The Belgian Crisis of 1951

In 1951, popular protest forced Leopold III to abdicate the throne in favour of his son Bauduoin. The opposition mainly came from the left of the political spectrum and largely from Wallonia, while Flanders remained majority pro-Leopold (not a clean split in either case, but a marked difference). Belgium had both a strong Socialist and Communist movement and a hardline militant right with support from the Catholic Church and the military.

How bad could it have gotten? If Leopold had decided he wasn't abdicating period (as he initially stated), could it have led to Walloon independence (as prominent politicians threatened)? Were things bad enough to allow for a civil war? Could we see the army rolling over Walloon cities and barricade fighting in the mining districts (some protesters threatened to flood the mines if the army was brought in)? I don't think it was feasible for the Soviets to effectively intervene (quod licet Iovi and all that), but a Walloon Republic might well choose to become neutral, and the tensions created by a bloody conflict could give the Comunists a perpetual opportunity to cause trouble.

Those of you more versed in Belgian history - what was possible?
 
This is going to sound odd, but the Communists would have been nowhere. The Francophone Socialists are one of the biggest political machines that this world has ever seen, and would not have let the Communists take too much glory or power.

Still, if you can work with that, then your idea is still perfectly feasible to my mind. Where's Benedict XVII these days? He could be worth PMing, he's the expert on Belgian history. If he isn't around, I'll do my best, I used to live there.
 
What was the conflict about, just politics?

AFAIR there were several dimensions to it thast made the perfect storm

- the king's role during the German occupation in WWII had not been exactly glorious, and many former resistance fighters and patriotic Belgians criticised him for that

- there was significant (though not majority) support for abolishing the monarchy completely

- there was a simmering conflict between secularists and religious conservatives

- there was the eternal Flander/Wallonia thing, with Flanders mostly coming down on the pro-monarchy, Catholic, conservative side and Wallonia more republican, secularist and Socialist.
 
One assumes that Brussels would have stayed on the Flemish side, as might all of Brabant in this TL?
 
here some info from Belgium

the eternal Flander/Wallonia dispute came high in WW2

the Flamish politcal leader take Nazi side and pay heavy price
the Wallon make resistance like in France

and Leopold III in this ?

he wandet to stay in Belgium and support his country during hard time.
after the War that was taken bad by the Wallon politcal leaders.

they acused Leopold III, he had work with Nazi togetter !

in those day Belgium was for some Day at civilwar !
the Communists tried to put more ol on the Fire but dint work
they were to small group and there Leader was later murder after he scream:
"Long live the Republic" as king Bauduoin I made his first speak to Parlament in 1951

Brussels inhabitants want NOTHING to do with Flander/Wallonia clame for there capital City
they just wanted to just the City of Brussels

Wat if a Civil war breakes lose because of Leopold III problem ?
 
What impact will this have on the Belgian Congo and Ruana-Urundi?

they would start war of independence from Belgium
with help of USA or USSR

to Belgium Civilwar

the Country has Major wapon factory like FM Herstal in Liege
also has NATO install GLAIDO Troops with Support Depos in Belgium
(in case of Sovjet invasion of West Europe)
Recruits are all extremright under Flamish and Wallons

with other word is gona be a Bloody Civilwar.

the question is how long will it take rest of Europe and U.N. to stop it ?

i think under order of U.N.
France march into Wallon as Peace Forces
and Nederlands or England march in Flamdern
i demand wat happend to Ostkantone (german speaking part of Belgium)
German peace force ?

but after civilwar ?
Belgium is cut in several parts
Wallon a departments of France
(it cant be Luxembourg take the Belgium Provice "Luxembourg" back)
Flandern put in Nederland (it was part of it, from 1815 until 1830)
Ostkantone reunite with Federal Republic of Germany

if Bauduoin I had surived this war, he went to Monastery and become clerical.
(this based on TV Interview were he was ask wat he would do if not was King,
the deeply religious Bauduoin say : i had became a clerical)
 
Michel Van,

Under your proposal, then, Brussels would remain within the Flemish portion of the country?
 
that good question
there was no EU and no NATO in Brussel in that Time
so not important to become a Citystate

I think that Brussels goes with rest of Flandern to Nederland
 
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