When Belgium was invaded in August, 1914 King Leopold was only thirteen and a half years of age, but for a short time he was in an infantry regiment and dug trenches under fire. After the war his education was completed at Eton. He succeeded to the throne in 1934. Eighteen months later his beautiful Queen Astrid was killed in a motor accident; the King's only consolation his since lain in his three children and in the care of his country, now once more devastated
care of his country? We didn't stood a chance against the germans, but LeopoldIII wanted to gain popularity by fighting till death and refused go to England, where things were save. He said: Ma sort sera la votre, or My fate will be your fate. He was taking prisoner but went to a different 'work camp' where he could be with his children, he could be with his new love, he had a cottage with all sorts of luxuries. He even met Hitler. When he came back in 1950, there was almost a civil war between Flanders, who wanted the king back, and the French-speaking side, who wanted to get rid of the king.
this country is always been split look: Everyone knew leopold was a collaborator, but the Flemish side (dutch-speaking) wanted him back (in 1950 that was), the South-part, the wallons (or french-speaking) didnt want him back. For that, there are many reasons but to keep things short: there was a referendum and the king could come back, the wallons, who were very ani-leopold, were furious and started a strike. The flemish were furious because the french speaking side was furious. The flemish tought that their voice would be ignored again by the much wealthier Wallons. This conflict almost made an end to Belgium. Belgium is an artificial country, it will not make its 200th birthday I think, the Flemish and Wallons can't really stand eachother, a lot of our Flemish money goes to the corrupt socialist system nowadays and that's one of the main reasons extreme-right parties do well here.
