Life in Belgium during the Second world war

Introduction

The Second world war was one of the significant events, if not most important of the 20th century. Most important by its width, the number of implied countries but also by its influence on the evolution of the world, of our company. This war is close to us in time, indeed the majority of our grandparents lived it closely or by far.

Belgium was on this occasion invaded for the second time in thirty years; having had the vast majority of its occupied territory by the German Empire at the time of the First World War.

Rationing

The beginning of the restrictions

The true restrictions came into effect the May 25th 1940. The Belgians could then receive 220 grams of bread, 175 potatoes and 50 grams of meat. That represents 1350 Calorie S per day, instead of the 2700 of pre-war period and of the 2000 considered to be necessary. The Belgians, private of bread folded back themselves on the potatoes. However, those had suddenly missed because, inter alia, of the taking away organized by the occupant.

At that time, the big food problems were not felt too much. Indeed, the fruits and sugar were still abundant.

To mitigate the need the most stripped for, the “Help of winter” was created the October 29th 1940.

The black-market and barter

After a certain time, rationing became a major concern… The shortage was felt. This situation gave rise to obviously a parallel market where the Belgian who had the means of them could find what to supplement insufficient rations. At the black-market, one could find:

- of the meat with 100 or 150 BEF kilo (35 BEF with the official course)

- sugar with 50 BEF (7,90 BEF with the official course)

- butter with 120 BEF (41)

- a bread with 50 BEF (2,88)

-1 kilo of potatoes with 11 BEF (2,45)

The average wages of the time were from 2500 to 3000 BEF by mois.
There were several sources with this traffic: those which were entitled to additional rations and which resold them, the traffickers who copied or concealed ration coupons, the companies which offered premiums in kind, etc the farmers and the stockbreeders were also an important cause of the black-market. Those resold (at ransom price) their surplus of goods. The walks in the countryside thus became regular for the townsmen.

Resistance

The clandestine press

The clandestine press was a very important means of resistance during the war. It is estimated that 10 to 12 million clandestine newspapers were diffused during this period. On this 10 million, 5 million expressed the communist sights, 3 million the socialist sights and a million the royalist sights. Of course, these figures are a estimation.
The Communists were most active, they had like strong points experience of the clandestine fight and a will supported by the hope to carry out a communist revolution. Among those as among the other groups of resistant, much were stopped, the clandestine press being an activity difficult to hide a long time. Thus, on 5000 members of this press, 3000 lost the life.

Groups of armed resistance

Many groups of resistant were formed at that time. It is known as that each commune had a focus of resistance. Some did not enter there by choice: when the Russians entered in war against the Germans, any Communist became resistant for the occupant.
The groups of resistant were generally occupied to sabotage strategic points, like electric bridges, pylons, etc These actions, as the murders of German soldiers were severely condemned by the occupant. Thus, of the innocent civilians sometimes unfortunately made the expenses of this guérilla.
The resistant ones also set up clandestine centers of communication, from which they could contact other groups and London.

Collaboration

See the detailed article Collaboration in Belgium (1940-44).

In 1940, the war seems to finish with the profit of the Germany. The majority of the notable Belgians apply a policy “of the least evil”. However, others, which they are belgicists or nationalist Flemish, will be joined the occupant in order to set up a fascistic mode and, obviously, to try to have the orders of them. The collaborators had certain advantages, like the right to receive additional rations of nourriture.
The occupant has two allied policies in Belgium, Rex (directed by Leon Degrelle) in Wallonia and VNV in Flanders. These parties also provided recruits to Allemands.
Those also proposed to the inhabitants to engage in armed forces under German control, like French-speaking side - the “Legion Walloon Wallonia” or the “Guards”.
During the first hardenings of the mode, the population opposes collaboration more and more. Later, during the combined bombardments, this one will try to regain the confidence of the Belgians.

Release and purification

The September 3rd 1944, the first tanks allied arrive at Brussels, crowd is immediately is delirious about it. The joy was similar in all the cities and all the villages crossed by Alliés.
But these scenes of joy do not mask the settlings of score between Belgians. The houses of collaborators are devastated by the resistant ones (including one certain number had in fact never belonged to resistance before) and the collaborators are stopped or killed. Paul Struye journalist with Libre Belgique written: “ All that, which occurs without transition, in an unhoped-for swirl which gives the giddiness, is if moving, so fascinating, if pathetic that we sometimes wonder by rubbing us the eyes if we are not in the unreal one… ” (1). It will transmit towards London other reports/ratios on the event: “ Of many collaborators of the occupant was cut down on their premises, in street or full shift. Women appear in rather great number among them. It always acts, says one, denouncers who would have delivered refractories to the occupant. A “traitor” was found in a wood close to Houffalize, hung using hooks of stopping planted in the throat. ”. In spite of these violences of post-war period - quite less in addition than in France -, the joy of seeing passing the liberators is quite real. For proof, the declaration of Winston Churchill with the House of Commons: “ We cuts in Belgium has tumultuous welcome. ”.

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