Monument Klëppelkrieg

Monument with the inscription 'It is better that we fall in battle than that we see the misfortune of our people and sanctuaries. Mach. 1.3.59'
'It is better to fall in the fight than to see the misfortune of our people and our sanctuary. Mach. 1.3.59.'

On an information board, the following is stated;

In memory of the Klëppelkrich

In the late autumn of 1798, the nine newly occupied French departments (the former Austrian provinces) rebelled against the French Republic and took up arms against foreign conscription and the anti-religious policies. The rebellion in the old duchy of Luxembourg began in the "Eislék" and ended within seven days, from October 26 to 31, 1798.

The Éislécker Kleppelmanner hoped to mobilize the farmers from the 'good land' in a first group and march southwards towards Luxembourg. The farmers from Stavelot and Limburg would gather in a second group and head north towards Liège. Neither of the two columns reached their destination. The first had to turn back to avoid being surrounded. The last had broken apart and lost sight of the rest of its members. The three battles that brought an end to the uprising all took place on the same day: in the wildlife reserve of Clervaux, on the village plain of Arzfeld, and in front of the houses of Amel (October 30). The last salvos fired on October 31 on the bridge of Stavelot were of no use anymore. This marked the end of the Eislecker Kleppelkrich. The Brabanders were the only ones who held out for nearly two more months. The arrested Kleppelmänner were imprisoned in the dungeons of Liège and Luxembourg. More than thirty of them were executed or beheaded; the others escaped with imprisonment.

Here in Clervaux, in the wildlife reserve of the count, directly opposite this place, the Kleppelmanner provided the fiercest resistance. On that day, each of the farmers had sufficient time to think about his plans. As they hurried over the Poler Knapp to the Hooch, coming from Bockholtz and Drauffelt, they saw the French soldiers marching on the other side of the valley from Wiltz via Weicherdingen towards Clervaux. For the farmers, it was important to be the first to reach the castle, but the enemy had the upper hand. Therefore, they entrenched themselves in the count's deer camp, armed with hunting rifles and powder flasks, and fired shots until they ran out of bullets. For half a century, the Kleppelkrich was quietly passed over, long after Luxembourg came under Dutch rule. However, the Eislecker never forgot those days. For their suffering, they blamed those who pushed them into it and then abandoned them. "For Cross and Faith" was written on their banners, but they also fought for their own blood.

Eddy&Rita