Figure 1.--

Belgium as in World War I attempted to remain neutral in World War II. And again as in World war I, the Germans invaded. Some Scouts attempted to reach saftey and avoid the German occupation by fleeing south to France. Only this time the Allies were unable to stop the Germans. King Leopold with the Belgian Arny was forced to surrender and shockingly France also fell to the Germans. The Belgian Scouts who had reached France were ordered home. The Germans persued a varying policy toward the Scouts. The occupation authorities banned SCouting and arrested some Scout leaders (1940), but relented in 1941. We are not sure just why. We susoect it was in part due to the fact that the occupation in Belgium wa conducted by the military. The Germans banned Scoyting agian as the war situation worsened for them (1943). Despite the ban, many Belgian Scours were able to cointinue small-group activities as long as they were conducted descretely and without uniforms. In addition to the German authorities, Belgian Scouts aldo had to deal with the collborationists and their youth groups. The Scouts participated in many humanitarian efforts during the war. The most notable was summer camps for malnourished and sick children. Many were the children of Belgian POWs held in Germany and thus unavle to support their families. Scouts also participated in a range of Resistance activities. Few Belgian institutions survived the War as well as the Scouts. No only did their membership grow, but unlike many other Belgian institutions, there wa not hint of collaboration. Post-war Era (1945- )

World War II (September 1939)

The Germans began World War I by invading Belgium. This time they struck in the East, launching the War by invading Poland (September 1939). Three days later Britain and France, pledged to support Poland) declared war on Germany. Belgium as in World War I attempted to remain neutral. It was clear that the Germans would next attack France with a great western offensive. The Belgiand hoped that this time they could avoid involvement in the War. But again the Germans launched their attack on France by invading through Belgium.

German Invasion (May 1940)

Belgium remained strictly neutral, but was invaded by the Germans for a second time (on May 10, 1940). The Germans struck at both the Netherlands and Belgium at the same time. It was the start of the long anticipated German offensive in the West. After a few months of the "Phony War", it was the turn of the Low Lands and France. The German initiated their long awaited western campaign on a wide front against the neutral Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxemburg. The Luftwaffe played a key role in the German success in the west. King Leopold before the War had promoted the construction of important defensive fortifications from Antwerp to Namur in front of the German border. These defenses were quickly taken by the Germans. The British Expeditionary Force rushed nort to assist the Dutch. This meant that they were not present in force to opposed the Germans when they broke through in the Ardennes. Leopold, with the bulk of the Belgian Army, was surrounded by the Germans, and capitulated. Leopold ordered his army to surrender and refused to flee with officials to form a government-in-exile in England. His actions were resented by some Belgians. His surrender at a crucial point in the battle for the low countries left a critical gap in the Allied ring around Dunkirk and could have made the evacuation impossible if the Germans had pressed their attack.

Sending Children to France

The Belgian Government at the onset of the German invasion in 1940 decided to send children to saftey in France. No one conceived at that time that is was possible for France to fall. The idea was that Scout-age boys would be safe in France and join the Army if the War continued as World War I did. A special Scout train left Brussels. four days after the German invasion (May 14). The entire train was full of uniformed scouts. All of the boys were reportedly cheerful and resolute. Some 1,200 boys reached Montpelier in the south of France by this means. They were lucky. The Germann advance was very rapid. The Luftwaffee disrupted the railways by strafing and bombing attacks. As a result, no further Scout trains were possible. Some Other Scout groups did attempt to reach France before being overun by the advancing Germans. Several coluns of Belgian Scouts marched south on foot. They had little opportunity to prepare, so they set out without food, money or shelter. They carried all their possessions in haversacks on their back. A Scout historian says, "They were Scouts, and therefore able to take care of themselves". They also did what they could to care for the huge stream of refugees also on the road fleeing the Germans. Along the "Via Dolorosa" the sound of singing would sometimes be heard. It came from the lips of Scouts, the Belgian boys who, "trusting in God and their own resources," strove each to do his duty. One Troop from Tournai worked without a break day and night for 3 days at a canteen cutting bread, carrying drinks, and leading to the rest centres an increasingly large number of refugees terrified by bombs. The Luftwaffe attacked refugee colums at this helped to disrupt road traffic, complicating Allied troop movements. Many instances of bravey and public service were reported by the Belgian Scouts during this period.

Attempt to Organize in France

The Belgian Scouting General Commissioner, Armand de Coninck, established his headquarters at Toulouse in southern France. A small group of Belgian youths, about 1,500, gathered there. The Scouts helped organize them. Their stay in Frabce, however, proved short. This time the Allied sid not stop the Germans. The Whermacht succeeded in surrounding the Belgian Army (May 20). King Leopold III who was with them and pledged not to desert them surrendered (May 28). Even more shocking, the Whermacht also defeated the French Army (June 1940). The French signed an armistice leaving the British to fight on alone. The Germans occupied much of France. Under the terms pf the treaty. south eastern France was left unoccupied under the new Vicy Gogvernment. German authorities ordered the Belgians in France to return to Belgium. This included the Scouts.

Early Occupation Period

The German occupation authorities at first conducted themselves civily, at least with the general Belgian population. Actions against Belgium's small Jewish population, the beginning of the Holocaust, began almost immediately after the occupation. German policies varies from country to country, in part because of German racial attitudes. Generally speaking German occupation regimes were much lest harst in Western Europe than was the case in the East. Initually the German's main concern was to maintain order and restore the economy to normal operations. The Germans knew that Belgium was in their hands and that they could now do as they pleased. They also knew that the most efficent process was to proceed with small steps so as the cause the least resistance among the occupied people. This generally tended to work. The German victory was overwealming. And the British seemingly powerless to resist the Germans, that mos people in Belgium as well as France and the Netherlands concluded that there was no choice but to ccept NAZI rule.

Totalitarians and Scouts

The German policy regarded Scouting differed from somewhat from country to country. The German Scout movement was not as strong as it was in many other countries. It was disbanded soon after the NAZIs seized power (1933) as had earlier been done by the Italian Fascists and Soviet Communists. Several other European countries, however, were NAZI Allies (Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia) or co-beligerants (Finland). Scouting continued to function in these countries. The German authorities in the occupied countries, moved against Scouting. The policies here were not as draconian as the Soviets in the countries they occupied. Adults who had been active in the Scouting movement in the Balticc republics (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithiania) were argeted by the NKVD. The Germans on the otherhand were primarily interested in ending Scouting, not in persuing Scout leaders who complied witn occupation regulations. It may seem strange that the NAZIs and other totalitarians would trouble themselves with Scouting. But part of a totalitarian program is to gain complete control over the education and socialization of youth. And for the NAZIs this was a special concern in the occupied countries. Scouts tended to be highly patriotic young men and this added to their religious, family cebtered values could lead young men into opposing the occupation. The fact that Scouts wore uniforms was surely another factor.

Initial German Policies (1940-42)

The German occupation authorities after only a few months turned their attention to Belgian Scouts. The Gestapo ordered Scout leaders to provide detailed information on all Scouting activities as well as lists of Scout leaders and members. Belgian Scouters attempted to avoid prividing potentially useful information. Files were destroyed or hidden. The Germans demanded a detailed inventory of equipment, tents, camping grounds, dens, etc. This was clearly designed to facilitate the seizure of the equipment and facilities. The Scouts refused to comply. The Boy Scouts de Belgique, one of the three Scout Associations active attempted to evade the German request by telling them that all their assets were the property of the Catholic Church. The German response was to ban Belgian Scouting except by specific permission of the occupation authorities. Outwardly the Belgian Scouts complied with the German order. A Belgian Scouter writes, "We gave up the uniforms and kept up the spirit." The Germans moved aggrsively against the Scouts. The Germans arrested all the Scoutmasters of Brussels, including the chaplain, and closed the Scout headquarters (October 15, 1940). The Germans convicted the chaplain, Father Schurman, of distributing copies of Le Libre Belgique. This was the first of the clandestine newspapers and used the same name as the cladestine papers distributed during World war I. Father Schurman was condemned to 10 years of hard labour in a concentration camp. He managed to survive and returned to Brussels after the War (1945). German authorities subequently relented for a time and allowed Scouts to wear their uniforms and participate in Scouting (1941). I am not sure why the Germans relented. The German occupation was overseen by the militaryb in Belgium. Thus it was not as ideologically motivated as in other occupied countries like the one in the Netherlands overseen by Austrian NAZI Seyss-Inquart.

Royal Princes

King Leopold was a stronger supporter of the Scout movement. He had two sons of Scout age, Prince Baoudin and Prince Albert. Prince Baoudin was an avid Cub, bginning the program in 1937. I am not sure to what extent he was able to continue Scouting activities after the German invasion. I know even less about Prince Albert. I think he was anxious to become a Cub, but that was forstalled by the NAZI invasion and banning of Scouting. I believe a special investment was arranged so that he could become a Cub, but that he was not able to actively engage in Cubbing. More information is needed here.

Colaborationist Youth Movements

The NAZIs even before World War II drew a clear destinction between the two peoples of Belgium. They were most disposed toward their racial "cousins," the Flemings. They discovered after occupation, however, that the Walloon leader Léon Degrelle was a more willing disciple. The military and para-military formations formed in Belgium by the NAZI authorities were always kept seperated. Likewise the youth groyps, based on the youth movements of collaborationist political partiesm VNV and Rexists were entirely separated. Hitler Youth units also operated in Belgium. Units were formed in Flanders even before the occupation. Some of these were truly fascist or Nazi; many more (such as some of the less far-right-wing Flemish nationalists) went along with it for reasons of expediency, because to start with at any rate, they thought the Germans would win the war. By the time it was becoming apparent that they had backed the wrong horse, especially from 1942 onwards, it would have been much too late to change sides, as the situation between collaborators and resistance had become completely polarised by then. German policies toward the Belgian Scouts varied greatly. Scout masters were arrested as early as 1940. The movement was totally banned in 1943. Even so the regulations were not always enforced. In many countries the Germans forced the Scouts to disband. There policies, however, varied greatly from country. Policies in Western Europe were generally less harsh than in Eastern Europe. This was especially true of countries with Nordic populations (Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway). The German occupation policies were in Belgium or if there were differing approaches to the more Nordic population in Flanders. They found it especially difficult to enforce regulations when little blond boys were involved--which was the case in Flanders.

Impact of the Collaborationist Groups on Scouting

The German occupation authorities in Belgium never conceived of a consisent policy toward Scouting. This was probably because many Germans simply did not have their hear in going after Belgian boys. German policies varied. After arresting many Scout masters, such as the action in Belgium, the Germans then tried to attract Belgian Scouts to the coolabirationist youth groups. Leon Degrelle who led the Walloon Fascist Movement, was ordered to win the Scouts over to his movement. Degrelle met with Father Frencken, Chaplain-General of the Federation des Scouts Catholique. Degrelle inisted that he had the Scouts very much at heart but that they must conform to the NAZI's New Order or thy would be suppressed. Father Frencken refused to involve the Scouts with Degrelle's movement. That was the last real effort of the Rexists to win over the Scouts. Some Belgian historians believe that the most important factor in the surprising growth in Scoting during the War was the German effort to promote collaborationist youth movements. One author writes, "Their methods were as crude as their ideas, and they were the best recruiting agencies for the Scouts, despite its illegal status."

Danger

Any overt resistance to the Germans in occupied Europe was extremely dangerous. Adults had to think through their options very carefully. After the War many individuals exagerated their resistance efforts. There was collaboration during the war and wide spread efforts to make the best of a very difficult situation. Active partocipation in the Resistance was a very brave action. The Germans and their collaborationist allies were very skilled in cracking resistance cells and arresing members. Youths were not fully aware of the dangers involved. Meerly joining the Scouts meant violating German occupation regulations. Many patriotic Belgian boys were drawn to the lure of danger. What happened was that the number of Scouts actually increased. The numbers of Scouts rose steadily throughout the German occupation. What is especially interested is that even during the earliest period of German occupation when there seemed to be no hope of stopping the NAZIs, that Belgian boys joined the Scouts. I am not entirely sure to what extent boys discussed this step with their parents or even told them about it. The three Scout Associations (the Boy Scouts de Belgique, the Federation des Scouts Catholiques, and the Vlaamsch Verbond der Katholieke Scouts) at the tome of the German invasion had a combined membership of about 17,780 boys (1940. Membership increased to 23,430 boys (1941). And as the Germans increased the severity of the occupatuon regime, even more boys joined the Scouts. A factor here was that German reverses in Russia and the American buildup in England increasingly created the possibility of liberation. Finally the Scouts reported a membership of 41,950 in the final year of German occupation (1944).

Scouting Activities during the Ocupation

Belgian Scouts, despite their proscribed status, during the Occupation engaged in a variety of activities. This included both traditional Scouting activities as well as supporting humanitarian efforts.humanitarian activities.

Scouting activities

The German prohibition of Scouting made any large-scale Scouting activities impossible. This does not mean, however, that Scouting ended. While Scouting was prohibited, Scouts without their uniforms were able to engage in a range of activities. Hiking and camping in the countryside was still possible if done without uniforms and in small groups. While the NAZIs had auceeded in poisoning the minds of many German soldiers toward the Jews and the Slavs, this was not the case for Belgian boys. Few German soldiers had any desire to chase down Belgian boys enjoing the countrside, especially as many Germans had enjoyed the very same thing as boys.

Humanitarian activities

The rigors of the German occupation combined with the Allied strategic bombing campaign created an increasingly serious deprivation in Belgium. More and more Belgians found themselves in need, including children and the elderly. Thus the Scout tradition of doing good deeds took on real importance. The three Belgian Scout associations appointed Commissioners for Service with the expressed purpose of organising and coordinating Scouting's participation in humanitarian projects.
Food programs: Food shortages developed in Belgium early in the War and only got worse as the War progressed. There were several reasons for this. The Germans began shipping available food to the Reich. Hitler with some accuracy understood that the German war effort in World War I had been undermibed by domestic food shortages. He was determined to prevent this in World Wat II and onne way of doing this was to seize fodd in the occupied countries. As the War progressed, damage from the Allied bombing and dislocations of the transportation system also affected food production. Another factor was conscripting Belgians to work in war industries in Reich reduced the agricultural labor pool. In fact, food shortages served the German purposes as it provided a useful tool for population control. Belgian were forced to register to qualigy for raioning cards. Thus it was especially difficult for Jews and those wanted by the Gestapo to hide out. Belgian authorities to prevent starvation and malnourishment set up camps and "foyers" for undernourished children. Scouts played an important role in these programs, sonething they were able to do without running afoul of the German occupation authorities.
Camps des Jeunes: The most important humanitarian project conducted by the Scouts were the "camps des Jeunes," for under-privliged, mal-norished children. These camps were organised mostly by the older Rover Scouts. Children 6-17 years old who were suffering from the effects of malnutrition could participate. Many of the children were the sons and daughters of Belgian prisoners-of-war. Without a bread winner in the family, there was little money to buy food. The Rovers divided the boys into Scout-like Troops and set up a Patrol system. The camps proved to be real success (1941). As aresult, an even greater effort was made (1942). The camps were run during the summer. More than 350 boarding schools turned over their premises and their staffs for August. As a result, 21,000 children had a summer holiday where they got good food. The camps looked after the worst cases of malnutrition. The less severely affected children went to "open-air stations." The need ton equip and provision the camps was a great problem. The Germans who created the situation to begin with, were uninterested in assisting. Here as in World War I, America came to Belgium's assistance. The Red Cross helped to broker an agreement between the Belgian Government in exile in London and the Governments of two neutral countries (Switzerland and Portugal). A quantity of American food was sent to Belgium for needy children. This was on a much smaller scale than American World War I food relief shipments, but it went to some very needy children. The Allies lifted the blockade to allow these shipments to reach Blgiumm. The Germans allowed the shipments to come through. The result was that the children at the camps gined on average 4-6 pounds. Clothing was also a problem, for much the sane reason. Many of the children arrived at the camps wearing only flimsy slippers. At the camp they were given a sturdy galosh with a wooden sole. Not the best kind of shoe, but better than many had. There was also a problem with behavior. Many of the children were orphans or being raised by a mother on her own. Other poor parents were were too occupied with the difficult struggle of providing the bare necesitities to adequately supervise their children. Here Scots played an important role. There were 34 camps staffed entirely by Scouts and the camps known as Prince Baudouin camps (1942). Authorities opened more camps (1943). Some of the camps were coverted to permanent operations. Authorities also increased the number of "open-air" stations. Authorities turned 50 camps over to the Scouts. And in camps that were not fully operated by the Scouts, Rovers commonly played an important role. Scouts continued to play a major role in the program as the Allied armies liberated France and moved north toward Belgium (1944). The success of these camps was a major accimplishment of Belgian Scouts during the War.
Adults: Children were not the only section of the population aided by Belgian Scouts and Scouters. The Federation des Scouts Catholiques created a special sub-section of its Rover Branch called the Route des Hommes. This was not merely an association of former Scouts but was designed to attract men of all ages towards the movement and give them the moral help so needed. The response was substantial and many men of 40 and more began to adopt the Scout Law as the basis of their professionaland family life. They took also to other Scouting activities, learned to cook over camp-fires and went hiking. One Belgian writes, "I myself have seen a doctor 35 years of age taking the Scout Oath. It was an impressive moment." A Flemish Scout Organisation paid particular attention to boys entering their teen years, for whom they made special provision.

German Policies (1943-44)

The Germans eventually suppressed Scouting altogether (1943). I'm not sure why the Germans changed their policy. I uspect it was the deteriorating war situation and the involvement of Scouts in Resistance efforts. This involved specific regulations designed to make it difficukt to engage in Scouting even informally. The Germans prohibited wearing of uniform or uniform garments, the use of compass or maps, practicing the Morse Code, or walking in groups of three or more boys. These orders were disobeyed whenever possible, and generally the Germans appear to have been somewhat uncertain as to their course of action. The NAZIs had succeeded in poisoing the minds of the average German soldier, most of whom had been Hitler Youth, toward the Jews so they could be brutal with even Jewish children. Brutality toward little Belgian boys in short pants was another matter even for the Germans. (This was especially true in Flanders where many of the boys were blond and blue eyed.) In one town in Southern Belgium, for example, the Germans arrested a number of young Scouts carrying a totem pole, which they confiscated, but a few days later gave it back. In Chimay, despite the efforts of the Rexist Burgomaster, the Scouts were able to maintain-their headquarters in a house.

Regional Experiences

Scouting activities varied around the country. The movement was especially strong in Abtwep.

Antwerp

The Antwerp Scouts were particularly active during the German occupation. They were at first particularly concerned with the Belgian Army which after surrendeing were interned in POW camps in the Reich. Most only had the clothes on their back. Abtwerp Scouts collected clothes, socks, underwear and shoes for the POWS. The Scouts began going from door to door putting printed notices in the letter-boxes informing householders that they would return on a certain day the following week to collect parcels. They did this in plain clothes as the German had banned Scouting an wearing Scout uniforms. (The Germans especially frowned on uniforms.) The Scouts on collection day used handcarts as the occupation restricted access to gasoline and trucks. One Scout reported, "though the job was a hard one, we had a nice haul." Subsequently the Scouts conducted a similar drive for British POWS. (The BEF in both World War I and II had attemoyed to aid Belgium.) This did not contrevene Germam regulations, but it obviously was not well received by the Germans.) The Antwerp Scouts seem determined to continue Scouting despite thecefforts of German authorities to supress the movement. They even sent a letter to the King Leopold, who the Germans held under house arrest, that they were going to continue the movement. The Antwerp Scouts also conducted a drive for candy and toys for sick children in hospitals. (Candy becajme very difficult to get in occupied Europe as the Allied naval embago made it impossible to import sugar.)

Liege

Fourteen members of a Rover Crew in Liege participated actively in the Resistance. Thir average age was 22 years. They established one of the first information gathering sections in Belgium. Under cover of their Scouting activities they spied on the Germans, sending radio reports to the Allies in Britain. They received supply drops from the Allies. Collecting informtion was one thing, but sending radio reports was incredibly dangerous. The Gestapo became expert in locaging the location of transmitters. The Germans arrested and executed half of these youths. Three others were arrested by the Gestapo, but managed to escape, The seven survivors managed to reach safty inBritain. Five of them became paratroops and the sixth became a fighter pilot. After the War, the Minister of National Defence awarded a special decoration to be sewn on the flag of this Troop.

Hiding Fugitives

Many Belgians were forced into hiding during the German occupation. The Jews were the first tob attempt to hide. The deteriorating war situation forced the NAZIs to intensify their war effort. They had taken on not only Britain, but incredibly the Soviet Union and the United States as well. German industry dif not have the capacity to support such a huge effort. They were forced to rationalize their industrial effort and to expand production as best they could. They also began to conscript workers in occupied countries to work in the Reich. This often meant youths. Many Belgians avoided conscription. This meant going into hiding and thus no way of obtaining rationing books. This occurred throughout 1943 and the beginning of 1944. The fugitives hid in the forests and were often sustained by groups of Scouts who gradually formed a national network. This same network also his deserters and Allied airmen. The route from Allied bases in Britain ro targets in the Reich crossed over the Netherlands and Belgium. The number of airmen shot down began to increase in 1943 when America entered the air war and German air defenses improved. ThecResistance opened up routes from Belgium through France to sfteyb in neutral Spain. Belgian Scouts played a role in this opeation. They helped hide and feed them and leed them south to France. A primary objective of the Gestapo in Belgium was to disrupt this network.

Liberation (September 1944)

The Allies after liberating Paris pressed north into Belgium. The British reached d Brussels (September 2) and Antwerp (September 3). They were met by jubilant civilians realizing that the dark years of NAZIdom were finally over. There was hope in the Allied camp that with the German collapse in France that the NAZIs could be defeated in 1944. Antwep was the key to the Allied thrust on into Germany. The Allies reqired a deep water port in Belgium. Supplies were still being landed in Normandy and trucked through France via the Red Ball Express. This was creating enormous logistical problems and the Allies needed to shorten its supply lines. While the Allies after taking Brussels reached Antwerp the next day. Opening the port proved to be a much more difficult undertaking. The Germans had fortified islands in the Scheldt estuary. Montgomery did not initially grasp the importance. The Germans evem though cut off by the advancing Allies held out recognizing the importance of keeping the port closed. The Belgian Resistance played an important role in the costly effort to clear the Scheldt. [Moulton] Once in Allied hands, Antwerp and its harbor became a target for NAZI V-2 attacks. < On Sept. 4th, Brussels was liberated by Belgian troops (the government-in-exile had continued to rule over the BELGIAN CONGO and RUANDA-URUNDI, and had recruited Belgians in exile). Late in 1944, most of Belgium was liberated.

Many Belgians including the Scouts remember the day of liberation which varied, depending on where they lived in Belgium. The Guards' armour reached Brussels The British tanks reached Antwerp (September 4). A Scout master recalls, "We heard the sound of guns. They were there. We could not believe it. I issued orders to every one available, 'Now for a fight in the open.' I got on the road and heard a large noise far away. I rushed down the road and there is a huge Sherman tank. I ran like a madman. I climbed on to the tank and I asked 'American?" They answered, ' No, British."' Soon British troops were everywhere in Brussels, in Antwerp, in Ghent, in all the lovely brick cities of Belgium, which for 5 long years had lain under the heel of a hated oppressor. In Antwerp they sang songs and drank wine. That night "a very merry, very drunk sergeant arrived at Scout headquarters saying he must get back to his unit but had no idea where it was. Asked if he could remember the district, he said, "If you could take me to a statue of a lady with a baby I shall know where I am." The Scouts thought for a long time, then light broke and they remembered the statue in a square of a coloured woman holding a baby in her arms, representing the fight against slavery in the Congo. So two young Scouts took an arm each and put the sergeant on his right way home. In Liege forty Scouts soughtb to rescue the priceless volumes of the University library. The Germans in retreat had set fire to the central telephone exchange nearby and the firemen had only just succeeded in extinguishing the blaze. The water from their hoses must be damaging the books. They went to the University, emptied the library, working many hours to do so, and saved from grave, if not mortal injury, thousands of most valuable volumes."

War Work (September 1944-May 1945)

The liberation of Belgium of course did not end World War II. The War in Eurioe went on for another 8 months. And the German even invaded Belgium for a third time (December 1944), setting in motion the brutal Battle of the Bulge which was foight almost entirely in Belgium and Luxembourg. Belgian Scouts could now openly support the Allied war effort and wear the uniforms that most of the boys had outgrown. Belgium was mostly liberated by the British and Canadians and thus most Scouts worked with the British and Canadian units unyil the Buldge brought in the Americans in large numbers. Brussels Rover Scouts served as stretcher bearers in the hospitals for about 6 months. Some were attached to the surgical wards and some to the X-ray department. They also performed services for the wounded, such as bringing them drinks, helping to undress, wash and shave them, and they tried "to give them some distractions." These took the form of organising games and concerts. Altogether the Rovers worked 37,000 hours in the hospitals, their day being divided into three shifts. This effort ended (March 1944), By this time most Rovers had enlisted in the Belgian Army. The Boy Scouts de Belgique reoped their Brussels headquarters, setting up a mixed club for Brussels Scouts and Guides and for their Allied guests. Entertainments were organized every night, including folk dancing, and choral singing. The Scouts also organized lectures and intensive Scout training. They hosted many British and other Allied Scouts, Rovers and Rangers. A special feature of the club was the camp-fire of a Saturday evening, when the traditional sing-song was held. The British found to their delight and amazement that their Belgian friends used English song-books and could sing many of the old favourites as well as, if not better than they could. Every evening closed with "Auld Lang Syne," sung in French.