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When the Nazis invaded neutral Belgium in May 1940, defeat and occupation were inevitable but Belgian armed forces held out against a vastly superior enemy for 18 days. The elected Government went into exile in London, but King Leopold III controversially remained with his people as a prisoner. As described in this authoritative book, Belgians continued the fight both outside and inside their country. There were eventually two complete Belgian RAF squadrons. The Colonial Army defeated the Italians in East Africa and the Belgian Brigade fought from Normandy to Germany. The Belgian Resistance organized escape routes, sabotaged their occupiers’ activities, and spied for the Allies. 17,000 died or were executed and a further 27,000 survived detentions. Meanwhile others collaborated and fought for the Nazis and large numbers were tried post-war for war crimes and treason. About half the Jews in Belgium in 1940 died in the Holocaust and there are many stirring stories of courage, as well as tragic ones. This is an overdue and honest account of one Nation’s very varied experiences during five years of Nazi occupation and oppression.

Jean-Michel Veranneman served as a Diplomat and was an Ambassador in Mozambique, Portugal, Israel, Brazil, and London. He lives in Belgium.

Review

Good read and excellent account on Belgium during the Second World War. One really needs to read this book first before setting off on saying anything about the events of May 1940 in Belgium. I’d wish there were several little books with detailed accounts on various largely unknown battles during the eightteen days of fighting. There wasn’t only Eben Emael, but there was also a significant battle near Antwerp with the small groups of Belgian armour, the battle of the Lys with the Chasseurs Ardennais showing their teeth once more, etc. After that last battle the Germans actually began taking some dreadful reprisals. The myth goes that the Chasseurs were fighting in shirt sleeves because of the heat and the Germans mistook them for armed civilians. In the end the Belgian army lost more soldiers in the one campaign than during what remained of the First World War after the army’s legendary retreat behind the Yser River. Those losses and the German reprisals against civilians were no doubt deciding factors in the ultimate decision to just fight on till the Dunkirk beachhead was secured. Perhaps the old military order after a lost battle of Sauve Qui Peut to the Belgian Army would have been better then, but that’s my personal view and a clear afterthought. Long live the King and Belgian democracy!