Kingdom of Belgium

Flag of Belgium

Belgium, officially the **Kingdom of Belgium**, is a small weak country in western europe. Torn from the fires of the Second Weltkreig, Belgium officially holds a government similar to the U.K. however it is currently under a provisional government. Belgium was was the only country on the Western front in the Reichspakt to be fully occupied during the war. Due to this Belgium is devastated however most of this damage comes from 1944 and 1945 when the Reichspakt lead a counter-offensive through the country. Belgium was proclaimed as a state in 1830 however its most recent government was established in 1936 in the wake of wide spread independence movements after Black Monday. Belgium while winning the Second Weltkreig is still in much the same situation it was after the first, devastated, no colonies, and they didn't even gain land at the end of its all. However Belgium is in a state where it cannot go alone and is tied to the Reichspakt out of necessity and the Treaty of Arel.

## History

The old Kingdom of Flanders-Wallonia was a failed German experiment to try and force the Belgians into submission under their empire. When the economy of Germany collapsed the Belgians were quick to the opportunity and after widespread protests the Belgians were able to force their independence. Negotiations between Germany and Belgium began at the town of Arel and there the Belgians weighed their options. They could betray Germany and return to their neutrality, or stay in the Reichspakt. Fearing that the Third Internationale could take advantage of the Belgians like the Germans during the First Weltkrieg the Belgians decided to remain within the Reichspakt and in Mittleleuropa. This would end up being a good decision for the nation. Belgium would spend the remaining years before the Second Weltkrieg building up their forces and especially their industry as Belgium was one of the most industrialized regions in the entire world. When the Second Weltkrieg began the Third Internationale was put in a bad position due to Belgium. While they did have the forces to launch a full offensive along the German border they could not sustain an offensive into both nations for as long as they needed to. So the priority was to take out Belgium. This would end up being a key factor in the defeat of the Internationale as the Belgian front forced the Commune of France to divert troops. Belgium was still overran but many analysts point out that it was not as swift as the German offensive. This gave the Netherlands time to prepare and when the front would reopen in 1941 it would be one of the many mistakes of the Internationale. Belgium would remain in occupation being used to produce civilian goods for the Internationale citizens given the lack of imports but Belgium was not enough to sustain both nations. Thus as the home situation got worse the Internationale began to liquidate assets in Belgium and move them into France. When the Germans and Dutch liberated the country much of its civilian industry had been destroyed and it would take some years before it could be rebuilt. Despite this the presence of the Belgians had allowed the Reichspakt to do what had seemed to be impossible, win the Second Weltkreig. The Reichspakt owes a lot to the Belgians but they have an odd way of showing it. Belgium is essentially underneath a military dictatorship while it is rebuilding and it is slowly being side lined by the rise of Northern France. However Belgium could provide a good industrial asset to the Reichspakt and it may become a battle ground for influence between the Entente and the Reichspakt. In the meantime Belgium is underneath the Reichspakt and is using the industrial might of Germany to rebuild its civilian industrial base.

## Military

Belgium's military was basically wiped out during the Second Weltkreig and it will take a while for it to be rebuilt. However Belgium does have a small force that it uses to keep order within the ruins of Antwerp, Ypres, and others. Despite this Belgium will not be a major military asset to the Reichspakt during the cold war.

### Army

Belgiums army is small, only consisting of a few divisions that escaped to Germany after the occupation, or military police divisions used to maintain order. The army will most stay in Belgium for the time being as the nation needs its forces at home and cannot participate in the Proxy wars of the Entente.

### Navy

Belgium's navy was destroyed during the Second Weltkrieg and will need to be rebuilt.

### Air Force

Same shtick as the Navy, albeit Belgium can likely afford to built one once reconstruction is over.