François Janssen
Founder of Hogan's 400, Belgian reenactor and director of the upcoming documentary They Were 400.
Passionate about World War II since childhood — a fascination passed down by my father.
My grandfather, Victor Janssen, served in the Belgian Secret Army during the war. That family thread is where it all started.
I learned to drive on a Willys Jeep. Then came reenactment, and commemorative parachute jumps. Fifteen years in this world — and never had I come across a story as gripping as this one.
From a reenactment to a documentary
The first reenactment
I discovered the Hogan's 400 story while researching a reenactment topic with my club at the time. Together, we organized the first reenactment dedicated to the Task Force Hogan in Marcouray. The Lt. Colonel's family came from the United States to attend.
On Hogan's grave
Summer 2022. I travel to Washington to visit the grave of Lt. Colonel Samuel Mason Hogan. I thought it would be the icing on the cake of the project. In reality, it was where everything started.
Before The Breakout
Second commemoration in Marcouray, this time with the start of filming for the documentary. 110 enthusiasts gathered at Marcouray, William Hogan present for the book signing of Task Force Hogan.
NUTS at Marcouray — 80th anniversary
Eighty years to the day after the encirclement, the Hogan and Guidry families are back in Marcouray. Night march, immersive reenactment, an emotional moment for everyone who had been part of this journey for years.
hogans400.com — the platform
Launch of this site to gather everything: 22 biographies, the day-by-day account, sources, and the documentary in production. A research that's alive, updated as new sources surface.
A promise made on a grave
"They Were 400 was, in a way, a promise made to the Lt. Colonel that day."
To bring this story into the light. To pull it out of obscurity. That is the mission of this site, and that is what drives the documentary.
The encirclement of Marcouray lasted just a few days compared to these men's whole war in Europe. But this episode deserves to be told — too long absorbed by the shadow of the siege of Bastogne.
What I'm working on
They Were 400
A film built around direct testimonies, archive material, and immersion through reenacted scenes. The goal: to tell the story of these men day by day, from December 19 to 26, 1944.
See the projectBattlefield Tour
Walking the exact route of the Task Force Hogan — from Hotton to La Roche-en-Ardenne, through Marcouray. Launch planned for summer 2026.
Learn morePlaque William & Wallace
A permanent monument in Marcouray for William Wales and Wallace Siarkowski, both of whom died for this village. A memorial project currently in development.
See the projectWith William Robert Hogan
From the very beginning, this project would not exist without the constant collaboration of William Robert Hogan, son of the Lt. Colonel and author of the book Task Force Hogan.
He has taught me so much about this story and his father's story. Today, we are friends.
A question, a memory, a testimony?
If you have material to share, a question to ask, or simply want to talk about the project — I'd be glad to hear from you.
Get in touch