Belgium

Brussels

Democratic, Conservative

None

Belgium is a located in Western Europe and is run by a democratic regime. Surrounded by other nations of the Benelux including the Netherlands and Luxembourg as well as France to the south and the German Reich.

In-game, the nation is divided into 2 states that have the perfect geography for tanks - Vlaanderen is mostly plains, while Wallonie is mostly forest. King Leopold II set the scene for 19th century neo-imperialism and kickstarted the Scramble for Africa. Eventually Belgium proper gained control of the region, a favourable chunk of the continent, to the dismay of Britain and Portugal. This region, the Congo, contains the releasable country of Zaire as well as Burundi and Rwanda.In Africa almost entirely jungle while the state of Leopoldville is mostly forest.

Historical background[edit | edit source]

Since independence in 1830, Belgium had retained a policy of staunch neutrality similar to that of Switzerland. However, this neutrality was not respected by others and Belgium neutrality was violated by the German Empire, after an invasion, in 1914 causing the United Kingdom to declare war on the German Empire. The Germans initially steamrolled through most of the country and Northern France, and by the time trench-warfare kicked in the frontlines had completely stagnated leaving Belgium a shadow of its former self. The war caused serious devastation to the Belgium countryside and economy all for a war they were forced into. Because of this, Belgium left the war seeking revenge and so annexed the border region of Eupen-Malmedy but much like France, they were dissatisfied with the Versailles settlement believing that Germany could have been treated harsher.

Unsurprisingly, still not content Belgium became a major participant of the occupation of the Ruhr from 1923-25, in a naive attempt by members of the now all but dismantled Entente to force Germany to pay their reparations. Despite this brief hiccup Belgium continued to pioneer its neutrality well into the 1930s, angering France who wanted to use the country as a staging-ground to counter possible German aggression. While on the other hand the German Reich sit eager to launch an invasion through the country to get to the French capital of Paris.

All this leaves Belgium with paramount weight on its shoulders as its involvement, or rather lack of involvement, could sway the ever closer war to one sides advantage. The argument for some is between neutrality or sovereignty.

National focus[edit | edit source]

Generic national focus tree.

Main article: Generic national focus tree

Belgium, lacking a unique national focus tree, uses the generic national focus tree instead.

The generic focus tree has 5 main branches:

Army Effort gives army experience and research bonuses to army research.
Aviation Effort gives air experience, builds air bases, and research bonuses to air research.
Naval Effort gives navy experience, builds naval dockyards, and research bonuses to navy research.
Industrial Effort builds civilian and military factories (usually even if building slots are already full), infrastructure and grants extra research slots.
Political Effort gives the country choices on which political path they will take.

Technology[edit | edit source]

Belgium starts with 3 research slots.

Army technology	Naval technology	Air technology	Electronics & Industry
Infantry Eq. I Motorized I Engineer Company I Recon Company I	None	Interwar Fighter	Fuel Storage Fuel Refining I
Doctrines
Trench Warfare	None	None

Infantry & motorized techs
Type	1918	1936	1938	1939	1940	1941	1942	1943	1944
Infantry Equipment	Mauser M89	Mauser M35		Mitraillette 34			FN mle30 Type D

Armor techs
Tech year	Light (TD/SPG/AA)	Medium (TD/SPG/AA)
1918
1934	NA (SA 47mm / SA 76mm / NA )
1936	CLR T15 (T13 B1/B2 / NA / NA)
1939		ACG-1 (T13 B3 / NA / NA)
1941
1943
1945

Artillery techs
Tech year	Artillery	Anti-Tank
1934	Canon de 75
1936		47mm Model 1931
1939	Canon de 75 mle GP III
1940
1942	Canon de 120mm L mle 1931
1943

Politics[edit | edit source]

Belgium is a democracy with elections held every 4 years. With the next one coming in for November 1936.

Belgium has the following political parties:

Political party	Ideology	Popularity	Party leader	Country name	Is ruling?
Catholic Block	Democratic	83%	Hubert Pierlot	Belgium	Yes
Kommunistische Partij van België	Communist	6%	Joseph Jacquemotte	Co-operative of Belgium	No
Parti Rexiste	Fascist	11%	Léon Degrelle	Rexist Belgium	No
Non-Aligned	Non-Aligned	0%	Generic	Leopoldian Belgium	No

National spirits[edit | edit source]

None

Diplomacy[edit | edit source]

Belgium, because it is between France and German Reich, may be invaded by the Germans to get around France's Maginot Line. Belgium may form the European Union if democratic or United Netherlands if it is able to annex the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

Staff and designer[edit | edit source]

Notably, Belgium has two unique tank designers, that are better than the generic armor company.

Political advisors
Advisor	Type	Effect	Cost()
Paul van Zeeland	Silent Workhorse	Political Power Gain: +15.0%	150
Paul-Henry Spaak	Captain of Industry	+10% Civilian Factory construction speed +10% Infrastructure construction speed +10% Refinery construction speed	150
Gaston Eyskens	Armaments Organizer	Civilian to Military Factory conversion cost: -20 %	150
Julien Lahaut	Communist Revolutionary	Daily Communism Support: +0.10	150
Joris van Severen	Fascist Demagogue	Daily Fascism Support: +0.10	150
Achille van Acker	Democratic Reformer	Daily Democracy Support: +0.10	150

Tank designers
	Designer	Type	Effect	Cost()
	Renault	Mobile Tank Designer	Armor Research Time: -10 % Armor: Max Speed: +5 % Reliability: +10 % By selecting this Design Company it will permanently affect capabilities on all equipment researched while they are hired.	150
	Vickers-Armstrong	Medium Tank Designer	Armor Research Time: -10 % Armor: Reliability: +5 % Soft Attack: +5 % By selecting this Design Company it will permanently affect capabilities on all equipment researched while they are hired.	150

Ship designer
	Designer	Type	Effect	Cost()
	Cockerill	Ship designer	Naval Research Time: -10 %	150

Aircraft designers
Designer	Type	Effect	Cost()
Avions Fairey	Light aircraft designer	* Air Research Time: -10 % Fighter: Agility: +10 % Max Speed: +10 % Carrier Fighter: Agility: +10 % Max Speed: +10 % By selecting this Design Company it will permanently affect capabilities on all equipment researched while they are hired.	150
Renard Constructions Aéronatiques	Medium aircraft designer	Air Research Time: -10 % Heavy Fighter: Reliability: +20 % Tactical Bomber: Reliability: +20 % By selecting this Design Company it will permanently affect capabilities on all equipment researched while they are hired.	150
Heavy Air Company	Heavy Aircraft Designer	Air Research Time: -10 % Strategic Bomber: Strategic Bombing: +10 % By selecting this Design Company it will permanently affect capabilities on all equipment researched while they are hired.	150
Naval Air Company	Naval Aircraft Designer	Air Research Time: -10 % Naval Bomber: Operational Range: +10 % Naval Attack: +10 % CV Naval Bomber: Operational Range: +10 % Naval Attack: +10 % By selecting this Design Company it will permanently affect capabilities on all equipment researched while they are hired.	150

Materiel designers
Designer	Type	Effect	Cost
Artillery Company	Artillery designer	Artillery Research Time: -10.0%	150 pp
Motorization Company	Motorized Equipment designer	Motorization Research Time: -10.0%	150 pp
Fabrique Nationale d'Armes de Guerre	Infantry Equipment designer	Small Arms Research Time: -10.0%	150 pp

Industrial concern
Designer	Type	Effect	Cost
Industrial Company	Industrial Concern	Industrial Research Time: -10.0%	150 pp

Theorists
Designer	Type	Effect	Cost
Jules Pire	Military Theorist	Land Doctrine Research Time: -7.0% Army Experience Gain: +0.05	150 pp
Georges Deffontaine	Naval Theorist	Naval Doctrine Research Time: -7.0% Naval Experience Gain: +0.05	150 pp
Fritz Löb	Air Warfare Theorist	Air Doctrine Research Time: -7.0% Air Experience Gain: +0.05	150 pp

Economy[edit | edit source]

Laws[edit | edit source]

Conscription Law	Economy Law	Trade Law
Volunteer Only 1.5% Recruitable population	Civilian Economy 35% Consumer Goods factories –30% Factory construction speed +30% Factory (type) conversion cost –40% Fuel gain per oil –25% Fuel capacity	Export Focus 50% Resources to market +5% Research speed +10% Factory/Dockyard output +10% Construction speed +20% Civilian intelligence to others +10% Navy intelligence to others

Industry and resources[edit | edit source]

Resources
	Type	No.
	Aluminium	0
	Chromium	0
	Oil	0
	Rubber	12
	Steel	48
	Tungsten	3

Industry
	Type	No.
	Civilian factory	12
	Military factory	6
	Naval dockyard	0

Industry: The majority of Belgium's industry is in the Belgian mainland with 7 Civilian Factories and 5 Military factories in Vlaandered and 1 Military factory and 4 Civilian Factory in Wallonie. In the colonies, Leopoldville has 1 civilian factory.

Resources: Vlaanderen has 48 steel while in the Congo, Stanleyville and Central Congo has 6 rubber each and Leopoldville has 3 tungsten.

Military[edit | edit source]

Although Belgium has a small military compared to France or Germany, it possesses the largest army in the Benelux region, with the pacifistic Netherlands and a defenseless Luxembourg in the region.

Army
	Type	No.
	Infantry	8
	Cavalry	2
	Motorized infantry	1
	Light tank	0
	Marine	0
	Mountaineer	0
	Paratrooper	0
	Total divisions	11

Navy
	Type	No.
	Destroyer	0
	Light cruiser	0
	Heavy cruiser	0
	Battlecruiser	0
	Battleship	0
	Submarine	0
	Carrier	0
	Convoy	0
	Total ships	0

Air force
	Type	No.
	Close air support	0
	Fighter	20
	Heavy fighter	0
	Naval bomber	0
	Tactical bomber	0
	Strategic bomber	0
	Transport	0
	Total planes	20

Army: 7 of Belgium's Infantry composed of 9 infantry units and an engineer company are fully trained. 1 Infantry unit is placed in the Congo, composed of 6 infantry units. It has 2 cavalry units of 6 cavalry, an engineer company and recon company. Its 1 motorized unit is composed of 4 motorized units.

Navy: Belgium has no navy.

Air force: It has 20 interwar fighters on the Belgian mainland.

Strategies and guides[edit | edit source]

The below is one of many player suggested strategies for Belgium. Bear in mind, due to the dynamic nature of the game, it may unfold differently for other players.

WORLD CONQUEST WITH NO DLC.

Belgium lies in a rather fortunate position between an alliable Germany Pacifist Netherlands and rather pathetic Luxembourg.France could provide a formidable foe but more times than not simply won't put troops on the border even when you are actively justifying against them. To take advantage of this one should immediately begin by selecting political effort and hiring the Fascist Demagogue while waiting one should choose the industrial focuses although infrastructure effort should be saved for after the impending civil war. Any upgrades to the army would be wasted as the enemy in the civil war would gain the same bonuses.You should be able to turn fascist by 1937 at the latest. After you have turned fascist you should begin the production of Transport planes fighters and CAS. Immediately justify the Netherlands and Luxembourg and join the Axis.When at war with the Netherlands simply paradrop into The Hague Amsterdam and Rotterdam to capitulate them For your focus tree go down the nationalist path for man power. You should focus mostly on mils at this point but it is up to you.Mobile warfare is the best doctrine.After getting the Netherlands and Luxembourg annex them but puppet the east indies and request their garrison report.Take care not to call in the Germans as they will steal all the land in the conference.When you feel you are strong enough (and when France has joined the allies) then justify a war goal on a British puppet such as British Malaya. Wait for an event where they will move troops from your border and lose their entrenchment such as Italy joining the axis or Nationalist Spain being victorious in the civil war then declare war.Call in the Germans as it should’t matter as they can’t penetrate the Maginot. Push onwards to Paris and capture it thus capitulating France.Don’t worry if you capitulate as the Germans should liberate you and then capture the French lands in the name of your country.After this send around a full army group (24 divisions) to guard all the ports in your empire.You should have enough planes to gain superiority over the south of England if you have focused well and if not it's only a matter of time.Feel free to declare war on any non major country if you think you can capitulate them or if you can’t but their landlocked or very far away ( They should capitulate after the UK does as the UK is the only major but be wary nevertheless ) try not to declare war on any american nation as the US guarantees them due to Monroe Doctrine. Once you have ample air superiority in southern England then paradrop into an undefended city on the south coast that has a port Portsmouth is usually good.Once you have taken it send across one or more army groups across the channel.Bombing their navy may be a good idea to stop them intercepting the crossings.Once the army groups are across conquer them as quickly as possible .In the peace deal take the eastern most states of Canada and puppet the rest. Creating a lot of puppets is advised for the troops they will survive. The Axis should be in a much stronger position by now but still only join Operation Barbarossa if you feel you can take down the Soviet Union. When you feel ready you can justify on the Philippines and invade the USA from your Canadian lands.Rush their victory points and you can win easily. Puppet them and use their navy to invade Japan (as long as they are still fighting China ) invade them with around 2 army groups. At this point you can invade everyone you want from the protection of the axis. After this simply leave the axis and conquer them when you are powerful enough.

A historical background[edit | edit source]

Modern Belgium broke away from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands in discourse over religion, language, and other matters. In 1885 in the Berlin Conference, it acquired the Congo as a private possession of its king (of which notable memes have been made about) and by 1908 the Congo became a colony of the country. Invaded as part of the German Empire's Schlieffen Plan, it resisted fiercely and eventually won as part of the Entente. Now, with that 20 year armistice after World War One drawing to a close, the player may take control and guide Belgium in the years to come.

With Waking the Tiger DLC, Belgium has the ability to reform the United Kingdom of the Netherlands (along with Netherlands and Luxemburg). As a founding member of the European Steel and Coal Community, it can also form the European Union, meaning it has the potential to become an industrial powerhouse.

Repudiating the Treaty of London (of 1839) with a brown ideology and allying the small moustache man[edit | edit source]

Belgium has some advantages over the Netherlands. Although it still has no focus tree (as of the final versions of Update Barbarossa, most recent DLC being No Step Back), this can become a strength as Belgium is unhampered by negative national spirits, and the generic focus tree allows for a quicker ideological switch and nearer industry focuses. Without Together for Victory DLC, Belgium would also have some advantages in the military; however with the DLC, a player Netherlands can draw upon the (potentially million) manpower of the Dutch East Indies with Colonial templates; fortunately, the AI does barely makes use of this.

As with practically all minors, the player should choose to swing away from democracy (and non-aligned) and choose between the Fascist ideology or the Communist. Now with No Step Back DLC, communism has some merits with the Officer corps Army spirit that can give weekly manpower; however, the Fascist variant gives bonus political power %, so it may still be ideal to turn to the brown ideology, especially as the premier brown party borders Belgium, of which an alliance with would not be a waste. The player can focus on switching ideologies with some haste and conquer the Netherlands early, before World Tension increases and causes the Allies to start guaranteeing independence of nations, allowing Belgium to puppet (satellite) the East Indies and thus maintain a premier source of Rubber and some Aluminium and Oil, along with the provinces actually owned by the Netherlands that also produce some resources. With this in mind, aircraft technology can be a primary focus of the player's military modernisation.

The Netherlands is hobbled by their national spirit that reduces factory output by 25% and construction speed by 50%, meaning that Belgium could mass a larger, fully equipped force and defeat the Dutch army without much trouble when Belgium switches its ideology away from Democratic and can justify wars. There is no difficult terrain apart from rivers that could hamper an offense, the Netherlands being almost entirely plains. Close air support, aerial superiority and support artillery in Belgium's starting templates should be more than sufficient to breeze through.

Allying with Germany means they cannot declare a war upon the player, which is ideal for a quieter game that does not aim for the European Union. France should fall easily to Germany with the cooperation of the player.

Going Red, and/or going after the Fascists first instead for the eventual European Union[edit | edit source]

By going Communist and allying with the Soviets, the player can potentially form the European Union faster as they go to war with Germany and Italy without the hassle of joining and leaving the Axis, meaning they can potentially occupy 2/3 of the majors earlier, and without necessarily being at war with the allies. Unfortunately, getting a good war participation would be a steep hurdle to overcome; The United Netherlands cannot overcome the full might of the Axis alone, and calling the Soviet union in almost guarantees a reduction in the proportion of war participation given the Soviet AI's predisposition to hurl their unready but massive army in wasteful offenses, racking up casualties and thus their participation. However, the player can instead just not call the Soviets in, and defend themselves alone; allying with the Soviets this way still takes some pressure off as the German AI will garrison their Soviet border. When the enemy has been thoroughly weakened, a co-ordinated push could drive into Germany. With the appropriate (insert_name_here) DLC, the player can choose to puppet Germany and then annex them later through the autonomy system, negating a costly occupation at the price of 300 political power and time spent lowering their autonomy.

Depending on what happens, the French or the Italians may capitulate to one or the other; this can be the basis of one more war in order to take all the remaining states. Finally, the player can swing back into Democracy and thus gain the option to form the EU.

And then the player could immediately swing back into another ideology and go for a world conquest.

Achievements[edit | edit source]

Forge of Victory

Have 50 factories as Belgium.

Countries

Europe

Albania Austria Belgium Bulgaria Czechoslovakia Denmark Estonia Finland France Free France Vichy France German Reich Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Nationalist Spain Republican Spain Kingdom of Romania Slovakia Soviet Union Sweden Switzerland Turkey Republic of Ukraine United Kingdom Yugoslavia

North America

Dominion of Canada Costa Rica Cuba Dominican Republic El Salvador Guatemala Haiti Honduras Mexico Nicaragua Panama United States

South America

Argentina Bolivia Brazil Chile Colombia Ecuador Paraguay Peru Uruguay Venezuela

Asia	Afghanistan Bhutan British Malaya British Raj China Communist China Guangxi Clique Iran Iraq Japan Manchukuo Mengkukuo Mongolia Nepal Oman Philippines Saudi Arabia Shanxi Siam Sinkiang Tannu Tuva Tibet Xibei San Ma Yemen Yunnan