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The Witte Brigade, The White Brigade aka The Beggars Group (the first post-Liberation brigade) was a Belgian resistance group founded in the summer of 1940 in Antwerp by Marcel Louette who was nicknamed Fidelio.
The name was taken in opposition to the "Black Brigade", a group of Nazi collaborators led by SS-Untersturmführer, Reimond Tollenaere, who was responsible for the propaganda of the CNS. The resistance had its main base of operations in Antwerp but also had branches in Ghent, Lier, Aalst, Brussels, the Waasland, Wallonia and other small villages along the Belgian coastal region.
Activities edit
Major activities of the White Brigade were spreading anti-German propaganda, the creation and maintenance of lists of collaborators and organizing patriotic demonstrations on important Belgian dates such as July 21 (1831–Inauguration Day of Leopold I of Belgium, first king of the Belgians) and November 11 (End of the First Great World war). The resistance group published some 80 editions of its own propaganda newspaper called Always United - Flemish:Altejd Tegor, French: Unis Toujours. The Witte Brigade worked at obtaining military information about the port of Antwerp and uncovered a possible German invasion of England (see Operation Sea Lion). They assisted the Allied pilots returning to England from bombing runs into Germany. The White Brigade had connections with various intelligence agencies, including Luc, Bravery and the Zero Group. In addition, it was the only Belgian resistance group that had contacts with the Belgian government in exile and with the British government.
Members and arrests edit
Many members of the White Brigade were policemen. The police department of Deurne was strongly represented. In 1943, many members of the resistance group were arrested. When a prominent member was found with a list of 58 members, they were all arrested and sent to German workcamps. In a raid in Deurne in January 1944, 62 policemen were arrested. In the same year, May 9, the founder, Marcel Louette, was arrested and Oranienburg deported. Louette would eventually return from Germany and died in 1978. In total, the White Brigade suffered 400 losses and had 3,750 accredited members.
Achievements edit
Despite heavy losses, the White Brigade, along with the Secret Army, the Independence Front, the NKB and Group G (along with the Allies) safeguarded the almost untouched port of Antwerp from German conquest. The influence of the White Brigade in this regard was considerable and the brigades underground popularity increased among the populace. In addition to supporting the armed resistance, the OF was responsible for non-violent forms of resistance. The Solidarity Service was established, a structure for helping families of victims of the occupiers, led by Rosy Holender . Thousands of volunteers are committed to raising funds to distribute them to the family members of OR members who had fallen victim to the occupier.
- actively conducted propaganda.
- on commemorative days such as May10, July21 and November11, manifestations of descent such as hanging flags, depositing flowers at monuments and interrupting work.
- acted to prevent deportations to Germany for compulsory labor by concealing and supporting those who refused
- publication of leaflets to maintain resistant mind set.
- work slow downs
- smuggling of food products and flax to maintain hidden economies.
- assisitin in returned British pilots to France for return to England.
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Branches edit
The White Brigade had branches in the following Belgian and Holland cities:
References edit
http://nl.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Witte_Brigade&oldid=27786517