldiers during the early days of the war, and a testament to their unwavering determination to defend their country against the invading German forces.
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