Brussels District
The Brussels District was an administrative unit founded by Nazi Germany in 1944, which roughly encompassed the area of today's Brussels-Capital Region . The Brussels district existed formally from December 15, 1944 until the German surrender on May 8, 1945. At the time the district was proclaimed, this territory was already completely occupied by Allied troops. The declaration was made by Belgian Nazi collaborators in exile in Germany. De facto , the area was administered by the Reich Commissioner for Belgium and Northern France, Joseph Grohé , who exercised the function of Gauleiter of the region without having been formally appointed. Furthermore, given Brussels the title of Free Imperial City .