On its way to Paris, the German army invaded Belgium on 4 August. In the autumn of 1914 the French, British and Germans clashed for the first time at Ypres. The ridge of hills around the town, with villages including Passchendaele and Zonnebeke, soon became an important theatre of war. See the soldier on horseback? He’s a cavalryman of the Eleventh Uhlan Regiment. The Uhlans supported the German army by scouting out the terrain, gathering information, and tracking down enemy troops and harassing them. In early September 1914, they were among the first Germans to arrive at Passchendaele. The local population was wary of the German horsemen. Have you noticed his unique helmet? This striking bit of headgear, called a chapka, is originally from Poland and dates back to Napoleonic times. You’ll see that he’s carrying a lance and a sabre. In the First World War such weapons were already outdated and of little use in a firefight. The Uhlans were cautious, since they might be ambushed at any moment. The Eleventh Uhlan Regiment was one of the first German units to lose men in this area. On 7 October the main force arrived, and German cavalry briefly occupied Ypres before moving on towards northern France. That short-lived occupation was merely the start, as you’ll see in the next room.