View source for La Libre Belgique (1940–1944)

{{DISPLAYTITLE:''La Libre Belgique'' (1940–1944)}}
{{for|the contemporary Belgian newspaper|La Libre Belgique}}
[[File:La Libre clandestine 15 Aout 1940 01.jpg|thumb|The first issue of ''La Libre Belgique de Peter Pan'' of 15 August 1940, produced with a [[typewriter]] on [[carbon paper]]. Later issues would be printed.]]

During [[World War II]], '''''La Libre Belgique''''' ([[French language|French]]; {{lit|The Free Belgium}}) was one of the most notable [[underground press in German-occupied Europe|underground newspapers]] published in [[German occupation of Belgium during World War II|German-occupied Belgium]]. This was partly a result of the success of a newspaper with the same title that had been produced in [[German occupation of Belgium during World War I|German-occupied Belgium]] during [[World War I]]. Though a number of editions appeared in 1940 and 1941, the most enduring ''La Libre Belgique'' published during the World War II was the so-called "Peter Pan" edition which ran to 85 issues with a circulation of 10,000 to 30,000 each.

==Background==
''La Libre Belgique'' originated as a newspaper called ''Le Patriote'' (''The Patriote'') founded in 1884. Following the [[German invasion of Belgium (1914)|German invasion of Belgium]] in 1914, ''Le Patriote'' was prohibited by the [[German occupation of Belgium during World War I|German occupation authorities]]. It was revived in 1915 as an underground newspaper, produced illegally without German censorship, under the name ''La Libre Belgique'' (literally, ''The Free Belgium''). During World War I, a total of 171 issues were produced and the newspaper became famous as an example of Belgian resistance.<ref>{{cite news|last=Laporte|first=Christian|title=Du "Patriote" à "La Libre Belgique"...|url=http://www.lalibre.be/actu/belgique/du-patriote-a-la-libre-belgique-53dbb5a835702004f7dac37d|publisher=La Libre|date=1 August 2014|accessdate=27 July 2017}}</ref>

==World War II==
After the [[Battle of Belgium|German invasion]] and occupation of Belgium in May 1940, the name ''La Libre Belgique'' was revived by a number of underground newspapers produced in [[German occupation of Belgium during World War II|occupied Belgium]], especially in the first months of the war.
[[File:La Libre Belgique journal clandestin 02.jpg|thumb|{{center|Plaque 82 Thomas Vinçotte street in [[Schaerbeek]].}}]]
[[File:La Libre Belgique journal clandestin 01.jpg|thumb|82 Thomas Vinçotte street in [[Schaerbeek]], district of Brussels.]]
In the summer of 1940, a number of alternative ''La Libre Belgique'' titles appeared independently of one another, such as ''La Libre Belgique ressuscitée en 1940''.<ref name=BWP1>{{cite web|title=La Libre Belgique|website=The Belgian War Press|publisher=[[Cegesoma]]|url=https://warpress.cegesoma.be/fr/node/8946|accessdate=27 July 2017}}</ref> Other editions included:
* ''La Libre Belgique. Antwerpsche oorlogsuitgave''
* ''La Libre Belgique. Bulletin de propaganda patriotique régulièrement irrégulier''
* ''La Libre Belgique. Edition Forestoise''
* ''La Libre Belgique. Journal de patriotisme belge, ne se soumettant à aucune censure''
* ''La Libre Belgique. Nouvelle série de guerre''
* ''La Libre Belgique. Nouvelle série de guerre. Edition de Province''
* ''La Libre Belgique. Nouvelle série de guerre. Fondée le 15 août 1940. Reprise le 28 mai 1942''

The most important ''La Libre Belgique'', however, was founded in [[Brussels]] by two lawyers, [[Paul Struye]] and Robert Logelain in August 1940. It is generally known as ''La Libre Belgique de Peter Pan'' after [[Peter Pan|the fictional name]] of the editor given on the paper's [[Masthead (American publishing)|masthead]].<ref name=BWP1/> It was produced by supporters of the centre-right [[Catholic Party (Belgium)|Catholic Party]] and many of the people involved in its production came from legal and financial circles within Brussels. It soon became associated with the "[[Zero (Belgian Resistance)|Zero]]" resistance group. The newspaper was pro-[[United Kingdom|British]] and supported both [[Belgian government in exile]] and [[Leopold III of Belgium|King Leopold III]].<ref name=BWP1/>

In total, 85 issues of ''La Libre Belgique de Peter Pan'' were produced during the occupation, with the [[Newspaper circulation|circulation]] of between 10,000 and 30,000 copies.<ref name=BWP1/> It was one of the largest and most influential of the [[Belgian Resistance|Belgian underground newspapers]] that appeared in the same period. Between April 1941 and the [[Liberation of Belgium|Liberation]] in September 1944, the paper printed regular bi-monthly editions. Most editions ranged from four to eight pages, including photographs and illustrations.<ref name=BWP1/>

The clandestine ''La Libre Belgique'' was replaced by a regular edition after the Liberation of Brussels in September 1944.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.warpress.cegesoma.be/en/node/42508?edition_date=1941-04 Digitised issues of ''La Libre Belgique''] at Belgian War Press ([[Cegesoma]])

{{Belgian resistance groups}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Libre Belgique, La}}
[[Category:1940 establishments in Belgium]]
[[Category:1944 disestablishments in Belgium]]
[[Category:Belgian resistance publications]]
[[Category:Defunct newspapers published in Belgium]]
[[Category:French-language newspapers published in Belgium]]
[[Category:Newspapers established in 1940]]
[[Category:Publications disestablished in 1944]]
[[Category:Underground press in World War II]]