History of the Walloons, the French-speaking people of present-day Belgium, whose ancestors fled to the Netherlands, England, Sweden and the Americas to flee religious persecution during the Protestant Reformation.

Relating to the French church assembling in the crypt of Canterbury cathedral.

Linking actual instances of language use with structures of social power in francophone Belgium, Gross outlines the history and contemporary configuration of rod puppetry in Liège. The analysis of this working class performance art moves between what occurs on and off stage. As puppeteers speak in other voices, sometimes in Walloon and sometimes in French, they create a sociolinguistic model based on 19th century renditions of medieval texts, the voices of past puppeteers, and the language that surrounds them. The high level of linguistic reflexivity created by the regional language movement has led to frequent metalinguistic and metapragmatic commentaries within the puppet shows. This complex speech genre embedded in social context shows the influence of identity struggles: from local class oppositions to imperial designs abroad. Keeping a tight focus on language, Speaking in Other Voices examines the process of entextualization and recontextualization as stories of war and religion are transmitted to succeeding generations.

The 28th SS Volunteer Grenadier Division ‘Wallonien’, which mostly consisted of French-speaking citizens of the Kingdom of Belgium – first as part of the Wehrmacht, and later in the ranks of the Waffen SS – fought as one of the national legions against the Red Army on the Eastern Front in February 1942. The Walloons gained fame during the legendary resistance in Cherkassy Pocket, where in early 1944 they lost more than fifty percent of their strength. In the summer of the same year they fought a defensive battle in Estonia in the region of Dorpat, and in February 1945 were directed to Western Pomerania, where until the last days of the war they put up a stubborn resistance to the armies of Stalin. This book, which was originally published in Polish, is based on the unpublished memoirs of participants of these events, and is the first account to describe the Walloons’ participation in the mysterious Pomeranian campaign in such a detailed manner. It tells the tragic story of the Walloon volunteers, who at all costs tried to stop the onrush of the enemy standing at the gates of the Third Reich. The Pomeranian odyssey led by the controversial and infamous Volksführer Leon Degrelle went on for three months, and the trial meant death and courage. Stargard, Altdamm, Neu Rosow – these are locations, that became synonyms for unconditional sacrifice. They are also a symbol of kameradschaft, of a group of tough guys and daredevils, who were determined to stake everything on one throw of the dice. The book is illustrated with unique photographs, known so far only to a small group of people. These are complemented by a special comic created by the French artist Godus and with images made with great attention to detail, which were produced for historical reconstruction, showing silhouettes of the Walloon soldiers. It is worth noting that some of these were made in the same location where the fighting raged in April 1945.

Raymond was born on October 13, 1922 in Dampremy (province of Hainaut, Belgium). During the turbulent times of the occupation in Belgium he joined the "Legion Wallonie" on August 8, 1941 at the same time as his father Marcel and Rexist leader Leon Degrelle. He was initially attached to the 1st Platoon, 1st Company as a MG gunner. During his 4 years on the eastern front he participated in many major battles like, but not limited to Gromovayabalka or the "Valley of Thunder", the Caucasus and Cherkasy. Wounded several times during combat he saw many of his good friends die during these terrible battles but he would always return to the front lines since his fate was already sealed as a volunteer of the Waffen SS. He climbed up the ranks from private to officer of the Waffen SS and after his graduation as an officer in March 1945 he returned to the front and joined "Kampfgruppe Derriks." On May 5, 1945 he was captured by the Americans and later convicted for treason by the Belgian authorities.