War memorial Moerbrugge

Monument (made in 1994 by Ben Snauwaert from a wreck of a tank (Sherman type "M10 3-inch Gun Motor Carriage" built in 1943/USA) commemorating the battle of Moerbrugge (from 8 to 12 September 1944) in which 20 civilians, 48 Canadians and 104 Germans lost their lives.

On 8 September the attack was launched by the Canadians. During the crossing under the command of Captain Robert A. Paterson (°26/04/1916 Hamilton/Ontario - † 28/05/1999 Brantford/Ontario) of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada, part of the 10° Canadian Infantry Brigade of the 4° Canadian Armoured Division belonging to the 2° Army Corps of the 1° Canadian Army, they succeeded in forming a bridgehead. The German defence in Moerbrugge consisted of the 64° infantry division under command of major-general Knut Eberding (°18/12/1895 Reppline - † 28/06/1978 Erlangen) and the 245° infantry division under command of lieutenant-general Erwin Sander (°05/05/1892 Berlin-Neukölln - † 07/12/1962 Bamberg). Moerbrugge formed the border between both infantry divisions. The heavy artillery of the Germans consisted of a number of anti-tank guns and some notorious 88 mm guns that were placed here and there in Moerbrugge as well as in the neighbourhood 't Hoekske in Oedelem. When the bridgehead was formed, the Germans retreated behind the Leopold and Schipdonk Canal.

The monument with the inscription "Turn war into peace" was placed on 10 September 1994 on the occasion of the fifth anniversary and inaugurated by the then Minister of Defence Leo Delcroix, by order of the city council.

The tribute monument was designed in 1994 by Ben Snauwaert, and made of a variant of a M10 Wolverine, the Achilles, which was cut up on site and transformed into a work of art,[1] making it a special kind of tank monument. One memorial plaque lists the names of civilian casualties and another lists the names of the fallen Canadians of The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada.

Willem Vandenameele