Figure 1.--

The Belgian Congo was one of the largest European colonies during World War II. It was also mineral rich and thus of some strategic importance. The major mineral was copper, but a little known mineral (uranium) would take on enormous importance. Belgium as in World War I was a neutral country. The Germans launched their long-awaited western offensive with attacks in the Netherlands and Belgium (May 10). The small Belgian Army resisted the, but was no match for the Wehrmacht ad Luftwaffe. After the German Army surrounded the Belgian Army, King Leopold III surrendered (May 27, 1940). The governor of the Congo, Pierre Ryckmans, recognized Pierlit's government-in-exile and the Germans did not have the capability to seize the Congo and other European colonies. Authorities in the Congo with the approval of the Belgian government-in-exile in London declared war on Italy (November 26, 1940), The step was more political and military. The Congo had very limited military capabilities. The Belgians, however, wanted to establish their credentials as a viable part of the anti-Axis coalition who wanted to be recognized as the legitimate Belgian government after liberation. The Belgian force in the Congo was known as the Force Publique commanded by Major-General Gillaert. After the British defeated the Italian invasion force in Egypt (December 1940), they organized an offensive into Libya and East Africa (1941). The Germans came to the rescue of the Italians in Libya, but this was not possible in East Africa. The British launched the East African campaign Sudan and Kenya. As the Congo bordered on Sudan, the Belgian colonial government supported the British offensive which was a multi-national effort. South African troops played a major role. Two battalions of Congolese troops commanded by Gen. Gilliaert participated in the campaign.

The Belgian Congo

The Belgian Congo was one of the largest European colonies during World War II. It was also mineral rich and thus of some strategic importance. The major mineral was copper, but a little known mineral (uranium) would take on enormous importance. The colonial era was launched by one of Europe's smallest countries--Belgium. King Leopold II, who proved to be the most brutal colonizers launched the colonial race in Africa. Belgium was a new country and had not participated in the colonial competition of the 16th and 17th century. Now Leopold declared, "Belgium must have a colony". The colony Leopold founded, the Belgian Congo, was a far cry from the humanitarian impulse with which the Victorians justified colonialism. Leopold administered the Congo as his personal property and not a national colony. The people in the the Congo Free State were essentially turned into slaves worked to enrich Leopold personally. They were subjected to horrendous abuses. As reports filtered out describing the terrible abuses, King Leopold eventually relinquished personal control of the Congo. Belgium annexed the Congo with a Treaty (November 28, 1907). The Belgian Colony was administered by a governor-general at Boma. A Colonial Council and colonial minister in Brussels set policy. The Congo was divided into 15 administrative districts.

German Invasion of Belgium (May 1940)

Belgium as in World War I was a neutral country. The Germans launched their long-awaited western offensive with attacks in the Netherlands and Belgium (May 10). The small Belgian Army resisted the, but was no match for the Wehrmacht ad Luftwaffe. After the German Army surrounded the Belgian Army, King Leopold III surrendered (May 27, 1940). The abrupt surrender almost resulted in the collapse of the British Dunkirk pocket.

Belgian Government in Exile

Belgian Government officials reached France before the Germans cut off Belgium. They met in Limoges and condemned King Leopold's surrender of the Belgian Army. Officials set up a Belgian government-in-exile at Bordeaux (June 18). They demanded that the King abdicate. With France itself about to fall, the Belgian officials escaped to London. Spaak and H. Pierlot headed the government-in-exile. That Government maintained control over Belgian colonial possessions (primarily the Belgian Congo and Ruanda-Urundi). The Government- in-exile established the Belgian Legion to coordinate the various resistance groups organized in NAZI occupied Belgium (1942).

Belgian Colonial Government

The governor of the Congo, Pierre Ryckmans, recognized Pierlit's government-in-exile and the Germans did not have the capability to seize the Congo and other European colonies. One historian suggests, however, that Hitler had expressed an interest in the Congo, exchanging it for rights to the colonies lost in World War I. Here he was thinking about negotiating with Britain, not Belgium. We are not sure why he was interested in the Congo, perhaps because of the mineral resources. [Irving] Authorities in the Congo with the approval of the Belgian government-in-exile in London declared war on Italy (November 26, 1940), The step was more political and military. The Congo had very limited military capabilities. The Belgians, however, wanted to establish their credentials as a viable part of the anti-Axis coalition who wanted to be recognized as the legitimate Belgian government after liberation. The Belgian force in the Congo was known as the Force Publique commanded by Major-General Gillaert .

Rex Organization

After the stunning German victory and fall of France, many Belgians believed that the NAZIs had won the War. Right-wing Belgians attempted to sign on to the NAZI cause. It looked like the Axis victory in Europe would be followed by a similar victory in North Africa and that German and Italian forces would reach the Congo. The Italians already controlled Somalia and Ethiopia. A group of right-wing parties coordinated by the Rex Organization offered to assist the Germans. They suggested recruiting a corps of Belgian pilots and officers to command a regiment of colonial soldiers to assist in a future German invasion of the Congo. They would be equipped by the Germans and of course operate under their command. The Germans ignored the offer.

Uranium Stockpiles (October-November 1940)

Uranium was a little-used mineral in 1940. One of the few mines in the world was the Shinkolobwe uranium mine in Katanga. Its only customer, the United Miniere Company in Brussels, was taken over by the Germans and the stockpiles of Uranium ore in Belgium seized. It would be used for the German atomic bomb project. The Shinkolobwe mine in the Congo then closed (May 1940), but there was about 1,250 tons ore that had been mined. A Belgian businessman and mining executive, Edgar Sengier, at the time of the German invasion lived in the United States. He purchased all of the uranium ore that had been brought to the surface. He shipped it by rail across Portuguese Angola to the port of Lobiro and then by freighter to New York. He stored it at warehouse on State Island. We do not know if he was prompted to do this by U,S. authorities or simply figured out that it would become valuable when America entered the War.

East-African Campaign (1941)

After the British defeated the Italian invasion force in Egypt (December 1940), they organized an offensive into Libya and East Africa (1941). The Germans came to the rescue of the Italians in Libya, but this was not possible in East Africa. The British launched the East African campaign Sudan and Kenya. As the Congo bordered on Sudan, the Belgian colonial government supported the British offensive which was a multi-national effort. South African troops played a major role. Two battalions of Congolese troops commanded by Gen. Gilliaert participated in the campaign. Italian Gen. Pietro Gazzera on paper had a substantial force, but they were poorly equipped and the Ethiopian auxileries were unreliable. His hard- pressed forces (5,000 Italians and 2,000 Ethiopians) surrendered near Galla e Sidamo (southwestern Ethiopia) (July 6, 1941), Gazzera's forces were surrounded by the 23rd Nigerian and 22nd East African brigades supported by Ethiopian rebels.

Mining

The Congo was of considerable strategic importance, primarily because of its mineral resources, including copper and uranium. Belgium was arguably the most brutal of the European colonial countries. The resources of the Congo were developed with little benefit to the people of the Congo. And the colonial Government exploited the people for labor as well. Major reforms were made from the horrendous conditions enforced by King Leopold II who ran the Congo as his personal property. Still the Belgians exploited the local people, enforcing a forced labor system (corvee). Ironically the NAZI occupation policies the Belgians hated were not dissimilar to what the Belgians themselves were doing in the Congo.

American Presence

The United States deployed a company of black Army truck drivers at the port of Matadi (late 1942). They did not get along with the white Belgians who expected blacks to show more deference.

Uranium Mining

The Belgium Congo proved important for the American atomic bomb program.

Strikes

Belgian authorities to meet the needs of Allied war industry increased production. This meant increasing demands on local workers. Workers struck at Jadothville and Elisabethville (December 4, 1941). Authorities used force to break both strikes. Violence escalated and authorities had to deploy the colonial army to restore order. An estimated 70 people were killed. This was followed by a general strikes and revolts in Katanga and Kasai (1944). Authorities doubled the annual corvee from 60 to 120 days.

Sources

Irving. Hitler's War.

Created: 12:31 AM 8/6/2009
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Last updated: 5:17 PM 4/13/2013