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Young men on the warpath

When the German army invaded Belgium in May 1940, 300,000 young men aged between 16 and 35 are ordered by the Belgian government to leave the country. Without knowing where to go nor for how long. Belgian authorities wanted to keep them out of reach of the enemy as future reserve soldiers. On foot, by bicycle or by train, these young people land in the north of France, driven out by the advance of the German army. Most have never been that far from home. They learn very quickly what war means: bombings, fear of death, endless streams of refugees...

Becoming an adult in three months

About half of these young people are quickly caught up by the enemy and do not get further than the Somme. The others are loaded onto trains to the south of France. There, they discover the pleasures of "la douce France": wine, French beauties and the delicious Summer heat. But there is also a flip side to the coin: they have to deal with boredom, hunger, illness and homesickness. They will never become soldiers.

The Past in retrospect

Fascinated by the journey of these Belgian reserve recruits, historians Karel Strobbe, Hans Boers and Peter Serrien retraced their steps 75 years later. It is the result of their journey and their investigations that is recounted in this book.

On the basis of testimonies, private diaries and other historical documents, they are bringing the forgotten war adventure of an entire generation back to life.

The journey of 300,000 young Belgian men on the roads of France at the beginning of the war