Uncovering the Belgian Resistance with Wikibase

How can digital tools transform our understanding of history? The Resistance in Belgium project is a pioneering initiative that harnesses Wikibase to document and analyze the lives of Belgian resistance members during World War II. What began as a book project evolved into a sophisticated digital database, now hosting over 43,000 biographical entries and set to grow even further. In this interview with former archive coordinator Anne Chardonnens, she tells us about the origins, challenges and future of this ambitious project, examining how Wikibase enables historical research while making Belgium’s resistance history more accessible to scholars and to the public.

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Could you provide an overview of the Belgian resistance project and its origins? What is the project’s significance within Belgian society and in a wider historical context?

The Resistance in Belgium project sheds light on individuals involved in resistance activities during World War II. In 2020, Fabrice Maerten, a historian at the CegeSoma (Belgian State Archives), published Papy était-il un héros? (“Was grandpa a hero?”), which provides both a comprehensive overview of the history of the Belgian Resistance and practical guidance for locating resistance-related archival records. Resistance in Belgium evolved from this initiative, aligning with my doctoral research into authority data management on the semantic web. Using Wikibase as a foundation, I helped transform the project’s early, handcrafted prototype into a new digital tool.

Since late 2020, around 60 people have contributed to this project. We launched the platform in October 2024, and it now hosts over 43,000 biographical entries — mainly on Belgian Resistance members operating in occupied Belgium and France, and in particular those connected to Belgian intelligence services in London. The database will eventually include data on over 200,000 individuals, including contextual data on resistance organisations, archival fonds, and clandestine press, in order to offer a deeper understanding of these networks.

How do you envision the project contributing to both academic research and public awareness about the Belgian resistance during World War II?

Researchers can use the platform’s standardized data format and query service to analyze millions of data points, thereby facilitating new insights into the Resistance, such as trends by gender, geography and membership in resistance organizations. The multilingual functionality means more access for international scholars, and as the project adds contextual data, such as information on resistance organizations and (soon) clandestine press materials, it further enables historical investigations.

For the general public, the platform surfaces information once buried in archival records with user-friendly features like name-based search,  location-based search tables, maps and interactive charts. We saw high traffic and a large number of inquiries at the platform’s launch, which underscores its importance in preserving and sharing Belgium’s Resistance history.

What were the main challenges in finding, digitizing and structuring archival records for this project? How did you ensure accuracy given the age and diversity of the documents?

The relevant documents are dispersed across multiple repositories in the State Archives of Belgium, also including some references to archival fonds held abroad. Structuring the data required encoding a wide range of details, such as biographical information, membership in resistance organizations, periods of detention and recognition statuses.

Wikibase’s flexibility proved invaluable, allowing us to represent complex and sometimes contradictory historical data. We do not claim to affirm the absolute truth; we simply gather and make accessible what we find in the archive documents. Instead of enforcing a single narrative, the database supports multiple perspectives on each individual, supported by contextualized references, and maintains a nuanced and accurate representation of historical realities. Since our launch we’ve made occasional evidence-based corrections, often provided by relatives or experts.

Why did you choose Wikibase as the underlying technology for this database? Were there any specific features of Wikibase that made it particularly well-suited for the project?

We chose Wikibase for its alignment with the FAIR data principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) and for its ability to handle structured multilingual datasets. With it we can combine data from multiple archival fonds with custom structures, making them editable even to non-technical users thanks to its intuitive interface. Features like versioning and rights management ensure transparency and reliability.

Another of the key advantages of Wikibase is that it supports SPARQL queries, which allow users to cross-reference data from multiple sources and explore historical patterns in ways that were previously impossible. This interoperability promotes connections with other datasets, placing our database firmly within the broader Linked Open Data ecosystem. We also greatly appreciate that users can download tailored datasets, offering flexibility for individual research needs.

Wikibase’s flexibility proved invaluable, allowing us to represent complex and sometimes contradictory historical data. We do not claim to affirm the absolute truth; we simply gather and make accessible what we find in the archive documents.

Anne Chardonnens

Moreover, as an open-source platform with a vibrant, GLAM-rich community, Wikibase enjoys significant support. Finally, user experience benefits greatly from integrated tools like the EDTF extension for advanced date management as well as from the many visualization options, extending the platform’s utility to a wide range of audiences.

Could you share an example of how Wikibase has enabled advanced querying or data relationships that wouldn’t have been possible with traditional systems?

As I mentioned earlier, one of Wikibase’s standout features is its support for SPARQL queries, a powerful query language that enables complex and federated searches across interconnected datasets. In milliseconds, a query can explore thousands of data points with custom criteria, combining filters in the language of choice. These queries also enable historical research, like comparing the number of men and women who received an official resistance status, or cross-referencing this data with places of residence to reveal significant differences and trends across regions like Brussels, Flanders and Wallonia. 

We also wanted to harness the power of Linked Open Data by linking our data with external datasets like Wikidata. This federated querying enriches our local records with external information, such as places of detention, Wikipedia articles, links to entries in the Biographie nationale de Belgique and related archival records, and it creates a seamless bridge for researchers to access complementary resources. SPARQL’s flexibility allows users to customize queries according to their specific needs, making the platform’s querying capabilities highly adaptable for diverse research objectives.

Have you encountered any limitations or challenges with Wikibase during the project? If so, how have you worked around them?

We encountered several technical challenges with Wikibase. First among them was its user interface, which was not designed for a general audience wishing simply to browse data. To improve accessibility, we collaborated with an external firm to develop a more user-friendly homepage (whose code is freely available on GitHub), and I customized the platform to hide irrelevant elements and improve readability. Additionally, many users faced difficulties with SPARQL queries due to its steep learning curve. To address this, I implemented the LinkedWiki extension, which offers pre-built data tables for easier interaction, as well as tutorials and examples to guide users through SPARQL queries and explain their capabilities.

Some years ago, during the early stages of using Wikibase, we faced a lack of documentation, particularly with Docker. To overcome this, we turned to online resources such as Phabricator and the Telegram channel, where users shared solutions and advice. We found community support extremely helpful for troubleshooting and finding workarounds for common issues, but it was also time-consuming and less efficient than formal documentation.

We also faced challenges with integrating certain extensions, some of which caused bugs. Adding extensions sometimes caused unexpected issues, including performance slowdowns and conflicts with existing features; to resolve these issues we had to test various configurations or wait for updates and fixes from the extension developers. These technical challenges were frustrating but ultimately part of the learning process.

Finally, bulk data entry was initially a challenge: no existing tools fully met our needs. Since then, we have elaborated an efficient workflow using OpenRefine. This tool allows us to import, clean and standardize large datasets. OpenRefine now also provides a reconciliation service to detect and remove duplicate entries by matching records against multiple criteria. This process has significantly improved the consistency and quality of our data.

What are your future plans for expanding the database? What practices do you employ to ensure the sustainability of your Wikibase infrastructure?

Looking ahead, we aim to expand the project’s dataset by incorporating additional data related to other categories of resistance, including clandestine press, armed resistance and civil resistance. In so doing we will draw on thousands of individual records held across State Archives repositories, significantly enriching the platform’s scope. Additionally, we’ll add contextual information about resistance movements and related activities like clandestine press to provide a broader understanding of these efforts. However, funding limitations and the one coordinator’s departure threaten the project’s sustainability. Strengthening partnerships will be crucial to ensure the platform’s long-term growth and impact.

We warmly invite Wikibase users, researchers, history enthusiasts and the general public to explore the platform, experiment with its search features and uncover the hidden stories of the Belgian Resistance. Feedback is invaluable in helping us improve and expand this resource.