National Content: Belgium
First evaluation about the bombing on Brussels
| Source | « La Légia », the 9th of September 1943, Front page |
| Event referred to | Cities Bombing during World War II |
| Technological characteristics | Type of file: Image Extension : pdf Characteristics Dimension of the file: 1920 Ko Availability proposed: pdf document with zoom options |
| Description of the source | Kind of source: Daily newspaper Origin of the source: Archives of the National Library of Belgium, Brussels Language: French Copyright issues: reproduction and pedagogical exploitation authorized in the framework of the MHM project |
| Contextualisation of the source | « La Légia » is a daily newspaper published from 25th May 1940 till 1st September 1944, and pressed at the newspaper “La Meuse” which was sequestered by the German authorities. In the occupied Belgium, “La Légia” is a newspaper of propaganda which reflects the political and military points of view of the German occupant. |
| Interpretation of the source | On the same front page, in the same article, the author adds : “105 dead and 125 seriously wounded persons in Gand”. This article is illustrated by a photo of a seriously hit building. The aim is evident : to move the readers against the Allies. The description is precise and written in an elegant and literary style. On pages down, in order to increase hostility against the Allies, the author briefly mentions other Allies air raids on towns of France and Germany, giving precise numbers of killed and wounded persons. |
| Original Contents | |
| Original Contents (English Translation) | More than 200 dead and more than 500 seriously wounded persons. The first evaluations about Brussels bombing by Anglo-American air force are getting to be known. The victims number is evaluated with more than 200 dead including 182 in the principal reached district and more than 500 wounded persons. It is possible that these figures still undergo some modifications, until the clearing completion.
In addition, the number of the entirely destroyed houses reached around 118, 146 houses were seriously damaged, 410 more slightly and 566 suffered one way or another of the bombing effects. |