Churchill’s Guests: Britain and the Belgian Exiles during World War II

When the Belgian exiles arrived in 1940, the British considered them (and especially their leaders) to be unhelpful ingrates. Individual exiles soon made firm friends, but it would take longer for the exile government to improve its public image. This study provides a comprehensive look at a wartime partnership from the perspective of the junior partner, detailing the evolution of relations from awkward tolerance in 1940 to full teamwork that lasted from 1942 through 1945. Typical accounts of the Second World War concentrate on the economic exploits and resources of the Big Three, while glossing over the role of other nations. Allen presents a truer picture of the Allied war effort as a cooperative coalition that depended on more than just America, Britain, and Russia.

British respect was partially earned through the strong economic power of Belgian’s large gold reserve and the varied resources of the huge Belgian Congo. Differences with the British occurred over the control of links to the Resistance, food relief to Belgium, and propaganda. The Belgian experience has enough in common with other large exile groups to provide readers a reasonable grasp of the overall contribution to British life and the war effort by the exiles as a group. The personal bonds and patterns of cooperation forged in wartime London would help create vital postwar military and economic organizations.