Belgian historians have concluded that the country actively cooperated with Germany's Nazi regime during World War II in deporting Jews. The state even went beyond German demands at the time. The Belgian state adopted a docile and cooperative attitude in some very diverse, but crucial domains providing collaboration unworthy of a democracy, with a policy that was disastrous for Belgian and foreign Jews," the historians said. The report "Docile Belgium," commissioned by the Belgian parliament, said the state collaborated with the Nazis for "economic, as well as ideological and legal-administrative" reasons. It is the first time Belgium's cooperation with the Nazis has been presented in such detail. http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,2351064,00.html?maca=en-aa-top-861-rdf
Hey Kai, Wonder how much influence Kurt Deluege (sp?) had on Belgian authorities during that time. Later
Kai, I agree that authorities went beyond German demands, but the same thing could be said about other occupied countries. What counts is not a docile state with a small percentage of Rexists and collaborators who unfortunalety had the power to make political decisions, but the brave attitude of the majority of the Belgian people. To that extend the Belgians were great Maquisards. Many airmen were saved by networks such as Comete until it was betrayed. Clergymen who condemmned arrests during their sevice , free Belgians in the Raf are other examples. Also it was very difficult for Belgians to find hiding places because they have no mountains and few forests. The Belgians were also very prolific producers of resistance flyers and illegal papers.It is however true that Belgian agents were recruted by the SD because they could either speak French or Durch or both (and even English and German) and they could pass for agents in France Holland, Luxemburg etc...
The quote part put here is from the report ( site included ) and must say the historians have been very tough on their country but then again very brave to say it if they consider this the truth!
@ Skip : the historian did not judge Belgian people attitude during the war, but the acts and policy of the State / administration. And it's not true to say it was the same in all occupied countries, especialy on the jewish matters, some countries have sneaked and twisted around German control in order to avoid, as much as possible, to give away their jewish citizens, some other, like France, collaborated to the genocide beyond German expectations.
True if you talk about governments. I was talking about individals too and to that extend there were people on both sides in every occupied country.
