Woodchopping platoon of the Orne

The woodchoppers of the Orne (Dutch: houthakkers van de Orne) were 10 Flemish soldiers during the First World War punished for their active or passive involvement in the Flemish Movement in the Belgian Army. They were removed from their platoons and moved to a penal military unit called the Special Forestry Platoon (Peloton Spécial Forestier) in 1918. In this penal military unit, stationed in Orne, Normandy in France, they had to work as woodchoppers as unfree labour.[1][2][3] They were required to work 12 hours a day in harsh living conditions, they were paid 1 Belgian franc each day.[4]

Ten Flemish Woodchoppers in 1918

The 10 soldiers were Paul Davidts (oldest of the 10[5][3][6] and spokesperson of the group[7] , lawyer and later acquitted by the court-martial[8], Lode Beets, Pol Bogaert (from Mechelen)[7], Alfons De Schepper[1], Karel-Lodewijk De Schepper[7], Pieter Dox (from Lier, Born 7 May 1898)[9][6], Ward Hermans[10] (from Turnhout[7], writer)[11], Maurits Geerardyn[2], Clement Ledegen and Frans Vannyvel.[12]

The attitude of the 10 soldiers was defined as defeatism by the French-speaking military leaders. Fearing that the soldiers would desert to the German forces they were sent deep into France to work as woodchoppers.[2]

See also

References
  1. Dr. J. Goossenaertskring reikt voor het eerst Alfons De Schepperprijs uit Geert Herman, Nieuwsblad, 7 juli 2014, article in Dutch
  2. Peter Verplancke, VRT, 15 juli 2018, article in Dutch
  3. Tom Simoens, CHTP-BEG - n° 23 / 2011, article in Dutch Van arrangeren tot renseigneren. Smaad en geweld Van militairen Tegen hun oversten tijdens de eerste wereldoorlog
  4. Vandeweyer, Luc (1 January 1998). "De houthakkers van de Orne: Douteux au point de vue patriotique ?". WT. Tijdschrift over de Geschiedenis van de Vlaamse Beweging. 57 (4): 237–254. doi:10.21825/wt.v57i4.13040.
  5. Davidts, Paul, Gaston Durnez, NEVB Online
  6. Krant 't Pallieterke, 18 juli 1986, article in Dutch,
  7. Didden, Kris (1 January 1997). "De Houthakkers van de Orne". WT. Tijdschrift over de Geschiedenis van de Vlaamse Beweging. 56 (4): 195–219. doi:10.21825/wt.v56i4.13075.
  8. Maurits Basse, De Vlaamsche Beweging van 1905 tot 1930(1930-1933), article in Dutch
  9. De Zaeger, Piet (1995). Lira Elegans 5. Liers genootschap voor geschiedenis. pp. 22–23.
  10. Maurice de Wilde, 1985, België in de Tweede Wereldoorlog, deel 5, de kollaboratie, article in Dutch,
  11. Schrijversgewijs, Vlaamse schrijvers vanaf 1830, article in Dutch,
  12. Reproductie zwart wit foto van de "De Vlaamsche houthakkers", article in Dutch,
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