Heroes, collaborators and veterans: the Belgian drama with its darkest past

Netflix has just added a new film called Will to its collection. Set in Antwerp in the 1940s, the movie is based on a book by Jeroen Olyslaegers and follows two police officers struggling to balance their allegiance to the Resistance with their obligations to the Gestapo during the occupation. Belgium, a country with a complex history of spies, traitors, and exiles, still finds it difficult to openly discuss this dark period.

The country is no stranger to complicit leaders who either remained in Belgium or sought refuge in Latin America or Spain, like infamous figure Leon Degrelle. Shockingly, there have been cases of individuals who received pensions from the Nazis for their services to the Third Reich and continue to do so. Tragically, half of Belgium’s Jewish population was exterminated during the Holocaust, leaving behind a painful legacy.

Recently, a debate emerged in Flanders regarding amnesty for those who collaborated with Hitler’s regime, prompting the then Minister of Justice to stir controversy by suggesting that it might be time to “forget” about collaborationism. This sparked outrage and debates about the importance of facing and learning from the past.

In 2024, Belgium will commemorate various significant anniversaries. One heartwarming story that gained attention is the fundraising campaign led by Randy Buelens to bring World War II veteran Chester Sloan, known as Buck, to Europe for the celebrations of the Normandy landings. Despite being seriously wounded in the Ardennes, Buck, who turns 100 on June 1, wanted to participate and bid farewell to the historic event.

Another remarkable publication that has recently been released is Following the Footprints by Jean de Selys Longchamps. Authored by Marc Audrit, this biography delves into the life of a baron who transformed from a posh and carefree young man into a national hero after the invasion. Serving in the British air force, the baron and his companion successfully attacked a railway line near Ghent and returned to Brussels, defying orders. Flying over key Nazi-held locations, they targeted the Gestapo headquarters, resulting in the deaths of four Nazis, including a high-ranking SS officer responsible for deporting thousands of Jews to Auschwitz.

Although the pilot and his team were hailed as heroes and received medals, the baron tragically lost his life in another operation months later. Despite the countless stories and legends surrounding De Selys Longchamps, it is surprising that it took 80 years for his definitive biography to be written. Belgium, a nation lacking in mythical heroes, should pay more homage to its recent ones, beyond a few busts and faded memories.