Secret Army

The Secret Army ( or AS, , GL) was a faction within the Belgian Resistance active during the German occupation of Belgium during World War II. Founded in August 1940 as the Belgian Legion, the Secret Army changed its name on a number of occasions during its existence, adopting its final appellation in June 1944. It was the largest resistance group active in the country. The Secret Army incorporated many former officers from the defeated Belgian Army and, politically, was dominated by right-wing conservatives and royalists. Though relations were sometimes strained, the Secret Army enjoyed the closest relations of any large resistance movement with the Belgian government in exile. Foundation The origin of the Secret Army can be traced back to shortly after the Belgian surrender after the German invasion of 10–28 May 1940. A number of career officers from the defeated Belgian Army joined together to create the first small resistance organisations, such as the "Belgian Legion" (Légion Belge or Belgisch Legioen) and "Reconstructed Belgian Army" (Armée Belge Reconstituée or Heropgericht Belgisch Leger). The members involved were generally right-wing in their political views and hostile to pre-war democratic politics. They strongly identified with King Leopold III, expressing hostility towards Belgian politicians and communists as well as the German occupiers. In the spring of 1941, the Reconstructed Belgian Army and Belgian Legion merged, keeping the Belgian Legion name, under the leadership of , and Jules Bastin. The organisation had units across the country, with as many as 50,000 members, and its own local organisation. Activities