Full Record |
| Title |
A la Population de Mons [To the Inhabitants of Mons] |
| Collection |
Imperial War Museum: Posters of Conflict - The Visual Culture of Public Information and Counter Information |
| Artist |
Unknown |
| Printer |
Imprimerie Léon Leborgne-Delys, Mons |
| Publisher/Sponsor |
Administration Communale de Mons |
| Date |
08.09.1944 |
| Concept |
peace / victory celebrations, commemorative, emblems, flag / banner / standard, royalty, POW, military personnel, atrocities / war crimes, animals |
| Description |
whole: the image is positioned in the upper centre, with the title and text separate and occupying the remainder, in black. The official ink stamp of the city of Mons is placed in the lower right. All set against a white background, and held within a border of red, yellow and black ribbon decorated with shields featuring the Belgian emblem of a lion rampant.
image: the coat of arms of the city of Mons.
text: A la Population de Mons
La Ville de Mons, qui tut occupée comme au cours de la guerre précédente pendant près de 52 mois, vient d'être libérée à nouveau par de puissants alliés, du joug qui l'opprimait.
Le territoire belge est presqu'entièrement nettoyé des hordes teutonnes qui avaient, une seconde fois, traîtreusement et sans le moindre prétexte, envahi la Belgique fidèle et loyale observatrice de ses devoirs et engagement internationaux.
Pendant cette occupation bien plus cruelle et barbare que la précédente, l'ennemi s'est efforcé d'exploiter perfidement la trahison d'une faction belge qui l'a servi et qui subira sans délai le châtiment de son crime.
A Mons, ces misérables constituaient une infime minorité. La Population laissera à la Justice le soin de châtier impitoyablement.
Nous comptons sur la bonne volonté de tous pour que l'ordre soit respecté. Nous invitons la population à se remettre avec ardeur au travail car la fin de la guerre peut dépendre de cet effort commun.
Aux Armées Alliés et spécialement à la splendide et brillante Armée Américaine qui a libéré le sol de Mons, nous disons du plus profond du cœur, Merci!
Notre pensée va aussi vers tous nos concitoyens déportés et prisonniers encore détenus en Allemagne et dont nous souhaitons le très prochain retour et nous avons enfin une reconnaissance infinie envers toutes ces phalanges qui ont mené si généreusement et si courageusement le combat à l'intérieur.
Nous saluons avec enthousiasme notre héroïque armée en campagne.
Nous nous inclinons avec le plus profund respect devant tous nos compatriotes tombés au champ d'honneur.
Vive le ROI! Vive la BELGIQUE!
Le Collège des Bourgmestre et Echevins: [list of names].
Le Secrétaire intérimaire, Franz FRIART
Mons, le 8 septembre 1944.
[ink stamp text follows] ADMINISTRATION COMMUNALE DE MONS - HAINAUT
Mons - Imprimerie Léon LEBORGNE-DELYS, Grand'Rue, 21
E, H et C Depuse [?] No3227.B
[To the inhabitants of Mons. The city of Mons, which was occupied as during the previous war for nearly 52 months, has just been liberated again from the yoke that oppressed it by powerful allies. Belgian territory has been almost entirely cleansed of the Teutonic hordes who had for a second time, treacherously and without the slightest pretext, invaded faithful, loyal Belgium, which was observing its international duties and commitments. During that occupation, much crueller and more barbarous than the previous one, the enemy endeavoured perfidiously to exploit the treason of a Belgian faction which served it, and which will suffer punishment for its crime without delay. In Mons, these wretches constituted a tiny minority. The population will leave it to the law to punish them without pity. We rely on the good will of all so that order may be respected. We invite the population to get back to work with zeal, for the end of the war may depend on that joint effort. To the Allied Armies, and especially to the splendid, brilliant American Army which liberated the soil of Mons, we say Thank you, from bottom of our hearts! Our thoughts go out too to all our fellow citizens who have been deported and are prisoners still held in Germany, and we hope for their very near return, and finally we are infinitely grateful towards all those phalanxes that so generously and so courageously led the fight inside the country. We enthusiastically salute our heroic army in the field. We bow our heads with the deepest respect before all our compatriots who have fallen in the field of honour. Long live the King! Long live Belgium! College consisting of the Burgomaster and Aldermen: [list of names]. The interim Secretary, Franz Friart. Mons, 8 September 1944. [ink stamp text follows] Communal Administration of Mons - Hainaut. Mons - Léon Leborgne-Delys, Printers, Grand'Rue, 21] |
| Object |
coat of arms, ribbon, shield |
| Id Number Current Accession |
IWM PST 5651 |
| Location Creation Site |
Belgium |
| Measurements Dimensions |
730 mm x 546 mm |
| Format Series Notes |
No. 3227.B. |
| Event |
WW2 Belgian Home Front |
| Related Country |
Belgium BE, United States of America US, Allied Powers AP, Germany (pre 1945 and post 1990) DE |
| Text Language |
French |
| Rights |
Belgium Government |
| Style Period Period |
1939-1945 |
| Work Type |
poster |
|
