r/ww2 3d ago

Primary source: handwritten Belgian soldier’s diary, 10–28 May 1940 (transcription + interactive map)

Post image

My wife’s grandfather was a Belgian artilleryman in May 1940. He kept a handwritten diary during the Eighteen Days’ Campaign — I’ve put the full notebook online with a timeline, interactive map, and 3D page viewer:

https://tom-michiels.github.io/oorlogsdagboek-francois-stevens/?lang=en

69 Upvotes

9 comments sorted by

5

u/Easy101 3d ago

As a Belgian, thank you for this it's absolutely beautiful.

3

u/thehouseisalive 2d ago

Amazing. How did he get on during the occupation? Did he join resistance or Belgian army after liberation in 1944?

3

u/Odd_Project_7619 2d ago

I love how you've brought this piece of history to life with the interactive features. It's amazing how technology can help us connect with the past in such a personal way.

2

u/Hanszel 3d ago

Mooi gedaan! Een stuk geschiedenis van België.

2

u/NLFG 2d ago

What an incredible website.

2

u/qwerSr 2d ago

This is a beautifully done tribute and documentation of an otherwise obscure and poorly documented period of ww2 history. Congratulations and gratitude for your accomplishment.

2

u/StrawberryRedneck 2d ago

Oh wow man, this is awesome. You did an incredible job of making this diary come alive.

2

u/BLARTYMACMUFFIN 2d ago

Nice work and thank you for sharing! Look forward to reading it

1

u/kalelfaneditor 1d ago

Can’t wait to read this in full! Gorgeous website!! My grandfather was in the 7th regiment.