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United Kingdom, June 1944. |
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THE
"CIVIL AFFAIRS" MISSION
1944-1945
SHORT HISTORY
The "Civil Affairs" Mission was raised by Belgian law-decree of February 3 1944.
Belgian active officers, reserve officers, and civilians receiving a temporaily commission as an officer, were recruited.
Instruction was given on military and civilian organisation in Belgium.
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United Kingdom, June 1944. |
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It was
foreseen that, for military security, rear combat zones and
logistical zones
would stay under military rule as long as necessary.
The main task
of those "Civilian Affairs" officers was to act as a
liaison between the Belgian Government,
the Allied Military High Command, and the local Belgian
Authorities, once Belgium would be freed.
Their task would end once the "military period" of an area would be over.
Brussels was
liberated on September 4 1944, and already a few days later
the first "Civil Affairs" officers arrived in liberated
Belgium.
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Letter
of SHAEF HQ authorising the arrival of some of |
Belgium was officially declared "liberated" in February 1945, after the battle of the Bulge.
Soon after, most of the "Civil Affairs" officers ended their task
Some still
continued to act as a liaison between the Allied Authorities and
the Belgian Government,
but after the capitulation of Nazi Germany, the "Civil
Affairs" Mission was disbanded.
Several "Civil Affairs" officers were integrated into the Belgian Military Mission and the Belgian Mission for Repatriation.
Commanding
Officer :
Lieutenant-General TSCHOFFEN
INSIGNIA
All "Civil Affairs" officers wore the Battle-Dress.
On the left arm they wore the "BELGIUM" title, dark red capital letters on a khaki background.
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Belgian National Colours |
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"BELGIUM" arm title |
On the right
arm they wore the "CIVIL AFFAIRS" title, dark red
letters on a khaki background,
and the Belgian national colours.
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| "CIVIL AFFAIRS" arm title |
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| Battle-Dress blouse from a Civil Affairs civilian. | Detail of the arm title. |
