The invasion of Belgium or Belgian campaign, formed part of the larger Battle of France, an offensive campaign by Germany during the Second World War. It took place over 18 days in May 1940 and ended
Belgian soldiers under German guard following the fall of Fort Eben-Emael on 11 May 1940
A pacifist rally in Heysel, near Brussels, in 1936
King Leopold III, Belgian head of state, an advocate of the policy of neutrality
Leopold III, Belgium's monarch from 1934, reviewing Belgian troops in early 1940 and walking alongside a T-15 tank
Leopold III of Belgium
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Leopold III was King of the Belgians from 23 February 1934 until his abdication on 16 July 1951. At the outbreak of World War II, Leopold tried to maintain Belgian neutrality, but after the German inv
German invasion of Belgium (1940)
…time, the Walloons vehemently objected to any strategy abandoning most French-speaking areas to the Germans. The French government was infuriated at King Leopold III's open declaration of neutrality in October 1936. The French Army saw its strategic assumptions undermined; it could no longer expect cooperation from…
Leopold in 1934
The face of Leopold III on a bas-relief by Pierre De Soete.
Leopold of Belgium and Astrid of Sweden on their wedding day.
Queen Astrid Memorial in Brussels.