The German obsession had two parts: that Belgian resistance was illegal and that it was organized from "above" by the Belgian government or by burgomasters, priests, and other persons who could be classified as "above." Together the two parts established the corollary: that German reprisals were righteous and legal, regardless of degree. The shooting of a single hostage or the massacre of 612 and the razing of a town were alike to be charged to the Belgian government-this was the refrain of every German from Hausen after Dinant to the Kaiser after Louvain.
The German perspective on Belgian resistance during World War I was deeply influenced by two main beliefs. Firstly, they considered that any form of Belgian resistance was illegal. Secondly, they propagated the idea that this resistance was orchestrated by high-ranking officials and authority figures within Belgium, including government members, local leaders, and clergy. This narrative created the justification for their brutal reprisals, which they deemed righteous and lawful, regardless of the severity of the repercussions.
This rationale allowed Germans to equate various forms of punishment, from executing a single hostage to committing mass killings and destroying towns, all as legitimate actions sanctioned by the alleged complicity of the Belgian government. This belief was a common refrain among German officials and soldiers, reinforcing the view that their actions were lawful responses, thus attempting to legitimize their harsh measures against the resistance.
