National Content: Belgium
Message of the burgomaster of Liège to his fellow citizens
| Source | « La Meuse » n°206, the 4th of September 1939, P.1, 3. |
| Event referred to | September 1st,1939 : Nazi’s invasion of Poland |
| Technological characteristics | Type of file: Image Extension : pdf Characteristics Dimension of the file: < 2000 Ko Availability proposed: pdf document with zoom options |
| Description of the source | Kind of source: Daily newspaper Origin of the source: Archives of the University of Liège (Belgium) Language: French Copyright issues: reproduction and pedagogical exploitation authorized in the framework of the MHM project |
| Contextualisation of the source | « La Meuse » is a French-speaking popular newspaper. Started in 1855, this daily of neutral trend was edited in Liege and has six regional editions. It is an opened place for the local information. This newspaper uses typographic and lay out processes based on headnotes and numerous pictures. It is read by all classes. In 1967, 180.000 copies of this newspaper were published. (J. GOL, Le monde de la presse en Belgique, édition du Centre de Recherche et d’Information socio-politiques – CRISP- 1970) |
| Interpretation of the source | The first page proposes an events chronology of the very last days, the burgomaster’s communique as well as seven pictures. One picture shows the people of Liège listening to the news broadcasted by the radio, the other ones concern the lines of defense (Maginot, Siegfried) and the safety precautions in England. The catastrophe of Val Benoît (explosion of the double bridge) is associated with the international situation. The message of the burgomaster is however reassuring. |
| Original Contents | « La population donne l’exemple du sang-froid et de la confiance.(…) Elle doit, au surplus, être convaincue que si les événements l’exigeaient, l’armée belge est prête (…) l’autorité civile veille et prend les mesures propres à garantir la sécurité et le ravitaillement de chacun. » Le titre de l’article, page 3, est optimiste : « La cavalerie polonaise a repris deux villes et pénétré en Allemagne » . |
| Original Contents (English Translation) |