"Beginning of reconstruction in a Belgian village. The little restaurant has been built in the midst of the ruins of war. The French sign above the door, À la Tête d'Or, means "The Gold Head." The same words in the Flemish language appear in the sign on the end of the roof, In het Gouden Hoofd. Belgium, it will be remembered, is a bilingual country. At the street corner is a half-obliterated sign in German, a reminder of the recent enemy occupation."
Click here to enlarge this image.
Learning Extension: Task students with researching how Belgium was impacted by both World War I and World War II. On which side(s) did Belgium fight? What damage did Belgium suffer? What role did Belgium's geographic location play in how it was impacted by these two major global conficts of the twentieth century?
K-12 students should learn about Belgium's role in World War I because it helps explain how the war began and affected people across Europe. In 1914, Germany invaded neutral Belgium to reach France. This attack violated Belgium's neutrality and helped bring Great Britain into the war against Germany.
Learning about Belgium shows students how one country's actions can affect many others. The German invasion forced thousands of people to flee their homes and caused great damage to Belgian towns and cities. Belgian soldiers and civilians faced many hardships throughout the war. Despite the occupation of much of their country, Belgians continued to resist German control.
Studying Belgium's experience also helps students understand the human cost of war. It encourages them to think about the importance of protecting civilians, respecting agreements between nations, and finding peaceful ways to solve conflicts. By learning about Belgium, students can better understand the causes of World War I and how events in one country can influence world history.
|
