[A Belgian surgical team at the Battle of Normandie in 1944]

During the year 1992, the main episodes of the battle of Normandy (1944) were commemorated with solemnity and dignity. The workmen of the victory, in what was called the greatest Battle of History, were essentially the American, British and Canadian troops. But, units composed of men from some European countries, particularly Frenchmen, Poles, Dutchmen and Belgians were also involved. Some of these units were engaged in action only at the beginning of August 1944, as soon as the whole peninsula of Cotentin, from Cael to Avranches, was firmly held by the Allied Forces and an offensive war through the Continent was considered. Apparently, the Allied Supreme Command had decided to preserve a reduced effective force of these units, during the most bloody phase of the battle for the conquest of a strong bridgehead. So they were kept in a position to participate in the liberation of their respective countries. In this paper, the author evokes a Belgian medical participation in the campaign of Normandy.