THE FIRST WORLD WAR 

SEPTEMBER 28, 1918 - THE BELGIAN LIBERATION OFFENSIVE

THE FRONT WOUMEN - MERKEM - HOUTHULST - KLERKEN

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

In September 1918, King Albert I of Belgium agrees to the participation of the entire Belgian army in a major Allied offensive. It is decided to have the attack by the Belgian troops take place from the zone between the Blankaart lake and the road Ypres - Zonnebeke.

 

For this 'Liberation Offensive', the Belgian army, called Army Group Flanders, is divided into 3 groups :

 

1. Group 'North' under the commandment of Lieutenant General Bernheim

2. Group 'Center' under the commandment Lieutenant General Jacques

3. Group 'South' under the commandment Lieutenant General Biebuyck

 

The Allies decide to start the offensive in the early morning of September 28, 1918.