A poignant bronze woman stands before us. Her head is thrown back. Her body is erect. This is the Monument Ravensbr\u00fcck. It’s a powerful statement in the Parc Georges Henri. It’s a memorial dedicated to Belgian women resistance fighters. Their children also perished in Nazi camps. The Second World War claimed many victims. This monument remembers them.
The Monument Ravensbr\u00fcck isn’t just a statue. It’s a story. The woman’s arm holds a child close. They stand in mud. This symbolizes the harsh conditions of Ravensbr\u00fcck concentration camp. Ravensbr\u00fcck was a notorious camp for women. It was located eighty kilometers north of Berlin. Over 132000 women and children were imprisoned there. Tragically 90000 died.
Beside the Monument Ravensbr\u00fcck is a stone lectern. It holds a quote. It’s from Marguerite Bervoets. She was a young poet and teacher. She was beheaded in Wolfenbuttel on August 8 1944. Her words resonate. They speak of sacrifice and hope.
Marguerite’s words are etched in stone. They read I fell so that the Belgian sky would be purer. So that those who come after me could live in freedom as I wanted so much myself. I have no regrets and I think about your children who will be free tomorrow.
The sculptor is Thérèse Chotteau. The architect is Thierry Gonze. They created a work of art. It’s both simple and deeply moving. It evokes a powerful sense of loss. It also conveys resilience and hope. To the left of the Monument Ravensbr\u00fcck is a rose garden. It’s a symbol. It represents the friendship between former political prisoners. They were from Ravensbr\u00fcck. This memorial stands as a testament to their strength. It stands as a reminder of the horrors of war. It reminds us to fight for freedom. It reminds us to cherish peace. The Monument Ravensbr\u00fcck invites us to remember. It invites us to reflect. It invites us to never forget.