War. Occupation. Liberation.

On 8 May 2019, a new permanent exhibition on World War II was inaugurated at the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History/War Heritage Institute. This exhibition is accompanied by a catalog that looks at WWII from different angles. CegeSoma's researchers have largely contributed to it. The book is by no means a "battle-history"; on the contrary, it highlights various social, political and cultural aspects of the history of the Second World War. The latest research in the field is integrated through a number of authors who recently defended their doctoral dissertations related to a specific area of WWII history.

"Senior" authors from various universities and research institutions, such as CegeSoma, have also contributed. The book adopts a broad chronological perspective, which starts in the inter-war period, paying particular attention to the liberation and without forgetting the importance of memory. In addition, Belgium is placed in a broader international context, as evidenced by the contribution of the renowned British historian Richard Overy, which concludes the book.

A book for the general public

The book is aimed at a wide audience. All its (short) chapters take as their starting point a collectible item which is also shown in the exhibition. The book is richly illustrated, without however affecting its scientific accuracy: chapters are accompanied by a critical apparatus and a bibliography ends the book.

An ideal book for anyone looking for a readable and up-to-date overview of the impact of WWII on Belgian society