La guerre secrète des espions belges, 1940-1944

The fruit of the author's doctoral thesis, this book is fundamental to better understand the functioning of intelligence networks but also and above all the perceptions of those who composed them in occupied Belgium.

Summer 1940. As in 1914, many pioneers involved in clandestine struggle turned to espionage.

The communication channels between the Belgian and the British authorities in London, which were essential for the efficiency of their endeavors, were initially almost non-existent. It would take many months for strong relationships to develop. In any case, dialogue would never be easy between women and men facing the difficulties and dangers of the field and those who were managing the undertaking in London.

Despite several blows of fate, the intelligence networks continuously worked on perfecting their techniques of collecting and reporting data in occupied Belgium for four years. On the eve of the D-Day landings of the allied troops, several thousand agents were in service and transformed Belgium into what was referred to by the then-Prime minister, Hubert Pierlot, to be a “glass house” for the Allies.

The book covers all these aspects. But its most original contribution is, undoubtedly, to succeed in making perceive through a very subtle analysis how these improvised spies of Zero, Luc-Marc, Clarence, Mill, Bayard, Tégal and many others manage on a daily basis the fight against the German police but also against fear, frustration, uncertainty or financial worries.

A fundamental book on the Résistance in Belgium during the Second World War