Belgium’s King Decides

Series

Series Name

The March of Time 2nd Year

Issue

Issue No.

6

Date Released

May 1936

Length of issue (in feet)

1600

Stories in this Issue:

1. 1British Empire’s New Waterway
2. 2Belgium’s King Decides
3. 3Universities’ paid athletes

Story

Story No. within this Issue

2 / 3

Summary

The March of Time synopsis: With Belgium’s traditional policy of neutrality shattered by the War. King Albert signed a military alliance with France. His death in 1934, left to his stripling, untried son Leopold, a Belgium depressed economically, torn politically. Grieving and lonely after Queen Astrid’s tragic death, young King Leopold found Belgium’s uneasiness mounting, as first Nazi Germany reoccupied the Rhine and then France’s Left-wing victory strengthened the new Franco-Soviet military alliance. In the forefront of Belgian politics is Leon Degrelle, 30-year-old orator-journalist. With the "Christus Rex" as his symbol, he surrounds himself with a troop of young Belgians who, hailing him as chief, use the Nazi salute. When he breaks with the old leaders of the established Catholic party, they charge him with Hitlerism, line up to stop his propaganda. But, calling on his country to stand aloof in neutrality, Degrelle’s two newspapers pound away at his opponents. True to demogogic tradition, he makes all causes his own, enlists support from all classes, and hundreds of thousands enroll under the Rexist banner. After a single year of his neutrality-demanding, anti-left campaign, he controls a third of the Chamber of Deputies. Then Leopold startles all Europe by boldly breaking off Belgium’s military alliance with France, reversing his father’s foreign policy. The press unanimously acclaims the King’s action, and Rexist Degrelle, triumphant at this royal approval of the chief Rexist plank, excitedly leads 200,000 followers in a march on the Government in Brussels. The Government forbids the movement. Degrelle seemingly obeys, but at a memorial service later in the day, attempts a surprise demonstration. When the Rexist flag goes down, Degrelle gives himself up. As the services go on, King Leopold reviews his war veterans and the crowds cheer with a new fervour a King who has proven himself above orators and political parties. To-day, without help or hinderance from Degrelle, Leopold pushes to completion new fortifications along Belgium’s frontiers. Resolved to be no country’s satellite, to crusade for neither communism nor fascism, Belgium again carries on alone, for plucky King Leopold has decided that his best chance for peace is to stand fearlessly neutral as in 1914, but this time better prepared.

Researcher Comments

This story was included in Vol.3 No.4 of the US edition.

Keywords

Foreign relations; Colonialism

Written sources

Monthly Film Bulletin   Vol.4 No.38, 28 February 1937, p24.
The March of Time Promotional Material   Lobby Card, Used for synopsis

Credits:

Production Co.

Time Inc.