Fernand Demany
1904-1977
Fernand Demany was a journalist and co-founder of the Independence Front, best known for leading the bold Faux Soir operation—a parody of the collaborationist press. After the war, he remained active in Belgian journalism and politics until his death in 1977.
Fernand Demany was a journalist and a key figure in the clandestine press during the German occupation. In March 1941, he co-founded the Front de l’Indépendance (Independence Front), an umbrella resistance movement that united various political groups.
As national secretary of the Independence Front, Demany edited several underground publications, including the internal Bulletin and the resistance newspaper Front. His most famous achievement was undoubtedly the daring Faux Soir operation of 9 November 1943.
Under his leadership, the resistance produced a spoof edition of the collaborationist newspaper Le Soir. Around 50,000 copies were clandestinely distributed via Brussels newsstands that day. The stunt, meant to mock the Nazi propaganda machine, triggered harsh repression by the occupiers but later became a legendary act of resistance.
After the liberation of Belgium in September 1944, Demany briefly served as Minister for the Resistance in the Pierlot government.
He remained active in Belgian journalism and politics after the war, until his death in 1977.
Sources:
- Wikipedia – Faux Soir​
en.wikipedia.org - Oorlogsarchief CEGES – Fernand Demany en de clandestiene pers​
warpress.cegesoma.be