In 1944, Kortrijk came under heavy fire. The end of the Second World War was nearing and the Allies had hatched a plan to block German supply lines to Normandy. This was where the major landings would take place in June, and as the Allied soldiers advanced, any hindrance they encountered from the German opposition had to be reduced to a minimum. All rail transport hubs had to be targeted, and this included Kortrijk station. âKortrijk in the firing lineâ is a reminder of this time, when hundreds of pilots set off from England to bombard our city. The fact was that not all the bombs hit their target with precision. Over 400 victims perished. A great many buildings next to the station and the train tracks were destroyed. The Grote Markt was strewn with rubble. This walk shows you the parts of the centre devastated by this campaign. Today, 75 years on, it is hard to imagine.
