National Content: Belgium
Tragedy has begun !
| Source | « La Gazette de Liège » n°203, the 1st of September 1939, P. 1, 2, 3 |
| Event referred to | September 1st,1939 : Nazi’s invasion of Poland |
| Technological characteristics | Type of file: Image Extension : pdf Characteristics Dimension of the files: <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: full availability |
| Contextualisation of the source | “La Gazette de Liège” has been started in 1840 on the initiative of Corneille Van Bommel, bishop of Liège from 1829 till 1852. He entrusts Joseph Demarteau with the responsibility of the newspaper. Ultraconservative newspaper, close to the bishopric, it is absorbed by “La Libre Belgique” in 1967, but “La Gazette de Liège” always remains a regional edition. |
| Interpretation of the source | The first page is dedicated to two main events, the invasion of Poland as well as the explosion of the double bridge of Val Benoît. On pages 2 and 3, we can read declarations from Hitler, from the Gauleiter of Dantzig and from the Polish President. The unidentified author of this article, draws a parallel between the event of this 1st of September and the beginning of World War I. He expresses a feeling of powerlessness. The fact that Warsaw was bombed without ultimatum is underlined. The Gazette de Liège globally remains neutral, publishing press releases of the different staffs and of the concerned governments. Nevertheless the responsibility of Germany is pointed. In other articles, we can feel that keeping the country out of war is considered as essential. In that respect, the newspaper does not miss to thank King Leopold III and his willing to vouch for Belgium independence. The army is presented as able to protect Belgium. |
| Original Contents | L’invasion de la Pologne est qualifiée «d’ agression d’un fort contre un faible (comme il y a 25 ans )». Le sentiment qu’un événement catastrophique vient de se produire est exprimé par « Dieu prenne en pitié notre pauvre Europe et protège la Belgique ». Une brève de l’agence Havas énonce le fait que « la Pologne était décidée à suivre le conseil franco-britannique d’envoyer un plénipotentiaire à Berlin mais le reich ne lui en a pas laissé le temps ». |
| Original Contents (English Translation) | The invasion of Poland is qualified as “ the aggression from a strong country against a weak one (as 25 years ago)”. The feeling that a catastrophic event has just happened is expressed by the sentence “God pity our poor Europe and protect Belgium”. A short news from Havas agency says that “Poland has decided to follow the Franco-British advices : sending a plenipotentiary in Berlin, but the Reich does not let it the time to do it”. |