Merkel attends ceremony at WWI Ypres, Belgium, battlefield

YPRES, Belgium, Oct. 28 (UPI) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel attended a centenary observance of the World War I Battle of Ypres in Belgium Tuesday.

She praised Belgium for its "immeasurable sacrifice" in the battle, in which German troops opened its "western front" by invading Belgium. Over 600,000 soldiers died in combat in Belgium, and the city of Ypres was destroyed by several battles during the war. Merkel noted Belgium was among the first to encourage reconciliation after World War II.

She also offered compliments to the European Union, headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, noting its work in preventing "terrible wars" and standing for "freedom, democratic values and respect for international rights."

The ceremony included Belgium's King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, as well as other international guests.

The Ypres Salient, the area around the city, is known collectively as "Flanders Fields," and was the scene of some of the war's worst and most protracted combat. Many of the trenches dug there are still intact and can be visited. The military cemeteries contain the remains of soldiers from 30 countries involved in the war.