Circular to Citizens by Samuel Brogniez, the Socialist Mayor of Farciennes (Belgium). June 21, 1942 – Two Months Before He Was Dismissed from His Position as Mayor of Farciennes Due to the Formation of “Greater Charleroi” (a Province That Centralized Several Regions During World War II, Including His Own).
As mayor, Samuel Brogniez sent out no fewer than 157 circulars to citizens, expressing his views on various administrative matters, as he did not want to use the German-controlled press to inform the commune’s residents of ongoing updates.
In this official circular, sent two months before his dismissal, he expresses his opinion at length, explaining that the centralization of a large number of districts under a single area called “Charleroi” would harm the population and could bring disaster upon Belgian cities. He elaborates that in the current situation, each region has its unique economic characteristics and social services, and unifying them would only harm the population of each one. He further adds that significant changes of this kind should not be made in the midst of a war and should be carried out under different psychological, social, economic, and political conditions “when we are at home.” He discusses the potential costs of such a step if the Axis powers were to win the war, and conversely, the cost if the Allies were victorious.
“I believe it is my duty as mayor of one of the communes covered by Greater Charleroi to write you this letter. It is dictated to me by my conscience as a Belgian and by my knowledge and experience in Charleroi. I hope that no reasonable person will insult me by thinking that these words are dictated by personal interest… I believe I have said enough to position my stance on this great issue, a stance shared, I know, by many citizens and the majority of my fellow mayors in the ‘Pays Noir’.” He concludes by expressing his hope that citizens will accept his view for the sake of “our dear Belgium.”
Samuel Brogniez [1885-1945] – A social activist in Belgium, who was appointed Mayor of Farciennes in 1939. With the outbreak of the war, he created countless jobs for citizens in the commune and established a relief committee that began operations on June 2, 1940. During the early part of the war, he sent out circulars to citizens addressing various press publications and sharing his opinions based on the different developments. In the midst of the war, he established children’s homes, playgrounds, and numerous industrial centers. On August 31, 1942—two months after issuing this circular—Samuel Brogniez was dismissed from his position as mayor due to the formation of Greater Charleroi. He then joined the resistance fighters in the UNJC 269 unit, working as an agent receiving orders from London and was responsible for distributing underground press. Samuel was arrested three times by the Germans, one of which in April 1941, he was imprisoned for about two weeks. He was often among the first to be arrested when the Nazis sought hostages, but he managed to evade capture each time. He passed away in June 1945.
[7] leaves. 27×19 cm. Good condition.
