Description
In the autumn of 1944, Belgium was liberated at lightning speed. Yet Allied troops continued to dominate much of Belgian society until late 1945. Peter Schrijvers' revisionist account reveals that during that time, strong currents of discontent began to build beneath the waves of gratitude and admiration. Chronic shortages of food and coal, rampant venereal disease, and deteriorating discipline led the Belgian population to lament 'from the liberators, oh Lord, liberate us'. Despite all this, however, the countries and cultures that the Anglo-American troops represented still exerted substantial attraction and influence, causing them to have a lingering impact on Belgian society in ways that would set the tone for the remainder of the turbulent twentieth century. Using newly discovered material from the Belgian state security archives as well as testimonies of the liberated, this book vividly reconstructs the largely unknown history of Belgium's liberation era.
A revisionist account of the social, economic, and cultural impact of the Anglo-American liberators on Belgian society.
About the Author
Peter Schrijvers is Senior Lecturer at the University of New South Wales in Sydney. He is the author of The Crash of Ruin: American Combat Soldiers in Europe during World War II (1998), The GI War against Japan: American Soldiers in Asia and the Pacific during World War II (2002) and The Unknown Dead: Civilians in the Battle of the Bulge (2005).
Reviews
'... a different and revealing view ... an important key to a better understanding of postwar Belgium.' La Libre Belgique
'As powerful as it is nuanced.' De Morgen
'Schrijvers brings to life the sights, sounds, and in particular the smells and tastes of the past ... an excellent book.' The Times Literary Supplement
'A riveting and important book.' American Historical Review
'A pioneering work.' Vingtieme Siecle
'Highly recommended.' Military Review
'Enjoyable reading. A perspective rarely seen.' The International History Review
Book Information
ISBN 9780521735575
Author Peter Schrijvers
Format Paperback
Page Count 358
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 570g
Dimensions(mm) 228mm * 152mm * 17mm
A revisionist account of the social, economic, and cultural impact of the Anglo-American liberators on Belgian society.
About the Author
Peter Schrijvers is Senior Lecturer at the University of New South Wales in Sydney. He is the author of The Crash of Ruin: American Combat Soldiers in Europe during World War II (1998), The GI War against Japan: American Soldiers in Asia and the Pacific during World War II (2002) and The Unknown Dead: Civilians in the Battle of the Bulge (2005).
Reviews
'... a different and revealing view ... an important key to a better understanding of postwar Belgium.' La Libre Belgique
'As powerful as it is nuanced.' De Morgen
'Schrijvers brings to life the sights, sounds, and in particular the smells and tastes of the past ... an excellent book.' The Times Literary Supplement
'A riveting and important book.' American Historical Review
'A pioneering work.' Vingtieme Siecle
'Highly recommended.' Military Review
'Enjoyable reading. A perspective rarely seen.' The International History Review
Book Information
ISBN 9780521735575
Author Peter Schrijvers
Format Paperback
Page Count 358
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 570g
Dimensions(mm) 228mm * 152mm * 17mm
