On August 25, 1914, the German army ravaged the city of Leuven, deliberately burning the university library of 300,000 medieval books and manuscripts with gasoline, killing 248 residents, and expelling the population of 10,000. Civilian homes were set on fire and citizens often shot where they stood. Over 2,000 buildings were destroyed and large quantities of strategic materials, foodstuffs and modern industrial equipment were looted and transferred to Germany during 1914. These actions brought worldwide condemnation.