The tower is an iron tower and peace monument in the West Flanders town of Diksmuide. The tower is at the Iron River near the city center of Diksmuide in the territory of borough Kaaskerke. The tower was inaugurated on August 24, 1930.
The Iron Tower in cross form letters AVV VVK which stands for All For Flanders, Flanders for Christ. The tower is also no more war in the four languages of the warring parties of the western front during the First World War: Plus jamais de Guerre, No more War, Nie wieder Krieg. With its 84 meter tower is the largest Iron peace monuments of Europe.
The iron tower is primarily a memorial for the Flemish casualties of the First World War, but it is also a symbol of the Iron on the resulting desire for political independence of Flanders (see front for movement, front party). The annual Iron pilgrimage to the foot of the tower is a political demonstration against war and for Flemish autonomy.
The original tower is the target of a dynamite attack, which he was completely destroyed in the night of 15 March 16, 1946. A judicial inquiry was established and thirteen suspects were brought before they were over ten years later by the Board of inbeschuldiging Ghent outside prosecution made. The involvement of the mine service DOVO was considered proven.
A few years after the dynamite ring was only meters away a new and much higher (84 meter) tower built. The remains of the tower was blown up on the field, in the Yser pilgrimage pasture, in 1950 the Paxpoort or Gate of Peace built. The ruins of the old tower is carefully preserved. This is a crypt, which between 1930 and 1937 the remains of some well-known Flemish frontsoldaten were transferred. It is Renaat De Rudder, Joe English, French, Van der Linden, Firmin Deprez, French Kusters, Hubert Willems and Juul De Winde. In one case, the Gebroeders Van Raemdonck, together with the Walloon soldier Aime Fievez.
The ruin was completely restored in 1997, along with the crypt. It is a symbol of the Flemish oppression considered: some think that the attack was committed by Belgian nationalists, others believe in the mining corps of the Belgian army, which was near Diksmuide yellow was refused, an offender can be seen. Some think that the attack was committed by "franskiljons. The case has never been elucidated.
The iron tower in 1986 by the Flemish government as Memorial of the Flemish emancipation and is widely regarded as a symbol of resistance against the oppression of Flanders.
The Iron Tower is a museum on War, Peace and Flemish emancipation since 1998 part of the peace museums network of the United Nations.
In 1992, all classified as protected monument
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