What was the role of Belgium in WWII?

Question

1-Is it true that Belgium became Nazi at some point in time?
2-Is it Belgium the famous country that resisted the Germans?

Answer 1

1) belgium became not Nazi. As in every occupied country there were nazis and collaborators. (France, Holland, Norway, ... all had people that fought in the SS)
French speaking nazi came from the REX party and were true collaborators while Flemish speaking collaborated in the hope to become independent from Belgium since there was a lot of discrimination against the Flemish.
In both regions the nazis were a minority. People remembered well the first WW.

2) Belgium resisted firmly the German troops and they had a hard nut to crack once the Belgians recuperated from the surprise attack on Eben-Emael. The other Belgian forts had to be taken by very hard fighting.
Figthing around Leuven, Gent, Leie were very hard. Especially the Belgian artillery learned some lessons to the Gemans.
When the Belgians finally surrended the British had already started the evacuation at Dunkerque and Oostende.
As the Belgians had a lot of occupations during the ages they all dislike the autority (even the Belgian). The Germans learned it the hard way.
A lot of Belgian Fishermen evacuated their family to Britain after which they went back to evacuate the British at Dunkerque. Later on they joined the Royal navy (these hardened fishermen were not very disciplined but on escorting duty to Russia or mine-sweeping they were second to none).
Groupe G distroyed the electrification to the Ruhr, the most efficient lifeline to evacuate downed allied pilots originated from Belgian. In Wallonie there was the maquis. A lot of valuable information was send over by Belgian resistance to Britain.

Since Belgians like to mock with goverment even a false journal was printed and replaced the pro-nazi journal.
A great deal of jews was rescued by the Belgians. In Belgian happened the only attack on a Jew transport train to liberate the jews.
At the liberation the port of Antwerp was not destroyed due to succesfull actions of the Antwerp resistance.

Answer 2

1 : no, but like in each country that was occupied by the Nazi's there where people who did collaborated with the enemy but that isn't a indication that the country became Nazi at some point.
2: yes if you take in account the number of troops that Belgium had and his equipment ,that wasn't really suited fore a blitzkrieg , we did stand against the invading army for 18 long day's. Also some battle's like at the canal Mechelen - Leuven and around Gent where thy earned the respect of the German army and don't forget the fort at tancremont that only surrender after that the rest of the field army had laid down there weapons
In the resistance where many groups that provided intelligence and also armed resistance like the group G who destroyed the complete electric high tension network and the power cut was even noticed in the Ruhr. The resistance was also very good in the anti-propaganda best known by the false Le Soir.

Answer 3

At no point Belgium became Nazi.

What is true is that many Flemish guys went to "help the Germans against communism". The reason for the enthusiasm to do so, is that under the table it was promised by Germany it would help Flanders to become independent.

Families of these guys are still known as "Black families" and many of them are still stripped off their rights (of pension or scholarship) until today.

The overal majority of Belgians just underwent the war. The country is an artificially created one, without too much of a nationalistic feeling, being used to switching invaders every 50 years or so, and it seemed this was just another one and a new language that needed to be learned.

What Belgium can be very proud of is the survival of the greatest part of its jewish inhabitants. Holland had Anne Frank and a reputation of saviour of the jews, but it was in Belgium that so many families silently led jewish children through the war and the jewish community is still thriving.

Answer 4

To the best of my knowledge, no and no. Belgium was used to invade France during WWI and II. In fact it was called the rape of Belgium, because they were neutral and Germany forced the war upon them when them invaded and took control. I think that your thinking of France and Holland. They both had very strong underground movements. Belgium never had a major role during the war except for the fact that it shocked the world when a openly neutral country is invaded and used as a war front by another country.

Answer 5

Charlie (see above) pretty much got it right. The Germans blew through Belgium to run around the French defenses.

Answer 6

Belgium was a doormat that the Nazis wiped their feet.