Euregio map

World War II in the Euregio

By Marble12
  • Period: to

    WWII in the Euregio, War Memories

  • foundation of Vlaams Nationaal Verbond (VNV)

    founder: Staf de Clercq

  • German troops return to Rhineland

  • Leopold III speech on foreign policy

  • Agreement in principle (beginselakkoord) between KVV (Katholieke Vlaamsche Volkspartij) and VNV

  • British-French declaration to support Belgium in case of aggression

  • Belgian prime minister Spaak rejects French request to let their troops cross

  • Belgian army partly mobilized

  • Secret contract between Rex and VNV

    Secret contract between Rex and VNV (opposition parties in parliament) to bring government down >> very instable political situation

  • Belgian parliament approves of foreign policy

  • Declaration of Archbishop

    Declaration of Archbishop of Mechelen Jozef-Ernest Van Roey on Rex and leader Leon Degrelle

  • Belgian government insists that it is not in contact with foreign military entities

  • Opening Albertkanaal

    The Albertkanaal (Julianakannaal in 1934) is built after some negotiations between Belgium and the Netherlands.

  • Germany confirms Belgian borders as long as Belgium sticks to neutrality

  • Germany attacks Poland/ Begin of WWII

  • emergency landing of German pilots in Belgium, Maasmechelen

    plans about upcoming attack are found

  • Start of the offensive on Belgium

    Invasion - Fall Gelb/ 18-days-campaign
    Bridges of Veldwezelt and Vroenhoven fall

  • Bloedbad van Vinkt

    frontline along Schipdonkkanaal, artillery barrage

  • The Battle of France starts (Westfeldzug)

    German invation of the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg (Fall Gelb) and France (Fall Rot) from 10.May - 25. June 1940.
  • Battle of Maastricht

    Battle of Maastricht

    An attempt by the German troops to take over the brides over the Maas and keep them intact in order to get to France. The operation begins in the morning. German soldiers disguise themselves as Dutch civilians and attmpt to fight the Dutch guards on the bridges, but are found and shot. During the battle German soldiers try to invade Maastricht, all of the bridges are destroyed. In the evening the Dutch capitulate.
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    Westfeldzug

    Military campaign in Netherlands, Belgium and France. Ends with the request for ceasefire in Compiègne, France

  • the fort of Eben-Emael is taken by the German army

  • German army enters centre of Liège

  • The Netherlands capitulate

  • Slag om Leuven

    bombardment by Stukas, defense by British troops, Germans destroy university library, British back out

  • Capitulation of king Leopold II of Belgium

  • Limburg is under the occupation of Germany.

  • East Cantons(Eupen, Malmedy and Sankt-Vith) are annexed to Germany

    East Cantons(Eupen, Malmedy and Sankt-Vith) are annexed to Germany

  • First record of Jews in the city of Liège and its region

  • Concentration of Jewish population in 4 cities of Belgium

    Liège, Antwerp, Charleroi, Brussels

  • First deportation to Germany

    114 political prisoners from the fort of Huy

  • Establishment of the local AJB in Liège

    Association des Juifs de Belgiques

  • Obligation to wear the Jewish star

    in Liège

  • SS Sammellager Mechelen

    Barracks of Dossin de Saint-Georges become SS Sammellager Mechelen, gathering point to deport Jews from Belgium

  • Work camps

    Work camps with russian forced labourers in the coal mines of Limburg: Genk and its parts: Beringen, Zwartberg, Eisden, Winterslag, Waterschei, Zolder, Houthalen
    – later then: camp for German prisoners of war

  • First arrest and deportation of Jews in Liège

  • Establishment of a catholic network to conceal Jews

    in teh region of Liège

  • Separate schools for Jewish pupils

    Liège

  • Belgium is liberated, mostly by Canadians, Polish, British and Americans

  • April-May strikes in the Netherlands

    The German occupiers decided that ex-soldiers and young men had to go to Germany for forced labor, violent protests started. The April-May strikes lasted until the 5-6 of May. They were oppressed with aggressive violence.
  • Creation of the resistance network "Landelijke Organisatie voor Hulp aan Onderduikers" in Limburg

    Creation of the resistance network "Landelijke Organisatie voor Hulp aan Onderduikers" in Limburg

    A whole hideout-network (Landelijke Organisatie voor Hulp aan Onderduikers) was created by Kaplan Jac Naus and Jan Hendrikx. On 21. June 1944 the “Sicherheitspolizei” (security police) discovers the organization, many refugees die in German concentration camps.
  • "Zwarte vrijdag" in Maastricht

    "Zwarte vrijdag" in Maastricht

    Three weeks before the liberation American bombers fly over Maastricht with the aim to bomb the railway bridge in order to cut the escape way for the German soldiers, who want to flee to Aachen. However, most bombs do not hit the bridge, but two areas of the city: the 'Roed Dörrep' and the 'Krejje Dörrep'. Around 100 people from Maastricht and around 20 German soldiers die, the whole area is destroyed, many people become homeless.

  • Liberation of the city of Liège by American army

  • Belgian government returns from exile in London

  • American troops crossed the border north of Trier

  • American troops crossed Siegfried line near Aachen

    American troops crossed Siegfried line near Aachen

  • Maastricht is the first Dutch city liberated by the American allies

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    Battle of Aachen

  • Liberation of South-Limburg

    After some bombings Kerkrade was liberated and thereby the South of Limburg was free.
  • Aachen is captured by the allies as first German city

    Aachen is captured by the allies as first German city

  • Start of Battle of Hürtgen forest along the Siegfried line

    Start of Battle of Hürtgen forest along the Siegfried line

    -> Largest American defeat in Germany
  • Period: to

    Battle of the Hürtgen Forrest

  • Massacre of Malmedy

    Massacre of Malmedy

  • End of battle of Hürtgen Forest

    End of battle of Hürtgen Forest

  • Bombs continue to fall on the city of Liège until this date