Figure 1.--Belgium for the second time decided to depend on neutrality to defend itself with even wiorse results fthan the first time. Here we see Belgian refugees fleeing the advancing Germans. The photograph was taken near Brussels and dated May 17, 1940. But that seems to be when it was received in America. Wire transmission of photographs was just begining. This photo was delivered to America by Clipper aircraft. The press caption read, "Age and Youth Suffer in Blitzkrieg on Belgium: An old woman and her grndchild, Belgian refugees both, wear facial expressions that tell of the tragedy that has befallen neutral Belgium followinh the impact of the Nazi Blitzkrieg. This is the first picture to be received in the United States froom Belgium since the war encompassed that nation." The elderly women no doubt had vivid memories of the World War I German invasion. Something that younger readers may not understand. Elderly people have to have real fear in their hearts to leave their homes because of a range of health issues that come with adanced age.

Belgians when the Germans struck (May 10, 1940) began fleeing by heading south by rail, car, and on foot toward France as they did in World War I. Most assumed that as in World War I that the French Army would hold. This was, however, a very different German Army. The World War I German Army was on foot and their supplies and artillery was pulled by horses. Thus Belgians could reach safety in France unless they lived near the German border. World War I Belgian refugees moved at the same pace as the invaders, usually faster as their was no resistance by the Belgian and Allied forces that move north into Belgium. . Thus as long as they left in time they could reach France. This did not prove to be possible with a more motorized German Army. The German invasion resulted in a panic among Belgian civilians, many who recalled the World War occupation. One Belgian wonman wrote in her diary, "We are in war again. Germany has crossed our borders last Friday, for the second time in 25 years. We are listening to the radio all day, it is our only source to obtain some information what is going on. It's clear that the Germans are advancing fast. We're discussing what to do. Many people in town have already left." Within a day the roads leading west from the invasiomn path were chooked with refugees. This slowed down the advabce of British forces moving north into Belgiums. Historians estimate that some 2 million civilians fled their homes as a result of the German invasion. ["On the run ..."] With a population of 8.3 million, this was nearly 25 percent of the population. If the Germans had not rapidly over ran large reas of the coiuntry, ot ould have been much greater. Within days, the German Panzers slashed through the Ardennes and across northern France and reached the Channel. That made the further movement of Belgian refugees to France impossible. There were, however, large numbers of Belgians on the road fleeing west. They were soon overun by the Germans who allowed them to return home. As a result, there were far fewer Belgian refugees in World War II than in World War I. And this time the French Army did not hold. Within weeks France itself was defeated by the Germans and the country surrendered. The refugees that made it to France had to return home. About 15,000 made it to safty in Britain by boarding ships of various kind. They would sopend the War there.

German Invasion

Belgium remained strictly neutral, but was invaded by the Germans for a second time (May 10, 1940). The Germans struck at both the Netherlands and Belgium at the same time. It was the start of the long anticipated German offensive in the West. After a few months of the "Phony War", it was the turn of the Low Lands and France. The German initiated their long awaited western campaign on a wide front against the neutral Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxemburg. The Luftwaffe played a key role in the German success in the west. King Leopold before the War had promoted the construction of important defensive fortifications from Antwerp to Namur in front of the German border. These defenses were quickly taken by the Germans. The British Expeditionary Force rushed nort to assist the Dutch. This meant that they were not present in force to opposed the Germans when they broke through in the Ardennes. Leopold, with the bulk of the Belgian Army, was surrounded by the Germans, and capitulated. Leopold ordered his army to surrender and refused to flee with officials to form a government-in-exile in England. His actions were resented by some Belgians. His surrender at a crucial point in the battle for the low countries left a critical gap in the Allied ring around Dunkirk and could have made the evacuation impossible if the Germans had pressed their attack.

Civilians Panic

Belgians when the Germans struck (May 10, 1940) began fleeing as they had done more than two decades earlier (1914). They headed south by rail, car, and on foot toward the preceived safety of France as they had done in World War I. Some lucky ones got on boats to Britain. Most assumed that as in World War I that the French Army would hold the Germans back. This was, however, a very different German Army. The World War I German Army was on foot and their supplies and artillery was pulled by horses. Thus Belgians could reach safety in France unless they lived near the German border. World War I Belgian refugees moved at the same pace as the invaders, usually faster as their was resistance by the Belgian and Allied forces that moved north into Belgium. Thus as long as they left in time they were able to reach France and safety. This did not, however, prove to be possible with the fast-moving motorized German Panzer units of World War II. The rapidly advancing German Army resulted in a panic among Belgian civilians, many who recalled the World War occupation. One Belgian wonman wrote in her diary, "We are in war again. Germany has crossed our borders last Friday, for the second time in 25 years. We are listening to the radio all day, it is our only source to obtain some information what is going on. It's clear that the Germans are advancing fast. We're discussing what to do. Many people in town have already left." Within a day the roads leading west from the invasiomn path were chooked with refugees. This slowed down the advance of British forces moving north into Belgiums. Tragically the only Belgins to reach safety were those who were able to get on boats to reach Britain. Those who fled to south to reach France as in World War I would find this time France would also fall to invadingh German armies. And the refugeesc had to return hone ro find the German forces that occupied their country this time were very dufferent than those of Imperial Germany two decades earlier and the World War I ocupation had been bad enough.

Extent

Historians estimate that some 2 million civilians fled their homes as a result of the German invasion. ["On the run ..."] With a population of 8.3 million, this was nearly 25 percent of the population. If the Germans had not rapidly over ran large reas of the country, it could have been much greater. Most head south toward France.

Damage

The German victory was so quick that the extensive damage occurubg in World War I fid not occur in World War II, The Belgian Army quickly desintegrated under the the Blitzkrieg tactics of the German Army. As a result the German passed through most Belgian German towns and villages without serious resistance. Impregniable fortreses fell to small German units. There was no answer to the German Panzers and Luftwaffe attacks. Leuven in the north had been the site of one of the great German attrocities with rampaging Grman soldiers, destroying tge great university linrary with prieless mabuscriots. There was also damage in World War II. Leuven was part of the British Expeditionary Force's (BEF's) front line . The 3rd Division fought there with Belgian troops (May 14-16). German Army Group B assaulted the city with heavy air and artillery support. The British withdrew their forces to the River Senne on the night (May 16). The Germans in anotger act of senless vandalism set the new university library afire on the same day the British retreated. Some one million books were destroyed. [Derez p. 13.] This was more like German behavior in the East. This was not, however, the general expereienc in Belgium and Framce. The Belgians flet because of their memnories of German behavior in World War I than the destruction of World War II.

Return Home to German Occupation

Within days, the German Panzers slashed through the Ardennes and across northern France and reached the Channel. That made the further movement of Belgian refugees to France impossible. There were, however, large numbers of Belgians on the road fleeing west. They were soon overun by the Germans who allowed them to return home. As a result, there were far fewer Belgian refugees in World War II than in World War I. And this time the French Army did not hold. Within weeks France itself was defeated by the Germans and the country surrendered. The refugees that had made it to France also returned home. The Germans this tgime seem iresistable.

Refuge in Britain

A small number of Belgians, some 15,000, made it to safety in Britain by boarding ships of various kind in the ports before the Germans reached them. There wereonlybso manybofthese ports. It seems to have been mostly a range of small boats. Queen Willimena was rescued by the Royal Navy and a Belgian Government in exile was set up in London. Civilians were on their own and came in small numbers in a collection of small boats. They would spend the rest of yhe War in Britain. This was only a fraction of the Belgians refugeees taken in by Britain during World War I. The differnce of course is that in World War II, the Germans suceeded in over running Belgiun and France in the first year of the War (May-June 1940). In World War I, not all of Belgium was overun by the Germans. And large number if Belguans refugees succeed in finding safety in France--which held unlike the disaster in 1940. Sone of the refugees in World War I were transferred to Britain to ease the strain on France. They joined the Belgian refugees tht hhd gone directly to Britain by boat. All of this did not transpire in World War II because the Germans occupied Belgium and France. The Belguian refugees tht made it to France in 1940 had to return to German occuoied Belgium. Almost all of the Belgian refugees that made it to England came in the boats that made it to Britain durung the last two weekss of May, shortly followed by the British and Franch soldiers evacuated from Dunkirk. Almost all the Belgian refugee children came with thir families. We have no idea at this time how they were cared for in Britain. They may hace been put up in family units, but because many British children were evacuated from the citties, some of the Belgian children amy have also been evacuated. We have no information on them at this time.

Sources

Derez, Mark. "The Burning of the Library of Leuven and the International Response (2014).

"On the run: The chaotic days of May 1940," Project 1944.

Created: 3:14 AM 11/25/2018
Last updated: 4:56 PM 3/22/2024