Prosecution, Society and Politics : the Penalization of Economic Collaboration in Belgium After The Second World War

Abstract

In this article the perception of economic collaboration by Belgian population after the Second World War and its consequences for the policy of the prosecution service are examined. There was no general dissatisfaction on the way Belgian entrepreneurs behaved during the war. Only those who worked exclusively for the needs of the German army or mistreated the workers were attacked. Another target of public discontent were small entrepreneurs as grocers or innkeepers who were accused of black market activities. This attitude can be explained by the fact that workers feared deportation to Germany and therefore accepted that industry was kept in activity. This was in line with the policy of the main holding companies. As a consequence, the prosecution service found not much support for its ambitious policy that was also directed against big firms. On the other hand, the reactions of the population made clear that public opinion would not accept that economic collaboration in general remained without punishment. Therefore a prompt trial and severe sanctions against entrepreneurs who had done business with the enemy were a priority for the Chief Military Prosecutor Ganshof van der Meersch.