Koen
06-03-2005, 06:38 AM
During a visit in Congo this week, belgian minister of defence met with Congolese veterans of the 'force publique'. The 'force publique' was the army of the Belgian Congo, it was composed of congolese troops and lower-ranks NCO's, and belgian officers and higher ranking NCO's.
It served mainly to maintain order in the Congo, but participated in WWI and II campaigns.
The Force Publique was mobilised at the end of 1940, and these soldiers fought in Ethiopia, Somalia, Birma and Madagascar. On 3rd july 1940 the 3rd brigade of the Force Publique was victorious in Saļo (Ethiopia) en captured 9 italian generals and 15 000 troops. The 3rd brigade suffered 500 casualties, but helped forget the belgian defeat of may 1940.
It is the first time since the Congolese independance in 1960 that such memorial was organised.
It served mainly to maintain order in the Congo, but participated in WWI and II campaigns.
The Force Publique was mobilised at the end of 1940, and these soldiers fought in Ethiopia, Somalia, Birma and Madagascar. On 3rd july 1940 the 3rd brigade of the Force Publique was victorious in Saļo (Ethiopia) en captured 9 italian generals and 15 000 troops. The 3rd brigade suffered 500 casualties, but helped forget the belgian defeat of may 1940.
It is the first time since the Congolese independance in 1960 that such memorial was organised.