What is the German-speaking Community of Belgium?
Q: What is the German-speaking Community of Belgium?
A: The German-speaking Community of Belgium (DGB) is one of the three federal communities in Belgium. It has an area of 854 km2 and a population of over 73,000, with almost 100% speaking German (traditionally Ripuarian-speaking). It is made up of the German-speaking Community and the municipalities of Malmedy and Waimes (Weismes), which belong to the French-Speaking Community of Belgium.
Q: How did it become part of Belgium?
A: The East Cantons were part of the Rhine Province in Prussia until 1920 but were annexed by Belgium following Germany's defeat in World War I and the subsequent Treaty of Versailles. This process was known as "questioning" where locals had to register their full name and address if they did not want to become Belgian.
Q: When was it taken back by Germany during WWII?
A: In 1940, during World War II, the new cantons were retaken by Germany. They had only been in Belgium for 20 years at that time so many people still thought of themselves as German.
Q: When was it returned to Belgian control after WWII?
A: Following Germany's defeat in 1945, the cantons were once again taken over by Belgium.
Q: What language areas are there now in Belgium?
A: In the early 1960s, four language areas were established within Belgium - Dutch speaking Flemish area, French speaking area, bilingual capital Brussels and German speaking area in East Cantons.
Q: What autonomy does this community have today? A: Today,the German-speaking Community has a degree self government especially in language and cultural matters but remains part Wallonia which is French speaking.
Q: Who wants this community to be its own region? A: The current Minister President Karl Heinz Lambertz wants this community to be its own region.
