Eupen-Malmedy facts for kids

Eupen-Malmedy, also known as the East Cantons, is a special area in Belgium. It's made up of several cantons, which are like small regions. This area used to be part of Prussia, a powerful kingdom that later became part of Germany. The main towns here are Eupen and Malmedy.

After World War I, these lands, along with a tiny place called Neutral Moresnet, became part of Belgium. This happened in 1920 because of an important agreement called the Treaty of Versailles. Some French-speaking Belgians used to call them the Redeemed Cantons, meaning they were "brought back."

This map shows how the borders of Eupen-Malmedy changed between 1920 and 1945.

A Timeline of Eupen-Malmedy

This timeline shows important events in the history of Eupen-Malmedy.

Becoming Part of Prussia

• 1815: The area around Malmedy became part of Prussia. Prussia later became part of Germany in 1871.

After World War I

• 1918-1920: After World War I, the area was controlled by the Allied forces. British troops were there first, then Belgian troops took over.
• 1919: On June 28, Germany officially gave Eupen-Malmedy to Belgium under the Treaty of Versailles.
• 1920: On September 20, the towns of Eupen, Malmedy, and Sankt-Vith were officially added to Belgium. They were fully made part of Belgium by 1925.
• 11926: The Belgian government thought about selling the East Cantons back to Germany. However, France strongly disagreed with this idea.

During World War II

• 1940-1945: During World War II, from July 1940 to February 1945, Germany took back Eupen, Malmedy, and Sankt-Vith. They also took a village from Luxembourg and the former Neutral Moresnet.

After World War II

• 1956: Belgium and Germany signed a peace treaty. Germany officially agreed that taking the land in 1940 was against the law.

Language and Government Changes

• 1960-1964: Belgium set up clear language borders. This divided the East Cantons. Eupen and Sankt-Vith became German-speaking areas. People who spoke French there still had special rights. Malmedy and Waimes became French-speaking areas, with special rights for German speakers.
• 1966: A Belgian law was passed about using languages in government. It officially recognized the "region of the German language." This meant that federal government services had to answer questions from German speakers in German.
• 1973: The Council of the German-speaking Community was created. This council helps manage the German-speaking areas.
• 1989: A new law was passed that undid the legal effects of Germany's takeover during World War II.
• 1993: The Council of the German-speaking Community was recognized as one of Belgium's regional governments in the new federal constitution. The German-speaking area remained part of the Walloon economic area.
• 2005: The Council's power grew. It gained the right to oversee religious schools and its nine local communities.

Images for kids

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  An 1843 map of Belgium, with Eupen and Malmedy shown as part of the Kingdom of Prussia

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  A view of Eupen in 1900, when the area was under German rule.

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  This map shows the lands Germany lost after World War I. Eupen-Malmedy is marked as "8."

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  German soldiers entering Malmedy in May 1940. People are welcoming them with Nazi symbols.

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  The main building of the German-speaking Community of Belgium in Eupen, which was created in 1984.

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  Road signs in Eupen that are written in both German and French.

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  A modern view of the town hall in Malmedy, flying the Belgian flag.

See also

In Spanish: Eupen-Malmedy para niños