Discussion: 1945-50 Belgium resolve, wat next ?

In year 1945 to 1950 Belgium was close to a Civil war, because return of King Leopold III. from Exil
so wat if this become a Civil war and break Belgium in two:
a dutch Vlaandern and french Wallonie

it probably that Vlaandern remain kingdom with Leopold III as leader.
but Wallonie will form a Republic or join France (the Idea had majoritarian in Wallon in 1945) ?
or even take the Grand Duke of Luxemburg as there new Leader ?
but wat happen with Kongo, will it cut in two were Wallonie(or France) keep the south and Vlaandern the north ?



Background Info: the Kingquestion of Leopold III.

the young belgian king make allot mistake in his term of office.
like in WW2, the King was unable to effectively coordinate with the British Expeditionary Force or the French Army against the Wehrmacht.
because he had denounced befor, the alliance treaty with Britain and France his father signed!
as entire Belgian civil government fled to London, Leopold III. refused to follow and remain in Brussels.
"Whatever happens, I have to share the same fate as my troops."
on 27 May 1940, Leopold III. surrendered the Belgian forces to the NAZIs.
the problem, this a violation of the Constitution. were assign the Belgium government to do this, NOT the King!
later he had meeting with Hitler about the future of Belgium
allot Belgium consider Leopold III. now as traitor
in 1941 the King (a widower) had to marriage his mistress, because she was pregnant with his child
This damaged his reputation further in the eyes of many of his subjects!
1944 Leopold III. and his famliy were deported by SS into Third Reich. in 1945 they are found in Strobl, Austria.

but in Belgium the political situation were exposive after war
during WW2 The Wallons were in active resistance, while Flemish were in collaboration with enermy in hope for more rights
Charles W. Sawyer, US Ambassador to Belgium, warned his government that an immediate return by the king to Belgium would "precipitate serious difficulties." "There are deep differences even in the Royal family and the situation holds dynamite for Belgium and perhaps for Europe." also "The Foreign Office feared that an increasing minority in French-speaking Wallonia would demand either autonomy or annexation to France. Winant, the American Ambassador to the Court of Saint James's, reported a Foreign Office official's concern regarding irredentist propaganda in Wallonia." and that "the French Ambassador in Brussels... is believed to have connived in the spreading of this propaganda."

Leopold III. and his famliy spent the next six years in exile at Switzerland.
while his brother Prince Charles is regent of Belgium since 1944
In 1946, a commission of inquiry exonerated Leopold of treason.
then in 1950, a referendum was held about his future, were 57,68% was for a return of king, 42,32% against
a close look show that pro-majority were Flemish, while the majority against were in Wallonia !
as Leopold III. return to Belgium, the most violent General strikes of the whole history of Belgium erupt !
the Belgian banners in Wallonia being replaced by Walloon flags
then hundreds of bomb attack, the gendarmerie opened fire upon the protesters. dozen wounded, four death.
the country on the brink of civil war, Leopold III decided to withdraw from the throne
in order to save the country and the monarchy.
 
In year 1945 to 1950 Belgium was close to a Civil war, because return of King Leopold III. from Exil
so wat if this become a Civil war and break Belgium in two:
a dutch Vlaandern and french Wallonie

it probably that Vlaandern remain kingdom with Leopold III as leader.
but Wallonie will form a Republic or join France (the Idea had majoritarian in Wallon in 1945) ?
or even take the Grand Duke of Luxemburg as there new Leader ?
but wat happen with Kongo, will it cut in two were Wallonie(or France) keep the south and Vlaandern the north ?

The problem with the Congo is that it was a Walloon colony, but Wallonia has no coastline. Maybe we will see the first landlocked country with an oversea colony.

Anyway, a french speaking king for Flanders? That can't end well in the end, unless the king starts to learn good Dutch quickly.

I wonder what effect a split Belgium has for the still very young Benelux and the EC.
 
The problem with the Congo is that it was a Walloon colony, but Wallonia has no coastline. Maybe we will see the first landlocked country with an oversea colony.

Anyway, a french speaking king for Flanders? That can't end well in the end, unless the king starts to learn good Dutch quickly.

I wonder what effect a split Belgium has for the still very young Benelux and the EC.

to Congo it was defacto a Wallon colony or better say under control of wallon steel&mining industry
last one play a very dirty role in kongo/Zaire civil war in 1960s

this sound complet insane a french speaking king for dutch speaking Flanders
but the belgium political elite in that time were french speaking !
so far i know King Leopold III. also speak dutch

if Wallon becomes part of France
the Benelux will be a two kingdom union : Netherlands, Flanders or the Greater Netherlands
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Netherlands

if Wallon remain independent staate mabye a four country league: Netherlands, Flanders, Wallon and Luxemburg
 
this sound complet insane a french speaking king for dutch speaking Flanders
but the belgium political elite in that time were french speaking !
so far i know King Leopold III. also speak dutch

He better speak Dutch. I doubt the Flemish would accept a king that doesn't, or at least whose successor doesn't. The Flemish elite won't speak French forever.

That reminds me, would this Flanders include Belgian Brabant (including Brussels, or would it exclude it? Or would it be split like OTL happened a couple of years later? And what would happen to Brussels?

if Wallon becomes part of France
the Benelux will be a two kingdom union : Netherlands, Flanders or the Greater Netherlands

A Benelux-like union between Flanders and the Netherlands. I wonder if that might mean a merger after a while. I must admit that a country with two monarchs would be interesting.
if Wallon remain independent staate mabye a four country league: Netherlands, Flanders, Wallon and Luxemburg

Sounds logical.
 
Was there any move towards a Republic?
:confused:

yes there are several
a small Flemish minority, majority of socialst, the "Return to France" movement and all communist
the dispute went from 1945 to 1951 until Baudouin I ascended the throne

1951 during Boudewijn I. oath of office in Belgium parliament,
Julien Lahaut leader of Belgium communist squalls: "LONG LIFE THE REBULIC"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7DqxAQrtbs
7 days later, he was murder by devotees of King Leopold III.
for the next forty years the topic "Repubic" hushed up,
until the nationlist & far right flemish politician reinvigorated it.
on Wallon side with "Return to France" movement

wat a irony, in 1993 Albert II take his oath of office in Belgium parliament,
leader of Libertarianism party R.O.S.S.E.M, Jean-Pierre Van Rossem screams : "LONG LIFE THE EUROPEAN REBULIC, LONG LIFE TO JULIEN LAHAUT"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jk51gBQeWoM
 
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