As featured in

Gun Mart Magazine

All in all, I consider myself quite fortunate to have encountered these books and recommend them highly. Along with leaving no factual stone unturned, Veranneman includes scores of archival photos and extensive notes in each book. Both were obviously a labor of love and should have a prominent place on the shelf of every history buff.

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GoodReads, Kathryn J. Atwood

Veranneman’s book reads well. The photographs and campaign maps are excellent. A host of interesting details emerge in passing, such as the information that the guns in some Belgian forts were hand-me-downs from the old German Imperial Army given to Belgium as reparations after 1918.

War in History Books Reviews, reviewed by John Rogister, Institut de France

An interesting read.

Military Modelling

Geography and cruel fate caused the small but strategic country of Belgium to be an early and tragic victim of World Wars I and II. In each case, it was amongst the first countries in Western Europe to be invaded by Germany, which triggered both cataclysmic events. Unfairly, in neither case was Belgium's role given its proper place by historians or writers of political and military history.

An outstanding correction on all counts has been made in an excellent book by retired Belgian ambassador Jean-Michel Verraneman, an outstanding and senior member of its diplomatic service. With profound insight and balanced judgement, he offers a throughly researched and greatly detailed explanation of those historic events, which affected almost all of Europe's countries, offering special emphasis on Belgium.

The book thus offers a balanced view of the action, strengths and weaknesses, morale of both sides. It is also aided by excellent maps and a handsome collection photographs of fortifications, equipment and individuals -- many from the author's own collection. Altogether, it is a splendid -- and much needed -- account of Belgium's little known role in both wars. It would be of experts' and laymen's interest to read it, to gain a more detailed picture.

William Mader

This is an interesting book, and one that covers a slightly different view of WWII...I found this to be an engaging read, and some new perspectives of what happened in Belgium during this period.

Military Modelling

This is a much overdue correction of the neglect of the Belgian story, the author has provided an honest account of Belgium's very varied experiences through five years of conflict, occupation and oppression to liberation. A well-told story. Highly recommended.

Firetrench

This is a long overdue account of Belgiu's role in World War Two. Jean-Michel Veranneman has really gone beyond the usual account of the storm Blitzkrieg ravaging neutral Belgium.
He gives a detailed account of the 18-day resistance offered by the outnumbered and outgunned Belgian military. Equally interesting are the chapters on the realities of the occupation, the overseas contingents that fought on after capitulation and the Belgians that fought for the Nazi regime later in the war.
Fascinating stuff.

Despatches (The Guild of Battlefield Guides)