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Ya Biladi
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
Honoring Moroccan heroes : 85th anniversary of the Battle of Gembloux in Belgium
Ceremonies commemorating the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Gembloux were held on Sunday in the towns of Gembloux and Chastre, Belgium, highlighting the heroism and sacrifices of Moroccan soldiers who fell in the line of duty for the liberation of Europe from Nazi and fascist oppression during World War II. A tribute was paid to these soldiers who died for freedom during these ceremonies, held at the site of the IV Army Corps obelisk in Gembloux, as well as at the French military necropolis in Chastre (40 km south of Brussels), where hundreds of Moroccan soldiers rest. The events were attended by numerous civilian and military figures, including the High Commissioner for Former Resistance Fighters and Former Members of the Liberation Army, Mustapha El Ktiri, Brigadier General Youssef El Mehdi, head of the Military History Directorate of the Royal Armed Forces, and the Moroccan ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg, Mohamed Ameur, along with several members of the Moroccan community. In a statement to MAP, El Ktiri emphasized that the Battle of Gembloux is an epic that symbolizes the courage and heroism demonstrated by the valiant Moroccan soldiers, in response to the call of the late Mohammed V to support the Allies against fascism and Nazism and to defend the right of peoples to existence and freedom. For his part, Belgian State Minister André Flahaut highlighted the importance of remembering the sacrifices made for freedom in Europe and honoring the memory of soldiers who fell on the battlefield, especially the foreign soldiers who came from afar and sacrificed themselves to defend Belgium and Europe against the Nazi invasion. On May 14, 1940, soldiers of the Seventh Regiment of Moroccan Tirailleurs arrived at the front after two days of marching and immediately faced Nazi troops. The Moroccan Division bore the brunt of the German advance and resisted despite heavy losses. The French high command planned to order a retreat to avoid encirclement, but the Moroccan soldiers managed to push back the Nazis at the cost of hundreds of lives, whose remains now rest on the battlefield at Chastre.
Morocco World
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Morocco's Heroes Honored in Belgium 85 Years After Battle of Gembloux
Doha – Belgium paid solemn tribute Sunday to Moroccan soldiers who died in the Battle of Gembloux. The ceremonies marked the 85th anniversary of the WWII battle that took place Gembloux and Chastre, about 40 kilometers from Brussels. The events honored one of the first major resistances against the German invasion in May 1940. Ceremonies were held at the symbolic sites of the IV Army Corps obelisk in Gembloux and the French military necropolis in Chastre, where hundreds of Moroccan tirailleurs (sharpshooters) are buried. Notable attendees included Mustapha El Ktiri, High Commissioner for Former Resistance Fighters; Brigadier General Youssef El Mehdi, head of the FAR Military History Directorate; and Morocco's Ambassador to Belgium, Mohamed Ameur. They were joined by Belgian civil and military authorities, including Minister of State André Flahaut, who participated in the ceremonies. 'The Battle of Gembloux is an epic that embodies the courage of Moroccan soldiers who responded to the call of the late Sovereign Mohammed V to defend people's rights to freedom,' Mustapha El Ktiri told MAP. Speakers talked about the need to pass this memory to future generations. They stressed the importance of honoring the dead and promoting the values of humanity and coexistence. For André Flahaut, this commemoration shows Morocco's essential role in Europe's liberation. 'We must remember the soldiers who came from afar to defend our freedom and pay them the tribute they deserve,' he stated. The Battle of Gembloux, fought between French and German forces from May 14-15, 1940, stands as the only tactical victory of the French army during the German offensive of May 1940. The French 1st Army under General Blanchard was ordered to defend the Gembloux-Wavre axis to halt the German tanks' advance. At the time, Morocco was under French protectorate. Approximately 4,500 Moroccan tirailleurs were deployed to the region as part of the Allied forces. These were not ordinary conscripts but elite volunteer troops – far from being considered 'cannon fodder.' Many Moroccan tirailleurs had over 10 years of military service experience. The battle began with three battalions of tirailleurs arriving in Walloon Brabant on May 13, 1940. They had marched 100 kilometers over three days and were exhausted. Their critical mission was to block the Gembloux gap, preventing Germans from bypassing the Namur stronghold. 'The role assigned to the Moroccan Division was clear: to hold the French position between Beuzet and Ernage, with a central point at Gembloux, with no intention of retreat,' explains historian Hervé Legros. 'This means these men had to fight in place and could not withdraw—regardless of their losses—without orders.' On May 14, the 7th Regiment of Moroccan Tirailleurs confronted the German war machine despite their exhaustion. For two days, the 1st Moroccan Division bore the brunt of the German offensive. They engaged in fierce resistance, sometimes in hand-to-hand combat, until German troops withdrew. Their determined stand succeeded where the French high command had expected only retreat. This heroic resistance proved strategically vital. The hours gained by the Moroccan soldiers' stand provided crucial time for the evacuation operations at Dunkirk. This ultimately enabled nearly 338,000 Allied troops to reach England safely. The human cost was severe. Between combat deaths, wounds, and those missing in action, casualties were high. Historian Hervé Legros estimates about 400 Moroccan soldiers perished during the fighting. Many never saw their homeland again. Today, the French military necropolis in Chastre serves as their final resting place. The cemetery contains 253 men from the 1st Moroccan Division, including 173 Moroccans and 57 French soldiers who resided in Morocco. They rest alongside 182 Algerians from the 2nd Algerian Division, 550 soldiers from metropolitan France, and 158 French soldiers who died during the First World War, including 12 Senegalese. The bodies of these heroes remain in Chastre, where history and memory converge to remind visitors that freedom often demands the ultimate sacrifice. Read also: 80th Anniversary of Provence Landing: Moroccan WWII Veteran Larbi Jawa Receives French Legion of Honor Tags: Battle of GemblouxMorocco Belgium
