civilians had dressed up as soldiers. Although British newspapers knew the exact story, they refused to press the point because it had happened in Belgium. They were afraid of being accused that they were repeating the war propaganda claims that they had made in 1914 with the exaggeration of "The Rape of Belgium". Although largely ignored outside Belgium, the events did not go entirely unpunished. The German officers were tried after the war. See also List of massacres in Belgium Oignies and Courrières massacre - massacre of French civilians (28 May 1940) Le Paradis massacre - massacre of British prisoners of war (27 May 1940) Wormhoudt massacre - massacre of British and French prisoners of war (28 May 1940) References Further reading External links The story of four bloody days - from the Vinkt memorial website - in Dutch Meidagen 1940 in Vinkt, Meigem & Deinze at the Province of East Flanders Massacres in 1940 War crimes of the Wehrmacht World War II massacres Massacres in Belgium Mass murder in 1940 1940 in Belgium Belgium in World War II May 1940 events Massacres committed by Nazi Germany Battle of Belgium History of East Flanders Deinze 1940 murders in Belgium