When was Belgium fully liberated in World War II?

Belgium's complete liberation occurred in early February 1945, not September 1944 as commonly believed. While Allied troops entered Belgium in early September 1944 and liberated Brussels on September 3rd and Antwerp on September 4th, this marked only the beginning of a prolonged liberation process. The Germans retreated to fortified positions along the Scheldt estuary, controlling access to Antwerp's vital port. The Battle of the Scheldt from October to November 1944 involved fierce fighting by Canadian, Polish, and British forces to secure the port. Even after this victory, eastern regions like the Ardennes remained contested. The German surprise offensive in December 1944—the Battle of the Bulge—reoccupied areas including Bastogne, St. Vith, and La Roche. Final German forces were not expelled from Belgian territory until early February 1945. Thus, Belgium's liberation spanned approximately five months from September 1944 to February 1945, involving multiple military campaigns and shifting front lines.

📖 Read the full article: Belgium's Liberation 1944-45: The Painful Path to Freedom