Editing Jean Rey (politician) (section)

==Early life==

Born in [[Liège]] into a Protestant family, Jean Rey studied law at the [[University of Liège]], where he obtained a PhD in 1926. He began his career as a barrister at the Court of Appeal in Liège. His commitment to the [[Walloon Movement]] drew him into politics. He joined the [[Liberal Party (Belgium)|Liberal Party]] and was elected city councillor of Liège in 1935. In 1939, he won a seat in the [[Belgian Chamber of Representatives]].

In the wake of World War II, he was one of the most vocal opponents of the "policy of independence" (neutrality) supported by successive Belgian governments and [[Leopold III of Belgium|King Leopold III]]. He was mobilised as a reserve officer in 1940 and served during the [[Battle of Belgium]]. He was captured by the Germans and spent the rest of the conflict as a prisoner of war, being interned in [[Oflag XD]] near [[Fischbeck]], where he was a member of the clandestine [[Masonic Lodge]] [[Obstinée|L'Obstinée]].<ref>[http://www.mason.be/en/rey.htm Jean Rey (1902–1983)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101081924/http://www.mason.be/en/rey.htm |date=1 November 2013 }}</ref>