The Battle of Haelen or Halen, (French: Bataille des casques d'argent, Dutch: slag der zilveren helmen), a cavalry battle at the beginning of World War I. Haelen was a small market town in the route of the advance of the German army. The battle took place on 12 August 1914 between German forces, led by Georg von der Marwitz, and the Belgian troops led by L?on de Witte and resulted in a tactical victory for the Belgians.