Kramer, ‘The Burning of Louvain’ by Calum. H
In this article Alan Kramer discusses atrocities committed by German soldiers in a wealthy Belgian town called Louvain at the beginning of the First World War. In summary – Kramer begins with an in-depth study of the barbaric acts committed in Louvain, taking on various victim’s accounts who share their stories of the horror faced in their hometown. Kramer explains how civilians were targeted for supposedly being ‘franc-tireurs’ (civilians who resisted the occupation with arms), despite there being very little evidence to suggest this was true. He places a great deal of emphasis on the burning of the university library in Louvain, and also crucially refers to the shelling of the Rheims cathedral in France in order to paint a wider picture of the German army’s lack of respect for foreign culture. Kramer makes connections between Louvain to similar events in Dinant and Andenne to insist the unfair treatment of civilians in Louvain by the German Army during WWI was not an isolated event. He concludes the chapter with the German justification for their actions, how their actions went against international law, and allied responses to the atrocities.
Kramer does an excellent job in associating the events in Louvain within a wider historical context. He demonstrates how such atrocities ‘wiped out sympathy with Germany in America’ (p. 30), and similarly led to Italian ‘estrangement’ from her allies (p. 15). His inclusion of the atrocities in Dinant and Andenne, and the similar ‘franc-tireur’ defence used by the Germans is also very useful, but his jumping between the case studies could confuse the reader and tarnishes what was a very clear structure up until this point. Kramer concludes that the barbarism in Louvain was a result of anti-Catholic sentiment within the German army and that it was the driving force in German military nationalism (p. 20). Whilst this is a thought-provoking statement, his argument needs more substantial evidence and it would be a stronger assertion if this was made clear earlier on in the chapter.
Overall, Kramer’s ‘The Burning of Louvain’ is an excellent piece of work which encourages us to reflect on the horrors faced by many civilians across Europe during WWI. His inclusion of various victim’s accounts is most fitting and allows us to consider the unnecessary nature of violence faced by civilians during the war. There is no doubt that the German soldiers broke international law during their campaign, but to improve his argument, Kramer should have included evidence from the atrocities committed in Dinant and Andenne which would support his belief that there was a strong anti-Catholic sentiment within the German army.
(Word Count – 434, including mini references)
This Blog for me sets out the details of ‘the burning of the Louvain’ perfectly. I have noticed in other research that this episode is often referred to as the ‘r&pe of Belgium’ which for me seems a more suitable title for the events. Kramer’s idea of the anti catholic sentiment seems to be the driving force behind the attacks on the people of Louvain. He skimmed over the idea that sentiments were enhanced due to the belief that Catholic Priests were responsible for the deaths of many Germans and discusses barbaric attacks such as throats being slit. This suggests that German Nationalism was at the forefront of the minds of Soldiers. As traditionally tension exists between Protestant and Catholics from the 16th century reformation.
Thanks for the response! I’d agree anti-Catholic sentiment probably did play a fundamental role in German atrocities in Louvain, and I think you’re totally right to say that nationalism was at the forefront of soldier’s minds.
I just think that his argument about anti-Catholic sentiment being the driving force of German military nationalism as a whole needs more evidence. As someone who doesn’t fully understand these tensions in a 20th C. European sense, I see it as a bold assertion to make, but one which if developed, could also be a strong argument.
Thanks, Calum, for this post. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to comment on it; ordinarily I’d do this on a Tuesday. There is a sharp critique here in your words and some of these points have been further elaborated on by other scholars. Kramer’s thesis is solidly built, but not uncontroversial. As I noted briefly in the seminar, religion is one of these controversial questions (see e.g. Ziemann, Violence and the German Soldier), although I think the importance of religion in the First World War (for all sides) is something that we tend to overlook. Scholars have begun to work on this, though. There is work on faith and even the supernatural at the front.
I agree, you make some great points about Kramer’s argument! I also felt that Kramer made some important points about Anti-Catholicism in the German Army being a considerable factor in the attacks in Louvain but failed to expand on these points fully and provide solid evidence.
This blog summaries the burning of Louvain really well. I agree with the points made about anti-Catholic resentments, and I also agree that it is important for religion not to be overlooked as it plays a substantial role in both world wars. I also agree with Calum’s discussion in the blog that Kramer importantly highlights that the events that took place in Louvain were not an isolated incident and that similar events took place in other towns which I think is important when discussing the war more generally.
Thanks for your summary, it’s really good! Definitely agree with your point about anti-Catholicism as a motivator, it isn’t properly expanded upon and doesn’t account for the large number of Catholics in the German military and broader society. I also thought the justification of war crimes as being part of anti-partisan activities was a precursor to the far more pervasive crimes on the Eastern Front in WW2, which often had similar justifications.
Kramers chapter on the Louvain summarises the events of the Louvain very well and chronologically making the chapter and information easy to follow, although the themes and types of violence used at Louvain can tell us a lot more about violence across WWI. I agree with Calum and Jennifer in the sense that the events that took place at Lovain were not an isolated incident and were actually extremely common in WWI particularly in the East. Religious and ethnic sentiment as an incentive for violence was also an important factors across WWI as a whole and again was common in the East especially amongst Jewish communities.
This is a very informative post. It gave further insight and in depth analysis showing that the First World War was more than just trench fighting. There is a tendency to forget the effect the War had on civilians in comparison to the Second World War. Your post also helps emphasise that the events of the War also had a sectarian and ethnic base to them as well.