Bruxelles, ville libérée (1944-1945)

In the evening of 3 September 1944, Brussels is a liberated city.

In the preceding days, there was already a lot of joy in the city while the last remaining collaborators became more desparate. The Germans fled in the greatest confusion. On 4 September, the streets of the capital were filled with enthusiastic crowds, even though the war in Europe would only end on 8 May 1945.

How did the people of Brussels live through that period? Which photos still remain of that era ? What do these pictures tell us about the last months of Brussels at war and about the confusing period that followed? What do they tell us about war photography in  general?
Based on the rich collections of the Centre for War and Contemporary Society (State Archives in Belgium) as well as collections kept in other Belgian and foreign institutions or collections of private individuals, Chantal Kesteloot and Bénédicte Rochet give us an illustrated history of Brussels in 1944-1945.

In addition to giving these pictures their correct context, they also look through the lens of photographers - professionals and amateurs - who captured the lesser-known aspects of life in the capital. As such, the photograph becomes a mature and legitimate historical source.

An illustrated history of the liberation of Brussels