The first two victims on Bruges territory

On 14 October 1914, the Germans entered the city. Here in the ‘Perretje’, they shot Hendrik Blondelle. Blondelle worked for the tram company. With his blue uniform, according to the Germans, he resembled a Belgian soldier. Moments later, a group of Belgian soldiers covered the retreat of a few comrades while shooting. They hit a German soldier, Heinrich Büsig, who died a few days later from his injuries.

These incidents caused Mayor Amedée Visart de Bocarmé to fear reprisals. He negotiated with the Germans about the city's surrender in the villa of Baron della Faille. While the men were talking, the Baron's daughter informed a Belgian intelligence officer of what was going on by telephone. The city was not yet occupied and the spies were already out in force!

In the days that followed, thousands of German soldiers walked through the city, westward, towards the Yser Plain.

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