Two stories of remarkable women you should know: the Angels of Bastogne

As German forces encircled Bastogne in Wallonia, Belgium, the town became a focal point of fierce fighting and suffering. With medical facilities overwhelmed and supplies running low, the wounded flooded the town’s makeshift hospitals. Nurses like Augusta Chiwy and Renée Lemaire worked tirelessly alongside military medics to provide care, often under bombardment and in freezing conditions. 

Their efforts were not only acts of medical care but also gestures of humanity in an environment stripped of it. The caregivers brought comfort to soldiers far from home and helped preserve the dignity of the dying. These women were a lifeline for the defenders of Bastogne.  

Augusta Chiwy 

Born in 1921 in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo, Augusta Chiwy was the daughter of a Belgian father and Congolese mother. She moved to Belgium as a young girl and trained as a nurse in Leuven. When the Battle of the Bulge (16 December 1944 to 25 January 1945) started, Chiwy was visiting her family in Bastogne. Instead of fleeing, she volunteered at an aid station set up by the U.S. Army. 

Chiwy's role was not without danger. On Christmas Eve 1944, the aid station where she was working was bombed, killing several people, but she miraculously survived. Known for her bravery and dedication, she tended to wounded soldiers of all races, despite facing discrimination herself. After the war, Chiwy returned to a quiet life, her contributions largely unrecognized until later years. In 2011, she was awarded the U.S. Army’s Civilian Award for Humanitarian Service. Augusta Chiwy passed away in 2015 at the age of 94. 

Renée Lemaire 

Renée Lemaire, a Belgian nurse born in Bastogne in 1914, was another Angel of Bastogne. Having trained as a nurse, Lemaire returned to her hometown when the war front shifted from northern France to eastern Belgium in the course of 1944. During the siege of Bastogne, she volunteered at a makeshift hospital in the basement of one of the town’s houses. 

On Christmas Eve 1944, a German bomb hit the hospital, killing Renée Lemaire and 30 of her patients. Despite her death, Lemaire’s story resonated deeply and she became a symbol of the resilience of the Belgian people. She is buried in Bastogne, and her cemetery serves as a memorial for those who honour her sacrifice.

The Nurses of Bastogne Memorial 

The Nurses of Bastogne Memorial, located just outside Bastogne on the road heading towards the Bastogne War Museum, commemorates the women who served as nurses during the Battle of the Bulge. Augusta Chiwy and Renée Lemaire are among those honoured by this monument, which serves as a reminder of the extraordinary contributions of caregivers during wartime. The memorial highlights the indispensable role women played in supporting the Allied war effort and preserving the humanity of those caught in the conflict.