Figure 1.--Many Belgians attempted to flee the Germans after the May 10, 1940 invasion in World War II, but the Panzers moved so fast that it was useless. Most had to return to their homes after France capitualted in June.

The Belgium war orphans were a major issue in World War I. The Germans invaded Belgium in an attempt to outflank the French Army. It almost succeeded, but the gallant resistance of King Albert I and the Belgian Army slowed the Germans down just enough that the French stopped them at the Marne. As a result, much of the war in the West was fought in Belgium, creating a humnaitarian dissaster. World War II was different. The Germans invaded on May 10, 1940 and succeeded in taking the suposedly impregniable Eban Emal fortress on the Albert Canal. The Belgian army fought for 18 daysithout tanks or air cover. The devestaningly effective German blitzkrieg tactics forced King Leopold III surrendered the Belgian Army on May 28, 1940. Great controversy surrounds the King's decission. Some say he had no choice and delayed as long as possible to cover the British evacuation at Dunkirk. Others say that the King surrendered without warning, thus exposing the French and British forces that had left fortified positions to support him and the Belgian Army. After the British evacuation of Dunkirk, there was little fighting in Belgium. Belgium unlike the Neherlands had a relatively small Jewish population. After the fall of France, there was littke fighting in Belgium until after D-Day when Allied forces moved north in an effort to liberate Belgium and the Netherlands. The last German offensive of the War was launched through the Arndennes into Belgium, in an effort to retake the key Belgian port of Antwerp. We do not yet have details on the plight of displaced children in Belgium during World War II, but hopefully our Belgian readers will provide some details.

Created: January 6, 2003
Last updated: January 6, 2003