La Grande Place, Lille, 1918 Lille was occupied by the Germans on 13 October 1914 after a ten-day siege and heavy shelling which destroyed 882 apartment and office blocks and 1,500 houses, mostly around the railway station and in the town centre. Because Lille was only 20 km from the battlefield, German troops passed through the city regularly on their way to and from the front. Lille was liberated by the British 5th Army on 17 October 1918 and his troops were welcomed by joyous crowds.