German occupation of Belgium during World War IThe military forces of the German Empire occupied Belgium during World War I between 1914 and 1918. Beginning in August 1914 with the invasion of neutral Belgium, the country was almost completely overrun by German troops before the winter of the same year as the Allied forces withdrew westwards. The Belgian government went into exile, while King Albert I and the Belgian Army continued to fight on a section of the Western Front.
ExileExile or banishment is primarily penal expulsion from one's native country, and secondarily expatriation or prolonged absence from one's homeland under either the compulsion of circumstance or the rigors of some high purpose. Usually persons and peoples suffer exile, but sometimes social entities like institutions (e.g. the papacy or a government) are forced from their homeland.
Rump stateA rump state is the remnant of a once much larger state that was reduced in the wake of annexation, occupation, secession, decolonization, a successful coup d'état, or revolution on part of its former territory. In the last case, a government stops short of going into exile because it controls parts of its remaining territories.
Belgian government at Sainte-AdresseThe De Broqueville government in Sainte-Adresse refers to two successive Belgian governments, led by Charles de Broqueville, which served as governments in exile during the German occupation of Belgium in World War I. They were based in Le Havre in northern France after October 1914.
Sovereign stateA sovereign state is a state that has sovereignty, that is, the highest authority over a territory. It is commonly understood that a sovereign state is independent. When referring to a specific polity, the term "country" may also refer to a constituent country, or a dependent territory. A sovereign state is required to have a permanent population, defined territory, a government not under the control of another, and the capacity to interact with other sovereign states.
World War IGlobal conflict from 1914 to 1918BelligerentsAllied Powers: France United Kingdom and Empire:Australia Canada Ceylon EgyptNewfoundlandNew Zealand India South Africa Russia (until 1917) Italy (from 1915) United States(from 1917) Japanand others ...Central Powers: GermanyAustria-HungaryOttoman Empire Bulgaria (from 1915)and others ...Commanders and leadersCasualties and losses 15–22 million deaths (military and civilian)World War I, or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers.
Civil warA civil war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies. The term is a calque of Latin which was used to refer to the various civil wars of the Roman Republic in the 1st century BC. Civil here means "of/related to citizens", a civil war being a war between the citizenry, rather than with an outsider.
BelgiumCountry in Northwestern EuropeBelgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to the south, and the North Sea to the west.
German EmpireToday part ofGermanyPolandRussiaLithuaniaFranceDenmarkBelgiumNetherlandsCzech RepublicArea and population not including colonial possessionsThe German Empire (German: Deutsches Reich), also referred to as Imperial Germany or the Second Reich, was the period of the German Reich from the unification of Germany in 1871 until the November Revolution in 1918, when Germany changed its form of government to a republic.
GovernmentSystem or group governing an organized communityWorld's states colored by systems of government:Parliamentary systems: Head of government is elected or nominated by and accountable to the legislature. Constitutional monarchy with a ceremonial monarch Semi-constitutional monarchy: Monarch holds significant executive or legislative power but is still restricted by the constitution.
RevolutionIn political science, a revolution (Latin: revolutio, 'a turn around') is a rapid, fundamental transformation of a society's class, state, ethnic, or religious structures.
Yser FrontThe Yser Front (French: Front de l'Yser, Dutch: Front aan de IJzer or IJzerfront), sometimes termed the West Flemish Front in British writing, was a section of the Western Front during World War I held by Belgian troops from October 1914 until 1918. The front ran along the Yser river (IJzer) and Yser Canal (Ieperlee) in the far north-west of Belgium and defended a small strip of the country which remained unoccupied.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.