La Libre Belgique (1940–1944)

La Libre Belgique (1940–1944) refers to an underground newspaper published in German-occupied Belgium during World War II. It was a successor to the similarly named La Libre Belgique published during World War I under German occupation. Its primary purpose was to disseminate news and information that countered German propaganda and maintained Belgian morale.

The paper was distributed clandestinely, often using elaborate networks to avoid detection by the Gestapo and German authorities. Contributors and distributors risked imprisonment, deportation, and even death. Due to the perilous nature of its production and circulation, obtaining accurate circulation figures is difficult.

The content typically included news of the Allied war effort, reports on resistance activities within Belgium, and articles denouncing the German occupation. It played a significant role in bolstering the spirit of resistance and providing an alternative source of information to the heavily censored official media. The newspaper ceased publication upon the liberation of Belgium in 1944.