World War II newspapers

In this section, we offer 71 newspapers dating from the period of the Second World War. On some issues, it is mainly the time period that marks the end of the war that is covered.

La lanterne of 19 December 1944

In this paper you read …
how the Germans are preparing an offensive off Malmédy, but that a front of 100 Allied divisions is waiting for them;
that Londoners are always on time for their lunch;
that Brussels is the most popular city for British soldiers on leave for a few days;
That the Congo contributed greatly to the victory;
That Jules L’host editor of ‘Nouveau Journal’ was given a life sentence,

La lanterne of 08 May 1945

In this paper you will read …
how Germany surrenders unconditionally; how Czechoslovakia still continues to fight; the performance of the leading generals from Russia, France, Britain and the United States ; how Eisenhower sees the end of the war

La lanterne of 08 October 1945

In this newspaper you read …
On freedom of the press being restricted;
will the Soviet Union align itself with the Americans;
Minister Spaak’s speech;
the transfer of Rudolf Hess from England to Germany;
football; leader Mechelen plays against Beerschot;

La lanterne of 22 June 1946

In this paper you will read …
about M.Gutt’s mission in the United States; about MM. Van Cauwelaert, Gillon and Ganshof Van der Mersch going to Salzbourg; about women’s suffrage; about the question of the continued existence of the Kingdom of Belgium; about the end of hostilities on Okinawa

La libre Belgique of 13 November 1939

In this newspaper you will read …
about the ‘verrussing’ of Poland; about Queen Wilhelmina and King Leopold III’s reply to Germany; about the British working at the front in France; about the Americans bringing Paris out of its lethargy; about the use of luminous bullets; about the destruction of the bridges over the Rhine

La libre Belgique of 03 September 1944

On gratitude towards our liberators, General Eisenhower, General Montgomery and Admiral Ramsay; an account of the Allies’ arrival in Brussels;

La libre Belgique of 06 September 1944

In this newspaper you will read …
about Belgium being free and the tributes to the Allies; about M. Van de Meulebroeck’s speech; about General Eisenhower’s message to the people of Belgium and Luxembourg; about the first session of the Brussels College of Aldermen; about supplies;

La libre Belgique of 07 September 1944

on some post-war misgivings; on the Belgian secret army; on financial measures and the rejection of banknote reprinting; the triumph of the Allies in the capital; on that Sweden will not grant asylum to war criminals; on the Germans’ knowledge of English;

La libre Belgique of 08 September 1944

In this newspaper you will read …
about civilisation in Europe; about Montgomery at Brussels town hall; about General Falkenhausen facing the firing squad; about the liberation of Leuven, an eyewitness account; about our means of production and transport; about the 300,000 prisoners in Belgium; about the courthouse in Brussels being beheaded;

La libre Belgique of 09 September 1944

on civic duty imposing itself in every class; on British troops reaching the Albert Canal; on the epic defence of the bridge at Dendermonde by Liberation volunteers; on counters during the occupation; on the battle for London being won;

La libre Belgique of September 10, 1944

In this newspaper you will read …
about the first tentative economic prospects; about the government resuming its activities; about the suspension of ‘the great Brussels’ idea of the occupying forces; about Namur being liberated; about the assassination of M. Galopin; about the prosecution of the traitors

La libre Belgique of September 13, 1944

In this paper you will read …
about the attitude of the Catholic University of Leuven during the occupation;
the new governor of Brabant;
a reflection on the importance of this war and the need for profound reforms;
that the military hospital still housed 1150 Germans, including 859 wounded;
on the Germans’ fantastic air raid on the petroleum refineries;
That the front is now on German soil;

La libre Belgique of September 14, 1944

In this paper you will read …
about the return of parliament;
near Eupen, American troops enter Germany;
Malmédy, Bastogne, Bruges, Lokeren and Sint-Niklaas are liberated;
on the war in the air;
measures for the start of the school year
power over the sea;

La libre Belgique of September 16, 1944

In this newspaper you will read …
about national common sense; about the borders of the German Empire being broken in two places; about the horrors in the Verviers region; about the murder of the deputy D. Horrent; about the problem of supplies; about a meeting of the left-wing Liberals;

La libre Belgique of September 21, 1944

In this newspaper you read …
about Minister Pierlot’s report on the activities of the government in exile, the government in London has saved the essential;
the speech of Mr Van Cauwelaert, and Mr Gillon;
the social tension;
the Belgians in Germany;
Minister Pierlot giving an account to the united Chambers;

La libre Belgique of 29 October 1944

In this newspaper you will read …
on planned economy and democracy; in the Netherlands, the Allies occupied Tilburg and invaded Bergen-Bergen-op-Zoom; on General Erskine’s message pointing out the duty of each with the prospect of victory; on financial measures; on refugees in the Netherlands;

La libre Belgique of 31 October 1944

In this paper you read …
about everyone having to work to achieve victory; about the Germans having to retreat in Holland to behind the Meuse; about M.Gutt giving a speech on the radio; about the 30th anniversary of the Battle of the Yser; about the survivors of Breendonk; about M. Van de Meulebroeck and the Brussels press;

La libre Belgique of 01 November 1944

In this newspaper you will read …
about the achievements of the Prince Regent in the R.A.F.;
In Holland, Rosendaal and Oosterhout were liberated;
M. de Laveleye on teaching staff and the education of youth;
in memory of three policemen from Jette;
problems with gas supplies in Brussels;

La libre Belgique of 01 May 1945

In this newspaper you will read …
about the battle for Antwerp; about gunmen against robots; about Hitler reportedly dying on Sunday; German disarray in Italy; the meeting of US and Russian troops at the front; about the dishonourable death of Mussolini; about the Buchenwald camp; about the elections in France

La libre Belgique of 07 May 1945

In this newspaper you read …
about Germany collapsing completely; about Europe being virtually liberated; that Norway is still occupied; about Doenitz allegedly surrendering unconditionally; the founding of the Social Christian Party; the Belgian resistance is honoured; M. Eyskens explains the system of the new tax economy

La libre Belgique of 08 May 1945

In this newspaper you read …
About Germany having surrendered;
the presentation of the heroes of the war;
how the victory will be celebrated in Brussels and Antwerp;
there is peace again in Europe;
the stages to reach peace;
the question of the king;
honour to our prisoners;
On Churchill announcing victory;

La libre Belgique of 09 May 1945

In this newspaper you will read …
about the Belgian king and the princes and princesses who are liberated; V-day the announcement of victory; about the cabinet council; Degrelle is arrested in San-Sébastian in Spain; about ten million German prisoners

La libre Belgique of 12 May 1945

In this paper you will read …
on the economic consequences of the war for Europe; Real peace is obtained only when one respects all peoples; On the Prince Regent awaiting the King’s return; Henlein commits suicide; Goering is a prisoner of the Americans; The demonstration of the Independence Front in Brussels;

La libre Belgique of 22 June 1946

In this paper you will read …
about M.Gutt’s mission in the United States; about MM. Van Cauwelaert, Gillon and Ganshof Van der Mersch going to Salzbourg; about women’s suffrage; about the question of the continued existence of the Kingdom of Belgium; about the end of hostilities on Okinawa

La libre Belgique of 18 June 1945

In this newspaper you will read …
about the political unrest in Belgium, the showdown between the parties; the resignation of the government; M.Herinckx declares Brabant’s loyalty to the king; the responsibility of the Liberals; the truth about the famous telegram; what is happening in Spain in the meantime;

La libre Belgique of 08 October 1945

In this newspaper you will read …
about the return of Minister Spaak;
Another government stunt;
Japan has a new prime minister;
M. Van Acker speaks threatening language;
at the Flemish theatre a performance of tribute to the king;
M.Byrnes criticises methods used by Russians in London;

La libre Belgique of 13 November 1945

In this newspaper you will read …
about civility in times of war;
the king handed over his files to Mr Van Acker;
the Senate debate on the king’s issue ends Monday evening;
women’s right to vote;
four nuns who escaped the atomic bomb

La libre Belgique of 16 November 1945

In this paper you will read …
about Churchill’s boisterous welcome to Brussels; the reception at the royal academy; the right pushed into oposition; Mr Bevin’s statements further widened the gap between the Jewish world and the British government;

La nation Belge of 06 September 1944

In this newspaper you will read …
about the exuberant enthusiasm with which the Belgian people welcome the soldiers and Allies; the Brussels mayor takes back possession of City Hall; the military operations on all fronts in Europe;

La nation Belge of 07 September 1944

In this paper you will read …
about M.Gutt’s speech; about the second day after the liberation in Brussels; an overview of all the fighting in Europe; about national unity; about false facts and that we should be careful with them; the hunt for collaborators;

La nation Belge of 08 September 1944

In this paper you will read …
about the battle of Paris; Belgian radio is back on air; about how MM. Pierlot and Spaak defected to England four years ago; in Germany the revolution growls; the rationing of bread already soon to be adjusted to 400 grams; about those who fled:

La nation Belge of 09 September 1944

In this newspaper you will read …
about Bernard Montgomery; about the financial decisions; without news from the king; a statement by M. Pierlot and by General Eisenhower to the Belgian people; Bulgaria declares war on Germany; about the victims of the liberation; no class mobilisation;

La nation Belge of 10 September 1944

In this newspaper you will read …
about a communication from the chief of the Belgian mission for civil affairs to the press; the clean-up of Walloon Brabant continues; Antwerp is liberated; about the enemy’s friends; about the views on civic duty;

La nation Belge of 12 September 1944

In this paper you will read …
about experiences before the execution squad, an interview with a military cleric;
the secret army during the war;
about a thanksgiving mass on Brussels’ Grand Place before the end of the war;
how the liberation of Liège went;
on the failed attempt on Hitler;
on the capture of the ‘traitors of the UN and Rex at Henri-Chapelle;

La nation Belge of 13 September 1944

In this newspaper you will read …
about day and night flights; the question of delegating power; the Allies penetrate the German Empire; about the Russians occupying Romania; about the Belgian brigade in the service of the fatherland; M. van Zeeland arrives in Brussels; about Roosevelt and Churchill hold a conference in Quebec;

La nation Belge of 14 September 1944

In this paper you will read …
about the opinion that Germany must be dealt with harshly; about our supplies; the Allies control a 100-kilometre front; about the eastern front; Mons relives its freedom; about the horrors the Germans inflicted in Luxembourg; the railways work again;

La nation Belge of 17 September 1944

In this newspaper you will read …
about Kortrijk as a martyr city;
the Siegfried line was broken;
the punishments for traitors;
the shortage of paper;
the liberation of Ronse;
the cabinet meeting;

La nation Belge of 21 September 1944

In this newspaper you will read …
about the return of parliament on Wednesday.
the tribute to the liberators of the fatherland;
the rapid progress of the British in Holland;
the Americans approaching Cologne;
In Hasselt, torture cellars were discovered in the Hechtel ruins;

La nation Belge of 22 September 1944

In this newspaper you will read …
about Prince Charles regent of Belgium, he will take the oath on Thursday; the fight for the bridges over the Rhine is already as violent as the fighting at Caen; about Prince Bernard’s return to the Netherlands and his solemn welcome; about the clean-up in Brussels;

La nation Belge of 29 December 1944

In this newspaper you will read …
about Léon Degrelle was sentenced to death, a ruling by the Brussels War Council; the Germans’ counteroffensive was averted; the enemy sets fire to the war materiel and retreats behind the Sieffried Line; in Greece, Churchill escapes an attack; M. Lloyd George retires from politics;

La nation Belge of 31 December 1944

In this newspaper you read …
about the enemy about to be surrounded in the Ardennes west of the Manhay-Bastogne road;
That the country must recover;
30,000 tonnes of bombs were dropped on the enemy in ten days;
in Budapest the Germans explode all bridges over the Danube;
about Von Rundstedt on the eve of the encirclement;

La nation Belge of 06 May 1945

In this newspaper you will read …
about the German armies surrendering in the Netherlands, Denmark in the N-E of the German Empire; about the Americans entering Linz and Pilsen; about a million prisoners; about the last days of the war;

La nation Belge of 05 September 1945

In this newspaper you will read …
about the Americans in the realm of the setting sun and whether East and West will understand each other; about the first anniversary of Belgium’s liberation; about the schools that will reopen on 24 September; about the ambassador’s daughter who threw herself out of a window;

La nation Belge of 17 November 1945

In this paper you will read …
about Churchill giving Brussels great days and experiencing them himself;
about the country’s financial situation;
about the secret of the production of the atomic bomb;
was the blonde Uschi, daughter of Hitler and Eva Braun;
about General De Gaulle rejecting his mandate as head of government;

Le soir of 07 January 1943

In this newspaper you will read …
about the various military operations under way ; about real strength ; about an admitted opinion on the American white paper ; about the French government soon to be back in Paris ; about the story of the prisoners ; about the price of coal;

Le soir of 14 March 1944

In this newspaper you read …
about Dr Petiot who allegedly made 27 Parisians disappear; about Dutch being in danger; about the fighting in the east continuing with the same ferocity; about strange occurrences concerning drugs; about the negotiations between Spain and the Allies;

Le soir of 16 March 1944

In this newspaper you will read …
about the Belgian coteries; about the Finnish parliament rejecting Moscow’s conditions for armistice; about the Russians attacking northern Dubno; about the era of the educators, testimonies about today’s France; about France being able to breathe again;

Le soir of 24 March 1944

In this newspaper you read …
about the major economic problems that may be expected such as agricultural self-sufficiency; about the German troops still resisting on Monte Cassino; about the bombing of La Louvière; about Mr Hull’s 17 points;

Le soir of 06 September 1944

In this newspaper you will read …
about Brussels enthusiastically welcoming the Belgian and Allied troops; about the fact that the population is free; about Hitlerian banditry; about the arrival of the Belgian brigade; about M. Van de Meulebroeck arguing that we should not forget to punish the traitors without mercy;

Le soir of 20 February 1945

In this newspaper you will read …
about two armoured armies are ready to attack the defences of Berlin; about the Americans disembarking on the Japanese island of Iwojima; about the Canadians and Scots fighting battles at Goch;

Le soir of 07 May 1945

In this newspaper you will read …
about Germany’s surrender on Monday at 2:41am; about Admiral Donitz ordering German troops to surrender; about the battle continuing in Czechoslovakia; about the tenors of the end of the war;

Le soir of 17 August 1945

In this newspaper you will read …
about Japan’s surrender and the signing of the act of surrender on board the Admiral; about Hiro-Hito settling down; the joy in the capitals; about Pétain being sentenced to death for high treason;

Le soir of 07 May 1945

In this newspaper you read …
about the demonstration of the independence front;
when the chains of Europe will fall off;
the arrival of the Piron Brigade in Brussels;
14 new ministers of state;
prisoners thank the liberators at the South Station;
a pictorial account of the liberation of Brussels;

Le quotidien of 26 March 1945

In this newspaper you will read …
about the ideology of peace; about the last convulsions of war; about the first Belgian war prisoners returning; the war from the coast to the Ardennes; about how to rebuild the country;

Le quotidien of March 28, 1945

In this newspaper you read …
about the German empire collapsing; about a lot of tanks crossing the Rhine; about what the English are being fed; about the unrest over whether coal will still be able to be obtained; about the Second World War in the Congo; about the war materiel after the war;

Le quotidien of 07 May 1945

In this newspaper you will read …
about the story of the Nazi monster defeated and glory to all freedom fighters; about the tenors of victory; about the world changed; about five years of occupation;

Le quotidien of 09 May 1945

In this newspaper you will read …
about the Belgian people learning of the release of their king; about Winston Churchill officially inaugurating peace; about Prince Charles; about life in Belgium after the war; about a miraculous demonstration in front of the Royal Palace;

Le quotidien of September 03, 1945

In this newspaper you will read …
about Japan signing its surrender; about President Truman’s speech; about how the Allies liberated Brussels with the help of the resistance; about the eighteenth circuit of Dinant won by Edouard Peeters; about the civil servants who were sacrificed;

Le nouveau journal of 30 June 1943

In this newspaper you will read …
about Spain and the Anlo-Americans; will there still be vegetables; about how Cologne Cathedral was damaged by Anglo-American bombing; about the avatars of Anglophilia; about political and military events;

Le nouveau journal of September 15, 1943

In this newspaper you read …
about Rome being without a monarch an the return of the Duce; about the inevitable collaboration of the police and of the judiciary; Salerno is the Dunkirk of Italy; about how Mussolini could be liberated; about a nonsensical war; about the evacuation of Briansk;

Le nouveau journal of 02 September 1944

In this newspaper you will read …
about the attitude of Bulgaria; about the long-range coastal batteries constantly bombarding southern England; about the battles gradually approaching Belgium; about Amiens and Verdun liberated by the Allies; about the meaning of the war according to Berlin

Le courrier de l’Escaut of 25 December 1940

In this newspaper you read …
about the German and Italian communiqués; about what is happening in the world; about the reorganisation of the ‘consiel d’Etat’ in France; about Saint-Martin Abbey;

Le courrier de l’Escaut of 16 May 1945

In this newspaper you will read …
about the affected parishes; about the truth about the 1940 surrender of Belgium; about the military operations; about the Prince Regent who returned; about Molotov who returned to Moscow;

Front of 04 semptember 1944

In this newspaper you will read …
about liberated Belgium cheering on the Allied armies; about the war continuing; about the independence front; about Charles de Gaulle; about M. Delfosse’s fears;

Front of 23 September 1945

In this newspaper you will read …
about the assassin Degrelle having to answer for a reconciliation; the first congress of the regional section of the Independence Front; about the Gestapo’s friends turning films on the resistance; about 200,000 suspects to be tried in the Netherlands;

Eendracht / l’Union from June ??

In this paper you will read …
about Leopold III, a page of history; about the purge, the daily order of the NROS; about the infantry celebration; about the war invalids; about Congo; about the civil service corps; about ‘we want to stay Belgians’;

La cité nouvelle of 23 June 1945

In this newspaper you will read …
about whether Leopold III will renounce to stay on the throne; about Léon Degrelle’s wife being arrested in Brussels; about racism in the financial administration; about the fact that travelling shapes youth; about neiew trains to go on holiday;

La métropole of 08 May 1945

In this newspaper you will read …
about the final peace in Europe; about Belgium placed for the future; about the return of King Leopold III; about the distribution of war damage; about how the Allies will rule Germany; about politics and parties;

Le pays réel of 20 May 1941
German-leaning newspaper

In this newspaper you will read …
about Wery being murdered in Abbeville; about the new king of Croatia; about the memory of the Abbeville massacre; about 460 miners who could have work; about Léon Degrelle giving a speech in Namur about Belgium’s role in the future Europe;

Daily Express of 09 May 1945

In this newspaper you read …
about the end of the war and that it was the finest day; about thousands cheering in Whitehall; about the king rejoicing with the people; about the final surrender that lasted only five minutes; about Churchill joining the king on the balcony;

Paris-soir of 22 January 1944

In this paper you will read …
about a German edition of Paris-soir about the battle of Anzio as part of a 1972 film