Wallonie Libre

Wallonie libre (French; literally "Free Wallonia") was a group within the Belgian Resistance during the German occupation of Belgium during World War II which subsequently became a small political party. Part of the Walloon Movement politically, its ideology became increasingly radical in the post-war period.

Wallonie libre originated as a pre-war political association in Brussels known as the Garde wallonne. It was heavily influenced by the radical Walloon Movement which supported the secession of Wallonia and its merger into France. Shortly after the Belgian surrender on 28 May, the group was re-formed to provide aid to the French who were still fighting Nazi Germany. The group claimed to have been founded on 18 June 1940 during the Garde's annual gathering on the battlefield of Waterloo. It was also inspired by the Charles de Gaulle's Appeal of 18 June, and chose their name as a counterpart to the Gaullist France libre.Wallonie libre is therefore sometimes credited as the earliest Belgian Resistance group. During the occupation, Wallonie libre produced an underground newspaper called La Wallonie Libre and another in Liege entitled Sambre et Meuse. It became close to parts of the Communist Party of Belgium in 1941. In August 1942, it was absorbed into the left-wing Front de l'Indépendance group.

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