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Louvain population driven out
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Louvain population driven out
Some of the population of the Belgian town of Louvain (Leuven) are driven out by German soldiers to a place outside the town. In their absence the town was heavily damaged, many citizens killed, and the historic university library destroyed. Date: August 1914
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Media ID 14148107
© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans
Belgian Driven Leuven Louvain Population
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> World War I and II
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EDITORS COMMENTS
August 1914: The Population of Louvain (Leuven) Forced to Flee as German Soldiers Advance Amid the chaos and violence of the First World War, the peaceful Belgian town of Louvain (Leuven) became a battleground as German troops invaded on August 29, 1914. In this poignant image from the Mary Evans Collection, some of the town's population are seen being driven out of Louvain by German soldiers. The reasons for their evacuation were twofold: to clear the way for military action and to prevent the destruction of the town's valuable resources, including its historic university library. The events that followed were a tragic turning point in the history of Louvain. In the absence of its citizens, the town was subjected to heavy bombardment and destruction. The historic university library, a treasure trove of knowledge and culture, was set ablaze, resulting in the loss of over 200,000 precious volumes. The exact number of fatalities among the townspeople during this period is not known, but estimates suggest that several hundred were killed. This image serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of war and the devastation it can wreak on communities. The people of Louvain, like so many others, were caught up in the larger conflict, their lives and livelihoods upended in an instant. The town would go on to rebuild, but the memories of this dark period would long linger.
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