Figure 1.-- This Belgian Belgian Boy Scout was probably photographed in the 1910s, perhaps before World war I, but we are unsure. The uniform looks very similar to the British Scout uniform.

We have begun to collect some information about Belgian Scouts in different chronological periods. We have little information on early Belgian Scout uniforms. We believe that the uniforms were quite similar to the British Scout uniforms. HBC believes the Scouts were the most popular boys' youth group during the inter-war years and that there were three principal associations, but have little information at this time. The were supressed during the occupation, but some Scouts continued to operate surepticiously. Relatively few Belgian boys joined the nationlist groups that the Germans permitted to organize in Flanders and Wallonie. The three principal Scout associations during the inter-war period were: Boy Scouts de Belgique, Federation des Scouts Catholiques, and Vlaamsch Verbond der Katholieke Scouts. German policy varied during the occupation, but the Scouts were supressed. There was a Rexist Organization youth group and also Hitler Youth groups, but I have few details. I think that there may have been boys involved in these groups in te early era of occupation during 1940-42, but by 1943 as the Germans became increasingly brutal and it became clearer that they were not going to win the war, membership in these groups became increasingly difficult to maintain. As with many European countries, there is no one single Scout association in Belgium. This is in part because of the differences between the two Belgian linguistic groups. Belgian has in fact several different Scout associations, each with different uniforms. The different groups are generally divided along linguistic-cultural lines, but most or at least nomimlly Catholic. There are also some Scout-like nationalist groups. These groups which compete with the Scouts (rarely will boys belong to both groups.). These competing groups seem more popular in Belgium than other European countries.

Early 20th Century (1900-14)

We do not yet have much information ealy Belgian Scouting. The first Scout Troop was organized in Brussels (1909). This was shortly after the movement was founded in Britain. It was actually a British troop. Englishman Harold Parfitt organized the troop for British boys living in the city. Belgians noticed the Scouts and soon began organizing their own Scout troops. Antoine Depage's son Henri began asking about the Scouts. He thought it looked like fun. The first Belgian Scout association was the Boy Scouts of Belgium (BSB) (1910). The first all-Belgian troop was founded in Brussels. They used the British badges, rules and uniforms. This association was a non-denominational movement open to all boys regardless of religion or ethnicity. Catholics formed the Belgian Catholic Scouts (BCS) (1912). The denomination Baden-Powell Belgian Boy-Scouts (BPBBS) were formed (1913). The BSB founded a Girl Guide (GGB) troop (1911). We can not yet date the Belgian Scout uniform seen here (figure 1), but the portrait was probably taken during the 1910s. We are not sure if it was taken before or during World War I. It clearly looks like the British Scout uniform.

World War I (1914-18)

The Belgian Scouting movement did not have long to develp before World war I broke out. The Germans occupied most of Belgium at the onset of World war I (1914). The Germans treated the Bekgians harshly, although not as brutally as depicted by the British. Military authorities did seize civilian food supplies which caused serious food shortages. Only American food aid prevented starvation. The German occpation impaired the development of the movement. The military-looking uniform, the British association, and the nationalist ethos all made the Germans suscpicous of the movenent. We are not sure of just what specific steps the occupation authorities took against Scouting. The Baden-Powell Belgian Girl-Guides (BPBGG) organized (1915).

Inter-war Years (1919-40)

Unlike the pattern setin Briain of one single national Scout association, Belgiasns organized additional associations alongvregional and ethnic/linguistic lines. The GGB as a result of the suspions of the German occupiers was not founded until after the War (1919). The GGB also used British badges, rules and uniforms. The GGB was created as a non-denominational movement for girls. HBU doescnot have a lot of information on the inter-War era. believes the Scouts were the most popular boys' youth group during the inter-war years. Two additional associations were of some importasnce. The three principal Scout associations during the inter-war period were: Boy Scouts de Belgique (BSB), Federation des Scouts Catholiques (BCS), and Vlaamsch Verbond der Katholieke Scouts (VVKS). Lord Baden Powell visited Belgium and met with Belgian Scouts (1922). He also was received by Cardinal Mercier and King Albert. He was awarded the Legion of Honour (Commander). He visited Belgium and France again (1929). The Royal Family strongly supported the Scout and Guide movements. King Leopold III was a strong proponent of Scouting. I do not know if he was a Scout himself. Prince Baudouin in 1937 became old enough to join the Cubs and was very enthusiastic about it. European royal children had once been kept separate from commoners, but in the 20th century this had begun to change. King Leopold decided to create a special Cub Scout pack for his son.

World War II (1939-45)

The Germans launched World War II with thev invasion of Poland (1939). Belgium wanted to remain neutral in World War II as they had hoped in World War I. The Germans, however, invaded and occupied Belgium for a second time in World war II (1940). Unlike World War I, the Germans not only occupied all of Belgium, but tghis time defeated and occupied France. German brutality in Belgium had been exagerated by the British during World War I. This time the Germans lived up to their reputation. Again they were very suspious of the Scouts and Guides.

Scouting

The NAZIs during the occupation did not have a consistent policy toward Scouting, banning it (1940), lifting the ban (1941) and rebanning it (1943). I'm not sure to what extent Prince Baudouin and his younger brother Albert engaged in Scouting during the War. Some Scouts continued to operate surepticiously. Relatively few Belgian boys joined the nationlist pro-NAZI groups that the Germans permitted to organize separately in Flanders and Wallonie. Scouts refused to be passively incorporated into Neo-Nazi Rexist groups. One source says that Scouts fought "pitched batles twice with Belgian Neo-Nazi youth groups in 1943." They also reportedly refused to give up thir coveted Boy Scout belts when ordered to do so. Three Belgian Scouts (Robert Maistriau and the Livchitz brothers) pulled off one of the most daring acts of the Belgian resistance (April 19, 1943). The youths equipped with a pairs of pliers, a hurricane lamp, and a revolver held up the 20th transportof Jews from Mechlen to Auschwitz (April 19. 1943). As a result 17 Jewish men and women escaped from the train and a further 214 subsequently escaped. In the condusion, a 6-week old baby girl was left ion the train. She was immediately gassed on arrival at Auschwitz. A White Russian working in Belgium reported the Livchitz brothers and they were executed. Many of the transport escapees, however, were never recaptured and managed to survived the War. Maisstriau also survived the war. Scouts reappeared on Belgian streets wearing their uniforms again when the Allies troops entered Belgium (1944).

Nationalist groups

German policy varied during the occupation, but the Scouts were supressed. There was a Rexist Organization youth group and also Hitler Youth groups, but I have few details. I think that there may have been boys involved in these groups in te early era of occupation during 1940-42, but by 1943 as the Germans became increasingly brutal and it became clearer that they were not going to win the war, membership in these groups became increasingly difficult to maintain.

Post-war Era (1945- )

Scouting resumed in Belgium after the liberation by Allied troops (September 1944). BSB and GGB merged into one organization in July 1945. Each section remained separate, and there were no mixed groups until well into the 1980s.As with many European countries, there is no one single Scout association in Belgium. This is in part because of the differences between the two Belgian linguistic groups. Belgian has in fact several different Scout associations, each with different uniforms. The different groups are generally divided along linguistic-cultural lines, but most or at least nomimlly Catholic. There are also some Scout-like nationalist groups. These groups which compete with the Scouts (rarely will boys belong to both groups.). These competing groups seem more popular in Belgium than other European countries.