Voix du Nord: From Clandestine Resistance to Regional Newspaper
During the dark years of World War II, the press became a vital weapon for those fighting against oppression. In the German-occupied region of Nord-Pas-de-Calais, one publication emerged as a beacon of defiance: Voix du Nord. Originally founded as an underground newspaper, it served as the "Resistance organ of French Flanders," providing a voice for those who refused to collaborate with the enemy.
Key Facts
- Founded: April 1941 in Lille, France.
- Purpose: To oppose the Vichy government and support General de Gaulle.
- Peak Wartime Circulation: Approximately 15,000 copies by January 1943.
- Founders: Jules Noutour (socialist) and Natalis Dumez (social Catholic).
- Current Ownership: Part of the Belgian Rossel group.
Origins in Occupied France
La Voix du Nord began as a clandestine operation in April 1941. At the time, the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region was under the control of a German military government based in Brussels. The first issue was a modest production of only 65 copies, but it carried a powerful mission statement. The founders declared that in a land where no one could speak freely, they would align themselves with the voices of freedom broadcasting from London, asserting that one must never compromise with evil or collaborate with the enemy.
The newspaper was the product of an unlikely partnership between two men with vastly different political backgrounds: Jules Noutour, a police brigadier and socialist member of the SFIO party, and Natalis Dumez, a social Catholic. Dumez became the editorial heart of the publication, authoring roughly 400 articles across the first 39 issues. The cost of this defiance was high; Noutour was arrested on September 8, 1943, and deported to Gross Rosen, where he passed away on February 1, 1945.
![The edition of 1 April 1942 at the Resistance Museum of Bondues [fr]](/images/53/20/532064d070b9a2e2b78d2289097b6bb763a09ea7e36e9f129027b276d0a941db.jpg)
Growth and Distribution
Despite the dangers, the publication grew rapidly. It expanded from four Roneotyped (stencil-duplicated) pages to ten. However, severe paper shortages forced the staff to reduce the size back to four pages by February 1943. While it started with a circulation of 900, it reached 15,000 copies by January 1943. The frequency of publication shifted from bi-weekly (until September 1942) to monthly from 1943 onward.
The Path to Liberation
The final clandestine issues were published in July and August 1944 under the leadership of Jules Houcke. On September 5, 1944, Houcke published the first openly distributed edition of La Voix du Nord. This historic issue featured a headline spanning six columns, announcing that the Northern Region was free. It served as a somber reminder of the cost of liberty, noting that more than 530 people who wrote, printed, and distributed the papers had suffered through prison, torture, and death camps.
Transition to a Modern Publication
Following the war, the newspaper transitioned into a commercial entity known as "La Voix du Nord - Houcke and Company." The new organization took over the premises and staff of the Grand Écho du Nord. This transition was controversial; original Resistance members and the co-founders returning from deportation viewed the move as a betrayal by "pseudo-Resistance" members. This led to thirty years of legal litigation after original members were priced out as company shares rose in 1945.
By the 1950s, the paper evolved into a regional powerhouse by introducing various local editions. Today, Voix du Nord is published in a tabloid format and is owned by the Belgian Rossel group, which also owns Le Soir. Beyond news, the paper is well-known for sponsoring the Grand Prix de Fourmies bicycle race.
| Period | Status | Key Characteristic | Circulation/Scale |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 1941 | Clandestine | First issue printed in Lille | 65 copies |
| January 1943 | Clandestine | Peak wartime growth | 15,000 copies |
| Sept 1944 | Open | First free distribution | Publicly available |
| 1950s & Modern | Commercial | Regional editions / Rossel group | Tabloid format |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who founded Voix du Nord?
The newspaper was co-founded by Jules Noutour, a socialist police brigadier and trade unionist, and Natalis Dumez, a social Catholic who wrote the majority of the early articles.
What was the political stance of the newspaper during WWII?
The publication was a Resistance organ that strongly supported General de Gaulle and opposed the Vichy government and German occupation.
How did the newspaper's circulation change during the war?
It began with only 65 copies in April 1941, grew to an initial circulation of 900, and eventually reached 15,000 copies by January 1943.
What happened to the original founders after the war?
Jules Noutour died in the Gross Rosen concentration camp in 1945. Other original members felt betrayed by the post-war corporate restructuring and engaged in litigation for thirty years.
Who owns Voix du Nord today?
The newspaper is currently owned by the Belgian Rossel group, which also owns the major Belgian daily Le Soir.