EERSTE WERELDOORLOG

BEZOEK aan de
EERSTE WERELDOORLOG
‘Dit jaar is het honderd jaar geleden dat de Eerste Wereldoorlog (1914-1918)begon. Er
zijn al boekenkasten vol geschreven over de verschrikkingen van deze eerste industriele oorlog (bijna tien miljoen doden), maar het blijft extra indrukwekkend wanneer je
zoveel jaren later zelf op bezoek gaat naar de velden van weleer. Onder de militairen,
zowel bij de Centralen als bij de Geallieerden, waren veel kunstenaars, filosofen en
schrijvers. Met drie literaire vrienden ben ik om die reden enkele jaren geleden in mei
op bezoek gegaan bij de frontlinie rond de Belgische stad Ieper. De begraafplaatsen,
de Menenpoort en de geheel opnieuw gebouwde stad Ieper deden als vanzelf het volgende
reisverhaal ontstaan.’ Door Kees Huis in ‘t Veld
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