What Dominic Sandbrook has said about Belgian resistance in World War I

3 quotes · 1 episode · May 27, 2026

Dominic Sandbrook, British historian, author and co-host of The Rest Is History, has been quoted on Belgian resistance in World War I 3 times in 1 episode of The Rest Is History, most recently on May 27, 2026. Each quote below is verbatim and links to the moment it was said.

In their words

Sandbrook describes the Belgian resistance as a loose array of around 300 informal interlocking groups rather than one organisation.
“It's basically about 300 different kind of interlocking groups that attract both men and women”
The Rest Is History: 674. The First World War: The Spy Who Took on the Germans (Part 4) (May 27, 2026) · Listen from 20:27
Sandbrook states that Cavell is thought to have helped about 60 British and 15 French soldiers escape between late 1914 and mid-1915.
“between November 1914 and July 1915, Edith is thought to have helped about 60 British and 15 French soldiers”
The Rest Is History: 674. The First World War: The Spy Who Took on the Germans (Part 4) (May 27, 2026) · Listen from 24:15
Sandbrook notes that research for Stella Rimington's 2015 documentary suggested fugitives Cavell helped carried military intelligence.
“some of the fugitives that she was helping were carrying information about trench systems and munitions dumps and things like this”
The Rest Is History: 674. The First World War: The Spy Who Took on the Germans (Part 4) (May 27, 2026) · Listen from 58:33

674. The First World War: The Spy Who Took on the Germans (Part 4)
The Rest Is History · May 27, 2026 · 1 h 8 min
Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland recount the life, resistance work, trial and 1915 execution of British nurse Edith Cavell in German-occupied Belgium, and her posthumous legend.