Reichskommissariat of Belgium and Northern France

The Reichskommissariat of Belgium and Northern France (German: Reichskommissariat Belgien-Nordfrankreich) was a Nazi German civil administration (Zivilverwaltung) which governed most of occupied Belgium and northern parts of occupied France in the second half of 1944 during World War II.

Reichskommissariat Belgien-Nordfrankreich
1944–1944
Flag Emblem
Status	Reichskommissariat of Nazi Germany
Capital	Brussels
Common languages	German (administration) Dutch French
Government	Civil administration
Reichskommissar
• 1944	Josef Grohé
Historical era	World War II
• Führer Decree	12 July 1944
• Allied liberation	September 1944
• Annexation to Germany	15 December 1944
Currency	Belgian franc
ISO 3166 code	BE
Preceded by Succeeded by Military Administration in Belgium and Northern France Kingdom of Belgium Provisional Government of the French Republic
Today part of	Belgium  France

The Reichskommissariat replaced an earlier military government, the Military Administration in Belgium and Northern France, established in the same territory in 1940.

On 18 July 1944, the first Gauleiter, Josef Grohé, was named the first Reichskommissar of the territory, known as the Reichskommissariat Belgien und Nordfrankreich or Reichskommissariat für die besetzte Gebiete von Belgien und Nordfrankreich.[1][2] It covered the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France, as well as Belgium except for Eupen-Malmedy which were incorporated directly into the German Reich.

The Wehrmacht troops in the area were commanded by Wehrmachtbefehlshaber Belgien-Nordfrankreich Martin Grase (18 July 1944 - 16 September 1944).

The territory was mostly liberated by the Allies in September 1944, in the aftermath of the Normandy landings, so the existence of the territory was short. Following the liberation, the territory was retrospectively annexed directly into Germany (although no longer under de facto German control) as three separate Reichsgaue: Reichsgau Flandern, Wallonien and the Brussels district.

See also

• Other occupation zones of Nazi-occupied France:
  • Occupied Alsace-Lorraine
  • The zone interdite
  • The zone occupée
  • Vichy France
• Other Reichskommissariate in Western Europe:
  • Reichskommissariat Niederlande
  • Reichskommissariat Norwegen

References

1. Rolf Jehke. "Reichskommissariat Belgien und Nordfrankreisch". Territorial.de. Retrieved 2015-03-09.
2. Kroener, Müller & Umbreit (2003) Germany and the Second World War V/II, p. 29