Through the Iron Bars: Two Years of German Occupation in Belgium

by Émile Cammaerts

""It is the plain matter-of-fact story of Belgian life under German rule. Many more people will be tempted to praise the glory of our soldiers. But, if the incidents of conquered Belgium's life are not recorded in good time, they might escape notice. People might forget that, besides the 150,000 to 200,000 heroes who are now waging war for Belgium on the Western front, there are 7,500,000 heroes who are suffering for Belgium behind the German lines, in the close prison of guarded frontiers, cut off from the whole world, separated alike from those who are fighting for their deliverance and from those who have sought refuge abroad."" This book is part of the World War One Centenary series; creating, collating and reprinting new and old works of poetry, fiction, autobiography and analysis. The series forms a commemorative tribute to mark the passing of one of the world's bloodiest wars, offering new perspectives on this tragic yet fascinating period of human history. Each publication also includes brand new introductory essays and a timeline to help the reader place the work in its historical context.

Genres: History

128 pages, Paperback

First published October 4, 2009

About the author

Émile Leon Cammaerts CBE (16 March 1878 in Saint-Gilles, Belgium – 2 November 1953, Radlett, Hertfordshire) was a Belgian playwright, poet (including war poet) and author who wrote primarily in English and French.

Demonstrating his interests, Cammaerts translated three books by art, history and landscapes expert John Ruskin and selected G. K. Chesterton Father Brown detective stories in La clairvoyance du père Brown.

He became Professor of Belgian Studies at the University of London in 1933, most of his works and papers are held there in the Senate House Library, and Emeritus Professor on retiring.

Source: Wikipedia

Reviews

[Sidney Weber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Forgotten tale of suffering

The extent of Belgian suffering in WW I was unknown to me before reading this book and the occupation continued for two years after it was written. While the book makes clear that a major calamity occurred, it does so via general descriptions, which lessens the quality of the book itself.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written during World War I to draw attention to the German atrocities in Belgium. The language is very poetic at times, but it does have a tendency to run in circles a bit and not give a lot of detail or chronological facts. Still an interesting primary source, and nice because it's in English.