c'mon baby light my feu
19-01-2007, 11:02 AM
http://www.flandersnews.be/cm/flandersnews.be/Flanders%2BToday/what%2527s%2Bon/070118_hoover
The saviour of the Belgians
Thu 18/01/07 - It is 90 years ago since at the American philanthropist
Herbert Hoover helped save the lives of millions of Belgians who risked
dying of hunger during the First World War. A prestigious exhibition
about the help Hoover gave to the Belgian people has opened in the
university library in the Flemish Brabant city of Leuven.
(Photo Belga)
Some three million tonnes of food aid was sent by boat to Belgium from
the United States in the period from 1915 to 1918.
The man behind the massive food aid programme was the wealthy American
industrialist Herbert Hoover.
Hoover set himself the aim of saving the Belgian people from starving
to death.
The historian Peter Scholiers of Brussels' Dutch-language Free
University told the daily 'Het Volk' that "It all started withthe
outbreak of World War I in 1914".
(Photo Belga)
"Belgium was one of the world's richest countries, but the German
offensive forced the country to suspend its industrial and commercial
activities. Agriculture also ground to halt and with the farmers having
been sent to the front, crops were not harvested."
"The majority of our foods supplies came from abroad, but the British
blockade of occupied Belgium meant that importing food was no longer an
option. The occupying German forces refused to offer food aid and a
large proportion of the population was threatened with starvation."
American campaign for Belgium
Herbert Hoover had made his fortune form mine construction projects in
Australia and China.
Concerned about the fate of the many thousands of Americans in Europe,
Hoover travelled to London to see how he could best help.
Hearing of the plight of the Belgian people, he decided to organise a
collection of non-perishable food stuffs.
The large posters on display in Leuven, were originally posted on
billboards in American towns and cities. The posters called on American
miners to give 10% of their income to help "poor little Belgium".
Hoover's campaign was a great success and not only did the American
public give generously, but the British and French governments also
gave financial help.
During the time that Hoover's "Commission for Relief in Belgium" was
operational it, sent 3.2 million tonnes of beans, flower, rice and
other food stuffs to help feed hungry mouths in Belgium.
(Photonews)
Leuven University Library
The reconstruction of the Leuven University Library
Some of the money collected by Hoover's charity was left over at the
end of the war.
The remaining cash was used to help rebuild the historic Leuven
University library that was destroyed by the Germans at the beginning
of the war in 1914.
Rebuilding work on the library was eventually completed in 1929.
Herbert Hoover became the 31st President of the United States of
America, but his presidency was marred by the consequences of the 1929
Wall Street Crash.
The exhibition
Where? The Leuven University Library Ladeuzeplein
When? Until 2 February
Opening times: 9am to 8pm Monday to Thursday
9am to 5:15pm on Fridays and 9am to 12:30
The saviour of the Belgians
Thu 18/01/07 - It is 90 years ago since at the American philanthropist
Herbert Hoover helped save the lives of millions of Belgians who risked
dying of hunger during the First World War. A prestigious exhibition
about the help Hoover gave to the Belgian people has opened in the
university library in the Flemish Brabant city of Leuven.
(Photo Belga)
Some three million tonnes of food aid was sent by boat to Belgium from
the United States in the period from 1915 to 1918.
The man behind the massive food aid programme was the wealthy American
industrialist Herbert Hoover.
Hoover set himself the aim of saving the Belgian people from starving
to death.
The historian Peter Scholiers of Brussels' Dutch-language Free
University told the daily 'Het Volk' that "It all started withthe
outbreak of World War I in 1914".
(Photo Belga)
"Belgium was one of the world's richest countries, but the German
offensive forced the country to suspend its industrial and commercial
activities. Agriculture also ground to halt and with the farmers having
been sent to the front, crops were not harvested."
"The majority of our foods supplies came from abroad, but the British
blockade of occupied Belgium meant that importing food was no longer an
option. The occupying German forces refused to offer food aid and a
large proportion of the population was threatened with starvation."
American campaign for Belgium
Herbert Hoover had made his fortune form mine construction projects in
Australia and China.
Concerned about the fate of the many thousands of Americans in Europe,
Hoover travelled to London to see how he could best help.
Hearing of the plight of the Belgian people, he decided to organise a
collection of non-perishable food stuffs.
The large posters on display in Leuven, were originally posted on
billboards in American towns and cities. The posters called on American
miners to give 10% of their income to help "poor little Belgium".
Hoover's campaign was a great success and not only did the American
public give generously, but the British and French governments also
gave financial help.
During the time that Hoover's "Commission for Relief in Belgium" was
operational it, sent 3.2 million tonnes of beans, flower, rice and
other food stuffs to help feed hungry mouths in Belgium.
(Photonews)
Leuven University Library
The reconstruction of the Leuven University Library
Some of the money collected by Hoover's charity was left over at the
end of the war.
The remaining cash was used to help rebuild the historic Leuven
University library that was destroyed by the Germans at the beginning
of the war in 1914.
Rebuilding work on the library was eventually completed in 1929.
Herbert Hoover became the 31st President of the United States of
America, but his presidency was marred by the consequences of the 1929
Wall Street Crash.
The exhibition
Where? The Leuven University Library Ladeuzeplein
When? Until 2 February
Opening times: 9am to 8pm Monday to Thursday
9am to 5:15pm on Fridays and 9am to 12:30