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André Renard
André Renard (25 May 191120 July 1962) was a Belgian trade union leader who, in the aftermath of World War II, became an influential figure within the Walloon Movement. Born into a working-class family, Renard was as a metalworker in the Liège region in Wallonia in the era of the Great Depression before becoming involved in the Federation of Metalworkers of Liège (''Fédération des métallurgistes de Liège'') in 1937. He established an underground trade union in German-occupied Belgium during the Second World War which sought to unite socialist and communist unions within a united trade union (''syndicat unique''). He emerged as a powerful figure within trade unionism in the aftermath of the Liberation of Belgium. Renard entered the newly established General Labour Federation of Belgium (''Fédération Générale du Travail de Belgique'', FGTB) in 1945 and emerged as a political figure with a national reputation in following years. He became increasingly interested in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
General Labour Federation Of Belgium
The General Labour Federation of Belgium (french: Fédération Générale du Travail de Belgique, or FGTB; nl, Algemeen Belgisch Vakverbond, ABVV) is a socialist national trade union federation in Belgium. It was founded in 1945. It is affiliated with the International Trade Union Confederation and has a membership of 1.5 million. With said membership the ABVV/FGTB is the second largest of the three major trade unions in Belgium, closely following the Confederation of Christian Trade Unions (ACV/CSC) which has 1.6 million members and dwarfing the General Confederation of Liberal Trade Unions of Belgium (ACLVB/CGSLB) which has approximately 300,000 members. During the bulk of its history the ABVV/FGTB remained closely affiliated with the Belgian Socialist Party which was split in 1978 into a Flemish and a Walloon social-democratic party. While remaining formally independent from any political party, the ABVV/FGTB noticed the increasing influence by the marxist Workers' Party of Bel ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Liberation Of Belgium
The Liberation of Belgium from German occupation was completed on 4 February 1945 when the entire country was reportedly free of German troops with the liberation of the village of Krewinkel. The operation began when Allied forces entered on 2 September 1944. The liberation came after four years of German-occupied rule. The Belgian government was returned to power on 8 September 1944, after Allied forces captured Brussels four days earlier. Operation begins The liberation began with 21st Army Group heading Eastwards from the breakout from Falaise - the 2nd Canadian Division entered Belgium on 2 September . On the evening of 2 September Brian Horrocks briefed officers of the Guards Armoured Division in Douai that their objective for the following day would be Brussels, 110km further East. The announcement was greeted with "delighted astonishment". The Division suffered casualties on their drive into Belgium but with the Germans still in disarray after their defeat at Falaise, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Corporatism
Corporatism is a collectivist political ideology which advocates the organization of society by corporate groups, such as agricultural, labour, military, business, scientific, or guild associations, on the basis of their common interests. The term is derived from the Latin ''corpus'', or "body". As originally conceived, and as enacted in fascist states in mid-20th century Europe, corporatism was meant to be an alternative to both free market economies and socialist economies. The hypothesis that society will reach a peak of harmonious functioning when each of its divisions efficiently performs its designated function, as a body's organs individually contributing its general health and functionality, lies at the center of corporatist theory. Corporatism does not refer to a political system dominated by large business interests, even though the latter are commonly referred to as "corporations" in modern American vernacular and legal parlance; instead, the correct term for thi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Belgian Prisoners Of War In World War II
During World War II, Belgian prisoners of war were principally Belgian soldiers captured by the Germans during and shortly after the Battle of Belgium in May 1940. 225,000 men, approximately 30 percent of the strength of the Belgian army in 1940, were deported to prisoner of war camps in Germany. Large repatriations of prisoners, particularly of soldiers of Flemish origin, to occupied Belgium occurred in 1940 and 1941. Nevertheless, as many as 70,000 remained prisoners remained in captivity until 1945, and around 1,800 died in German camps during the course of the war. Background Belgian involvement in World War II began when German forces invaded Belgium, which had been following a policy of neutrality, on 10 May 1940. After 18 days of fighting, Belgium surrendered on 28 May and was placed under German occupation. During the fighting, between 600,000 and 650,000 Belgian men (nearly 20% of the country's male population at the time) had served in the military. King Leopold III, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Battle Of Belgium
The invasion of Belgium or Belgian campaign (10–28 May 1940), often referred to within Belgium as the 18 Days' Campaign (french: Campagne des 18 jours, nl, Achttiendaagse Veldtocht), formed part of the greater Battle of France, an Military offensive, offensive campaign by Nazi Germany, Germany during the World War II, Second World War. It took place over 18 days in May 1940 and ended with the German occupation of Belgium following the surrender of the Belgian Land Component, Belgian Army. On 10 May 1940, Germany Invasion of Luxembourg, invaded Luxembourg, Battle of the Netherlands, the Netherlands, and Belgium under the operational plan ''Manstein Plan, Fall Gelb'' (Case Yellow). The Allied armies Dyle Plan, attempted to halt the German Army in Belgium, believing it to be the main German thrust. After the French had fully committed the best of the Allies of World War II, Allied armies to Belgium between 10 and 12 May, the Germans enacted the second phase of their operation, a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Belgian Army
The Land Component ( nl, Landcomponent, french: Composante terre) is the land branch of the Belgian Armed Forces. The King of the Belgians is the commander in chief. The current chief of staff of the Land Component is Major-General Pierre Gérard. Ranks in use by the Belgian Army are listed at Belgian military ranks. History Organisation 1870s According to the Law of 16 August 1873, the army was to consist of: Infantry *14 regiments of line infantry (three active battalions, one reserve and one company in each regiment depot) *3 regiments of Jäger (military), Jäger (three active battalions, one reserve and one company in each regiment depot) *1 regiment of grenadiers (three active battalions, one reserve and one company in each regiment depot) *1 regiment of Carabinier (four active battalions, 2 reserve and 1 depot company of deposit) *2 companies settled *1 discipline body *1 military school for children of servicemen Note: a battalion (864 men) consists of four c ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Evening Class
''Evening Class'' is a 1996 novel by the Irish author Maeve Binchy. It was adapted as the award-winning film ''Italian for Beginners'' (2000) by writer-director Lone Scherfig, who failed to formally acknowledge the source, although at the very end of the closing credits is the line 'with thanks to Maeve Binchy'. Plot introduction A story of many Irish men and women from various backgrounds and how a teacher, Nora O'Donoghue (known as "Signora"), and an Italian evening class changes their lives over the course of a year. Each chapter deals with the life story of one or more students in the class. In a Dickensian way, they bump into each other and are affected by the decisions of those around them. Major themes It is a story of love and deceit, family drama, wealth and poverty, of friendship and courage, and lots of laughter. Related Nora O'Donoghue and Aidan Dunne also appear in '' Quentins'', another novel by Maeve Binchy, and play a more significant role in '' Heart and Soul' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Belgian General Strike Of 1936
In Belgium, a general strike took place in June and July 1936. It was the first wave of strikes since the 1932 general strike which had occurred during the Great Depression. It broke out as part of a wildcat strike among dockworkers in the Port of Antwerp on 2 June 1936 and quickly spread to other industrial regions without the endorsement of the country's major trades unions. It was characterised by the new tactic of workplace occupations and took place against the backdrop of the creation of France's Popular Front in May 1936 and the Matignon Agreements which had followed a general strike in France from May to June 1936. It also occurred against the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War which proved divisive in Belgium. Nonetheless, the Belgian strike was unusual in uniting socialist and Catholic trade union federations in support. Paul Van Zeeland, the incumbent Catholic prime minister, agreed to convene a National Labour Conference (''Conférence Nationale du Travail'') on 17 Jun ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Espérance-Longdoz
Espérance-Longdoz was a coal mining and steel production company located in the Liège region of Belgium. The company merged with Cockerill-Ougrée-Providence in 1970 to form Cockerill-Ougrée-Providence-Espérance Longdoz (known as Cockerill), later being merged into Usinor, then Arcelor then ArcelorMittal. Production at Longdoz ceased in the latter part of the 20th century, the factory site was redevelopend in the 2000s into a shopping complex ''Médiacité'', one part of the buildings at Longdoz has been preserved and is now the home of an industrial museum ''La Maison de la Métallurgie et de l'Industrie de Liège''. A later steelworks development, built at Chertal in the 1960s is still in operation (as of 2010) and is part of the ArcelorMittal group, within the Liège division. History In 1845/6 the Dothée brothers established a tinplate factory in Longdoz in Liège Province, then in 1862/3 the Dothée brothers merged their business with the ''Société anonyme des Hau ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Cockerill (company, 1825–1955)
John Cockerill & Cie. was a Belgian iron, steel, and manufacturing company based at Seraing in Liège Province. It was founded in 1825 by English-born industrialist John Cockerill. John Cockerill, a son of British entrepreneur William Cockerill, owned the company, and it was known as John Cockerill & Cie. However, John Cockerill died in Warsaw in 1840 after a business trip to Russia. Following his death, the company became state owned, and in 1842, it became known as the Société anonyme pour l'exploitation des établissements de John Cockerill.Also written as Société anonyme John Cockerill, or SA John Cockerill. In English, it is often referred to as the "John Cockerill Company". The company was one of the major iron and steel producers in western Europe throughout its existence. It was a significant producer of derived products, including rail and railway locomotives, iron production equipment, and other large-scale iron and steel constructions. In 1955, the company merg ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Belgian General Strike Of 1960–1961
The general strike of 1960–1961 (french: Grève générale de 1960–1961), known popularly in Wallonia as the Strike of the Century (''Grève du Siècle''), was a major series of strikes in Belgium which began on 14 December 1960 and lasted approximately six weeks. The general strike was instigated by the militant trade union, the General Labour Federation of Belgium (''Fédération Générale du Travail de Belgique'', or FGTB; ''Algemeen Belgisch Vakverbond'', ABVV), against an attempt by the government of Gaston Eyskens to improve the state of Belgium's public finances after the independence of the Belgian Congo by introducing a series of austerity measures known as the Unitary Law (''Loi Unique'' or ''Eenheidswet''). It has been described as "one of the most serious class confrontations in Belgium's social history", which brought out 700,000 workers out on strike. A number of clashes took place between strikers and the police, Gendarmerie, and Belgian Army. In one incident, t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
