The Dodengang (

Dutch Dutch or Nederlands commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands ** Dutch people as an ethnic group () ** Dutch nationality law, history and regulations of Dutch citizenship () ** Dutch language () * In specific terms, i ...

, also called Trench of Death in English and ''Le Boyau de la mort'' in

French French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band), ...

) is a

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

memorial site located near

Diksmuide (; ; ) is a Belgian city and municipality in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of proper and the former communes of Beerst, Esen, Kaaskerke, Keiem, Lampernisse, Leke, Nieuwkapelle, Oostkerke ...

Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...

. The site is located about from the

IJzertoren The Yser Towers () are a monument complex near the Yser, Yser river at Diksmuide, West Flanders in Belgium. The first tower was built in 1928–30 to commemorate the Belgian soldiers killed on the surrounding Yser Front during World War I and a ...

in the centre of the city, and is set directly on the banks of the

Yser Canal The Ieperlee (or ''Ypres-Ijzer Canal'') is a canalized river that rises in Heuvelland in the Belgian province of West Flanders and flows via the city of Ypres (Ieper) into the Yser at Fort Knokke. The river is long. Its name is derived from ...

Memorial site

The ''Dodengang'' is a section of the preserved

trench A trench is a type of digging, excavation or depression in the ground that is generally deeper than it is wide (as opposed to a swale (landform), swale or a bar ditch), and narrow compared with its length (as opposed to a simple hole or trapping ...

where many soldiers were killed in

. The trench was begun at the time of the

Battle of the Yser The Battle of the Yser (, ) was a battle of the First World War that took place in October 1914 between the towns of Nieuwpoort, Belgium, Nieuwpoort and Diksmuide, along a stretch of the Yser River and the Yperlee Canal, in Belgium. The front ...

and was defended by soldiers of the

Belgian Army The Land Component (, ), historically and commonly still referred to as the Belgian Army (, ), is the Land warfare, land branch of the Belgian Armed Forces. The King of the Belgians is the commander in chief. The current chief of staff of the Land ...

. As part of the

Yser Front The Yser Front (, or ), sometimes termed the West Flemish Front in British writing, was a section of the Western Front (World War I), Western Front during World War I held by Belgium, Belgian troops from October 1914 until 1918. The front ran alo ...

, it played a key role in preserving the front line in this area and stopping further German incursions across the

. Belgian soldiers fought here under the most perilous conditions until the final offensive on 28 September 1918. In the

, the Belgian army retreated behind the

and dug in. The Belgian fortifications on the

along the canal bank consisted of a

and a series of bunkers, all designed to halt the German advance. To the north of the Belgian fortifications is an area where the German army successfully crossed the

and erected a concrete bunker, only a few yards away from where the Belgian army held the position.

Museum

After the war, the ''Dodengang'' became one of the first memorial sites in Belgium to be opened to the public as a

tourist attraction A tourist attraction is a place of interest that tourists visit, typically for its inherent or exhibited natural or cultural value, historical significance, natural or built beauty, offering leisure and amusement. Types Places of natural beaut ...

. A new museum was built on the site in recent years.

Demarcation stone

A demarcation stone was unveiled here in 1922 by King Albert. It forms part of a series of stone markers all along the Western Front line from the North Sea to the Swiss border. The markers are carved from pink granite and are about one metre high. On the top of the demarcation stone is a laurel wreath surmounted by the helmet of the Belgian army which stopped the German advance here.

Gallery

Memorial site

Dodengang 12.jpg, Yard with memorial Dodengang 26.JPG, Belgian fortifications Dodengang 18.JPG , Inside the trenches Kaaskerke - Demarcatiepaal nr 12.jpg, Demarcation stone Diksmuide, oorlogsmonument bij de Dodengang foto3 2015-09-28 14.14.jpg, War memorial Dodengang Dodengang 23.JPG, German bunker

Landscape

Dodengang 10.jpg Dodengang 38.jpg Dodengang 13.JPG Dodengang 21.JPG Dodengang 15.JPG

External links

Dixmude: Trenches of Death

Trench of Death
{{coord, 51.0468, 2.8436, type:landmark_region:BE, display=title Military history of Belgium during World War I History of Flanders World War I memorials in Belgium Ypres Salient Diksmuide

Memorial site

Museum

Demarcation stone

Gallery

Memorial site

Landscape

See also

External links