Belgian Congo during WW2

[DrG]

Thank you, Daveh, for this document. It's a bit propagandistic (but, given its date, it's pretty normal), but also very interesting.

Guido

[Leo Niehorster]

Greetings,

Does anyone have the organization of the Force Publique in the Belgian Congo on or around 10 May 1940? Or 28 May 1940?

While I'm at it, how about any armed forces in Rwanda and Burundi?

[Prosper Vandenbroucke]

Hi Léo,
I just found this:
http://www.dday-overlord.com/forum/les- ... 98-10.html
Have a look on Blue Spader's contribution from the 17th of August 2007.
Sorry but it's in french language
By the way, Rwanda and Burundi did'nt exist as independant states at that time.
Ruanda and Urundi was a district (province ) of Belgian Congo.
Hope it helps and sorry for my poor english knowledge
Best regards from Belgium
Prosper

[Sheldrake]

I vaguely remember someone telling be about the Belgian effort in Burma.

Aha
According to Wikipedia

A medical unit from the Congo, the 10th (Belgian Congo) Casualty Clearing Station, was created in 1943 and served alongside British forces in the Far East during the Burma Campaign.[47] The unit included 350 African and 20 European personnel and continued to serve with the British until 1945.

[Prosper Vandenbroucke]

Hi Sheldrake,
I think that (but I'm not sure) in following books in english language the autors are written about the 10th (BC)CCS:

Commonwealth Divisions 1939-1945, Malcolm A. Bellis, U.K.: John Rigby, 1999.
Foreign Volunteers of the Allied Forces 1939-45, Nigel Thomas, London: Osprey, 1998.
Forgotten Allies Vol. 1, J. Lee Ready, Jefferson: McFarland and Co., 1985.
Victory in the West Vol. II, L. F. Ellis, London: HMSO, 1968.

Here below are some other links and a little explanation about the "Force Publique" written in english:

The Force Publique in Africa
Three brigades of infantry were mobilized from the "Public Force" (Force Publique) in the Belgian Congo to fight with the Allies in Africa. In 1940 and 1941, the "Belgian Expeditionary Forces" fought in the British and Commonwealth campaign to defeat the Italian troops in East Africa (East African Campaign). In late May 1941, Belgian Major-General Auguste-Éduard Gilliaert cut off the retreat of Italian General Pietro Gazzera in Ethiopia and accepted the surrender of 7,000 of his troops.[1]
After the successful conclusion of these campaigns, the 1st Belgian Colonial Brigade was redesignated the Belgian Colonial Motor Brigade Group and served in a garrison and rear-area security role in Cairo, Egypt and in British Palestine during 1943 - 1944.[2]
The Force Publique had older weapons and equipment such as the Stokes Mortar and the St Chamond 75 mm gun.[3]
The Force Publique also sent the 10th Belgian Congo Casualty Clearing Station (CCCS) to the battle zone. Between 1940 and 1945 some 350 Congolese and twenty Belgians, under the command of Medical Colonel Thomas, worked together with the British medical services in Abyssinia, Somalia, Madagascar and Burma.
http://everything.explained.today/Free_Belgian_Forces/

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/Belg ... index.html


Best Regards
Prosper

[Leo Niehorster]

Well, Prosper, that is very welcome. Thank you very much.

Best regards
Leo