Americans in Occupied Belgium, 1914-1918

Ed Klekowski, Libby Klekowski

ISBN 10: 0786472553 / ISBN 13: 9780786472550

Edité par McFarland and Co Inc, US, 2014

Belgium in the First World War: the first country invaded, the longest occupied, and the last liberated. In 1914, Belgium was home to a large American colony: people working for U.S. corporations, diplomats with the American Legation and Americans in the arts - Brussels was cheaper than Paris. After the invasion, American journalists, writers and adventurers flocked to the invaded country to follow the action; in Belgium, military restrictions on travel were less stringent than in England or France.As the most industrialised country in Europe, Belgium depended upon trade and food imports to sustain its economy. The war isolated Belgium and wholesale starvation was imminent by the fall of 1914. Herbert Hoover and his Commission for Relief in Belgium raised funds to purchase and import foods to sustain Belgium and, eventually, Occupied France as well. Idealistic American volunteers (including some Rhodes scholars) supervised food distribution in the occupation zone. Along the Western Front in Belgium, hundreds of Americans served (illegally) in the British and Canadian armies. This book tells the story of the German invasion, occupation and retreat from the perspective of Americans who were there. N° de réf. du vendeur LU-9780786472550

Synopsis :

Belgium in the First World War--the first country invaded, the longest occupied, and when the war finally ended, the first forgotten. In 1914, Belgium was home to a large American colony which included representatives of American companies, artists, writers and diplomats with the American Legation. After the invasion, American journalists and adventurers flocked there to follow the action; military restrictions on travel were less stringent than in England or France.

As the most industrialized country in Europe, Belgium depended upon trade and food imports to support its economy. The war isolated Belgium and wholesale starvation was imminent by the fall of 1914. Herbert Hoover and his Commission for Relief in Belgium raised funds to purchase and import food to sustain Belgium and, eventually, Occupied France as well. Idealistic American volunteers (including some Rhodes scholars) supervised food distribution in the occupation zone. Along the Western Front in Belgium, hundreds of Americans served (illegally) in the British and Canadian armies. This book tells the story of the German invasion, occupation and retreat from the perspective of Americans who were there.

À propos de l'auteur: For years, Ed and Libby Klekowski have spent time in a farmhouse in Lorraine, exploring the nearby villages and forests for the artifacts of war. Their discoveries were the basis of two hour-long American Public Television documentaries on World War I. They live in Leverett, Massachusetts.

Détails bibliographiques

Titre : Americans in Occupied Belgium, 1914-1918
Éditeur : McFarland and Co Inc, US
Date d'édition : 2014
Reliure : Paperback
Etat : New