[NFHale]

“...Unless France goes belly up, then Germany might get the itch to conquer. ...”

Q: Why did the French plant so many trees in Paris...

A: So the Germans could march in the Shade.

(baddabing!)

My old man (WWII Airborne) helped liberate those people. He said the resentment in the air of Americans was tangible. I guess when you get nationally humiliated three times in the course of a century and a half (1870, 1914, 1940) that you just naturally hate anyone that pulls your fat out of the fire.

Belgians, on the other hand, Dad said they loved our guys; took them into their homes, fed them, etc.

What a difference...and Belgians are a mix of both German and French cultures, I believe...go figure, right?

They may be different now, but...gratitude it seems, was in short supply while the old man was there. Except for the hookers...they LOVED “les rich Amis”...

[wolfman23601]

In Medieval times, Belgium was Flanders, which was independent of both France and Germany. The French kings claimed the territory, but the Flemish did their own thing, even siding with England in the Hundred Years War. I’m not schooled enough in history to know how they became Belgium.

[expatpat]

Dutch and French.

[bill1952]

He said the resentment in the air of Americans was tangible... you just naturally hate anyone that pulls your fat out of the fire.

That would mirror the thoughts of my late father

Belgians, on the other hand, Dad said they loved our guys; took them into their homes, fed them, etc.

Again agreed. - Dad had to crash land his B17 in a field just outside Ghent, Belgium. - They assisted 100% in a wild escape of Dad and his crew in a dash to the channel where they were picked up by a C47 rescue aircraft.

you can zoom in & read his story here:

from the book, 452nd Bombardment Group

What a difference...and Belgians are a mix of both German and French cultures, I believe...go figure, right?

I was in the Ghent area for some time in the 90s & there appears to be a division between the Northern & Southern areas of the country. Where we were, it would not be good to be associated with the French :)