Diksmuide

Diksmuide occupies a special place in the history of the IJzer Front. Because it was built on slightly higher ground and is also a natural crossing point for the River IJzer, the flooding here did not result in a no-man's-land that was kilometres wide. Instead, the enemies confronted each other at a distance of metres, each holding one bank of the river.

The town was quickly reduced to rubble by the bombardments of October 1914. All the buildings that you can now see were rebuilt after the Armistice in 1918. The Allies (the French and Belgians at that time) continued to hold on to the city centre for 10 days after the flood waters rose on 31 October 1914. But there was no strategic advantage in hanging on to a pile of rubble, and so the Allies withdrew to the far side of the IJzer. What remained of the town stayed in German hands until the Final Offensive in September 1918.

The most dangerous parts of the line were the places where the trenches were very close to each other. Two strategic points in particular acquired great fame and significance during the First World War. The 'Dodengang' (Trench of Death) was the main Belgian position on the river bank, where many Belgian soldiers were killed. The Minoterie - old flour mills, whose ruins stood on the far side of the river from the IJzer Tower - served as a forward post and had the same evil reputation for the German Army.

We will say more about these places at the Trench of Death and the IJzer Tower.

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