War and peace

Victory

Sixty years ago with the end of the Second World War came the euphoria of victory. A victory wonderfully captured in a photo published by the newspaper Le Soir on 10 May 1945. The concentration camps and prisons were also liberated, including Allach, a Dachau sub-camp near Munich.

Prison camps were liberated

Founded in 1951, the "Fratemelle des amicales de camps de concentration et prisons nazis" is an overarching organization representing a clutch of member associations. It defends their moral interests and preaches respect for victims, getting involved in any initiative against amnesty.
The prison camps were liberated, but the suffering of their inmates can never be forgotten. Wilchar has poignantly illustrated it.

Artist Wilchar

Wilchar, the penname of Wilhem Pauwels, was born in 1910 and was educated at the art schools of Saint-Gilles and Brussels. In the thirties he designed posters for the socialist and communist parties. In 1942 he took part in resistance activities, but he was arrested the following year and interned at Fort of Breendonck. The artist articulated this bleak experience in a series of 32 gouaches. Since the fifties he has devoted himself to linocut and painting.