When Germany invaded Belgium in World War I, King Albert I took personal command of the Belgian Army. He led his army for 4 years, fighting alongside his troops, while his wife, Queen Elisabeth, worked as a nurse at the front. His 12 year-old son, the Crown Prince, also fought in the ranks

Albert I of Belgium

Sword of honor offered by the city of Paris to Albert I of Belgium

Albert wearing the uniform of a British infantry officer inspecting the front line with British and Belgian officers.

Uniform with war honours

At the start of World War I, Albert refused to comply with Germany’s request for safe passage for its troops through Belgium in order to attack France, which the Germans alleged was about to advance into Belgium en route to attacking Germany in support of Russia. In fact, the French Government had told its army commander not to go into Belgium before a German invasion. The German invasion brought Britain into the war as one of the guarantors of Belgian neutrality under the Treaty of 1839. King Albert, as prescribed by… Continue Reading (9 minute read)