"The Y.M.C.A. at Lievin" Bombed out building. YMCA banner advertising "Reading, Writing. Recreation." The First World War brutally ended Liévin's expansion. The city was ruined, the churches and castles destroyed. Human losses were 400 civilian and 600 military. The city of Liévin was awarded the Croix de Guerre in 1920. After the war, it was necessary to rebuild everything. After a few years, Liévin was again an active city, and mining recommenced.