Wallonie Libre

The banner of Wallonie Libre, based on the flag of Wallonia

Wallonie libre (French; literally "Free Wallonia") was a group within the Belgian Resistance during the German occupation of Belgium during World War II which subsequently became a small political party. Part of the Walloon Movement politically, its ideology became increasingly radical in the post-war period.

History

Wallonie libre originated as a pre-war political association in Brussels known as the Garde wallonne (Walloon Guard).[1] It was heavily influenced by the radical Walloon Movement which supported the secession of Wallonia and its merger into France. Shortly after the Belgian surrender on 28 May, the group was re-formed to provide aid to the French who were still fighting Nazi Germany. The group claimed to have been founded on 18 June 1940 during the Garde's annual gathering on the battlefield of Waterloo.[2] It was also inspired by the Charles de Gaulle's Appeal of 18 June, and chose their name as a counterpart to the Gaullist France libre (Free France).[1] Wallonie libre is therefore sometimes credited as the earliest Belgian Resistance group.[2] During the occupation, Wallonie libre produced an underground newspaper called La Wallonie Libre and another in Liège entitled Sambre et Meuse.[1] It became close to parts of the Communist Party of Belgium in 1941. In August 1942, it was absorbed into the larger left-wing Front de l'Indépendance (Independence Front) group.[1]

After the Liberation in 1944, Wallonie Libre became a political movement. It organised the Walloon National Congress, held on 20-1 October 1945.[1] After a period of dormancy, it was revived during the resurgence of the Walloon Movement in 1960.[1] It organised the so-called Combat Wallon (Walloon Combat), leading to the 1980 Congress where the movement began to call for complete Walloon independence. In 2005, Jacques Rogissart, the then-leader of Wallonie Libre decided to join the Rassemblement Wallonie-France ("Wallonia-France Rally"), led by Paul-Henry Gendebien. He created a counter-organization called Nouvelle Wallonie Libre ("New Free Wallonia"). He was replaced by Jacques Dupont.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 CRISP 1968.
  2. 1 2 Delforge, Paul. "18 juin 1940 : naissance de Wallonie libre, premier mouvement wallon de résistance". Connaitre la Wallonie. Retrieved 29 July 2017.

Bibliography

  • "Le mouvement "Wallonie libre"". Courrier hebdomadaire du CRISP. 25 (413). 1968.
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