Both my grandmothers told me about the German occupation of Belgium, one of them even fled the panzers’ advance in Compiègne, France. She would tell horrifying stories of civilians getting bombed, french soldiers on the run, and the daily struggle it was to get food or clothes.
My grandfather, Émiel Vincke, also was part of the conflict, he was a bit older. He quickly showed he didn’t like the nazi occupation by sabotaging german vehicles. However, he had to flee in 1942, being tracked down by the Gestapo. He ended up in England, fighting for the Royal air force as a flight crew member on Halifax bombers.

His parents as well were involved. My great grandfather, Marcel Vincke, was a ww1 veteran and had a hatred towards anything slightly german since then. Of course, he quickly fell into resistance, together with my great grandmother, Malvina Verstraete, who was a nurse at the time. They most notably hid a jewish family from 1942 to 1944 in their attic.
All these tales, and many more, made me interested in the topic and as everyone else, I watched countless times WW2 movies and documentaries.

As a language teacher, part of my last years’ dégree, I studied and graduated from Belfast St Mary university college, in 19th century history of England, and 20th century European history. After specialising in Napoleonic era, I now focus on Normandy, the rich history of the region and the events of ww2, from a military but as well, a civilian point of view and I try to dépict a true and accurate portrait of what the war brought to this area.