Chapter 8 Transition and Memory

Abstract

While in Belgium and the Netherlands extensive judicial and administrative purges of the mayoralty were unavoidable, the north of France was able to skip this step and use quick democratic elections to re-legitimize the mayoralty. Both approaches, however, left many local wounds open and issues unresolved. In particular the issue of information flows—about systemic denunciation of local citizens to the Germans—remained unaddressed. The purge procedures created enduring trial narratives about the collaboration of mayors that influenced collective memory construction and even dominated public opinion for decades. An informed and nuanced view on a (collaborationist) mayor under wartime remains difficult in many local communities even today.