Do you feel that silence? This is the Enclos des fusillés. It is a place of profound remembrance. Here, within this small cemetery in Schaerbeek, lie the remains of 365 resistance fighters. They were heroes of both World Wars.
The Enclos des fusillés stands on hallowed ground. It was once the National Shooting Range. Today, it is part of the RTBF-VRT media complex. But its history runs much deeper than broadcasting.
During World War I, German forces seized the shooting range. They used it to execute 35 people. Among them were Jozef Baeckelmans, Philippe Baucq, Louis Bril, Edith Cavell, and Gabrielle Petit. These names echo through history. They represent courage in the face of tyranny.
In World War II, the site witnessed even more bloodshed. Another 261 people were executed by German soldiers here. Youra Livchitz was among them. He was known for stopping a Holocaust train. He saved dozens of Jews from deportation to Auschwitz. His act of bravery shines as a beacon of hope amidst the darkness.
After the war, the burial ground was transformed into a memorial. It became the Enclos des fusillés. Thirty-eight graves belong to unknown individuals. A memorial commemorates the 35 executed in World War I. In 1970, another monument was erected. It honors the unknown Belgian political prisoners of World War II. It features a high burial column and an urn. The urn contains relics from concentration camp victims.
Since January 12, 1983, this burial site has been protected. It is a reminder of Schaerbeek’s heritage. Every last Sunday of April, an official ceremony takes place. Dignitaries honor the prisoners of Nazi concentration camps. The Université libre de Bruxelles and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel also hold commemorations. They do so during their Saint Verhaegen holiday on November 20.
Joseph Baeckelmans was an architect. He drafted reports on train traffic for the resistance. Together with Alexander Franck, he was the first one executed at the shooting range. Philippe Baucq was another architect. He helped Allied soldiers escape to the Netherlands. He was executed alongside Edith Cavell. This was done to quell international protest. Arthur Hellmann, a tailor, was involved in the resistance during World War II. As a Jew, he attacked a transport of Jews. He organized an attack on a hospital to free resistance fighters. He was arrested, incarcerated, and executed.
Notice the inscriptions on the monuments. They speak of heroes. They speak of sacrifice. They speak of love for the fatherland. The Enclos’ layout mirrors World War I cemeteries. It features rows of crosses, Stars of David, and concrete stelae. It stands on a sloping terrain surrounded by trees. A portion is bordered by a hedge and a hill from the old shooting range.
Here lies a national necropolis. The Enclos des fusillés is more than just a cemetery. It is a symbol of resistance. It embodies the spirit of those who fought for freedom. May we never forget their sacrifice.