Main article: Belgium in World War II
Belgium declared its intention to remain neutral in the event of war in the lead up to the conflict. In May 1940, Germany launched a surprise attack during its wider invasion of France, and although Belgian forces resisted the German invasion for 18 days, on 28 May 1940, the Belgian army and its commander, King Leopold III, officially surrendered. The King, and much of his army, were incarcerated and remained imprisoned for the rest of the war.
The elected government left for France, and then England, where it established a government in exile based in London and Free Belgian army. The country itself was placed under German military occupation, opposed by the resistance, which lasted until its liberation after September 1944. During the course of the occupation, around 25,000 Belgian Jews were killed.
The Belgian Colonial Empire, notably the Belgian Congo in World War II, remained loyal to the Allies despite the surrender and it played an important role as an economic asset, producing large amounts of important raw materials. Congolese troops also fought the Italians in East Africa.
Belgium declared its intention to remain neutral in the event of war in the lead up to the conflict. In May 1940, Germany launched a surprise attack during its wider invasion of France, and although Belgian forces resisted the German invasion for 18 days, on 28 May 1940, the Belgian army and its commander, King Leopold III, officially surrendered. The King, and much of his army, were incarcerated and remained imprisoned for the rest of the war.
The elected government left for France, and then England, where it established a government in exile based in London and Free Belgian army. The country itself was placed under German military occupation, opposed by the resistance, which lasted until its liberation after September 1944. During the course of the occupation, around 25,000 Belgian Jews were killed.
The Belgian Colonial Empire, notably the Belgian Congo in World War II, remained loyal to the Allies despite the surrender and it played an important role as an economic asset, producing large amounts of important raw materials. Congolese troops also fought the Italians in East Africa.