From 1914 to 1918, Flanders Fields was a major battle theatre on the Western Front during the First World War. A million soldiers from more than 50 different countries were wounded, missing or killed in action here. Entire cities and villages were destroyed, their population scattered across Europe and beyond. The destruction of the city of Ypres and the brutal conditions endured during the Battle of Passchendaele (Third Battle of Ypres) became worldwide symbols for the senselessness of war. Today, the peaceful region still bears witness to this history through its monuments, museums, cemeteries and the countless individual stories that link it with the world.
Tyne Cot Cemetery is the largest military cemetery of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission on the continent. This impressive cemetery has almost 12,000 tombstones. The impressive rear wall of the cemetery contains the names of 35,000 soldiers missing in action. On 12 July 2007 a brand new visitor infrastructure was opened. The new visitor centre offers a unique view over the former battlefields and contains much information on Tyne Cot Cemetery and the fallen of Passchendaele.
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