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Vloethemveld Prisoner of War Camp

Vloethemveld Prisoner of War Camp

Highlight (Segment) • Historical Site

Vloethemveld Prisoner of War Camp

Name: Vloethemveld Prisoner of War Camp
Rating: 2

Recommended by 38 hikers

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Location: Zedelgem, Bruges, West Flanders, Flanders, Belgium

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Best Hiking Routes to Vloethemveld Prisoner of War Camp

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1. Vloethemveld – Forest Trail in Vloethemveld loop from Snellegem

14.6km

03:41

20m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

4.7

(37)

187

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2. Forest Trail in Vloethemveld – Masko Forest loop from Zedelgem

22.1km

05:36

40m

Expert hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Expert

4.7

(12)

152

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3. FERM Comfort Spot - Zedelgem – Forest Trail in Vloethemveld loop from Heidelberg

7.48km

01:54

10m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

Tips

DirkWi

July 3, 2023

In 1945 and 1946, the British army established one of its most important prisoner-of-war camps in Europe in the municipality of Zedelgem.
Tens of thousands of prisoners of more than ten nationalities, who fought under German command, spent weeks or months in Zedelgem.
The prisoners of the camp in Zedelgem were members of military formations that had lost the war. They took part in a criminal war started and waged by Germany, with genocide and mass murder of civilians. Many of the prisoners of war in the British camp were conscripts, others were volunteers. Many had adhered to the Nazi ideology, including some of the non-Germans, and some retained this ideology when they were prisoners of war.

Several works of art have been set up on the domain. They were left there by the prisoners of war. The statue called "Marianne", with the now disappeared inscription "WANN KOMMST DU? MARIANNE" was a symbol of freedom for the prisoners at the time. Image of a waiting woman with her two children made of plastered brick. A number of cement sculptures with images of "Saint George and the Dragon", "Landscape with two houses and trees", "Mountain landscape with chapel and house", "Cityscape", "Mountain landscape with stream".

Some depots contain works of art and/or indications made by German prisoners of war. In barrack 3169 two wall paintings with images of a landscape with a church tower and with fields and houses respectively. In barrack 3210 drawings with faded images of people and horses. Barrack 3158 with a painted bar scene on the cement plaster on the front. On barrack 3168 is the inscription "BARACKE 11" the only remnant of the numbering of the barracks of the prisoners of war.

Source:
inventaris.onroerenderfgoed.be/erfgoedobjecten/209443
belgiumwwii.be/nl/debatten/de-erfenis-van-het-britse-oorlogsgevangenkamp-op-de-site-vloethemveld.html
publicaties.vlaanderen.be/view-file/50484

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David

May 4, 2024

Place to take a moment of silence

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Details

Informations

Distance 288 m

Uphill 10 m

Downhill 10 m

Weather

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Tuesday 11 November

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Max wind speed: 15.0 km/h

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Location: Zedelgem, Bruges, West Flanders, Flanders, Belgium

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Vloethemveld Prisoner of War Camp

1. Vloethemveld – Forest Trail in Vloethemveld loop from Snellegem

2. Forest Trail in Vloethemveld – Masko Forest loop from Zedelgem

3. FERM Comfort Spot - Zedelgem – Forest Trail in Vloethemveld loop from Heidelberg

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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