H.M. Albert I of Belgium
Germany invaded Belgium, one of the most consequential military events in history. Great Britain responded with an ultimatum and then declared war at 11 PM GMT. There are few innocent victims in the catastrophe that was the Great War, but Belgium may be the only truly blameless country. All they wanted was to be left alone. (A cautionary lesson for radical isolationists. That kind of foreign policy only works if everyone else is abiding by the rules.)
King Albert I is my favorite monarch for his heroic stand against the Germans. Given the choice between dishonor and a ruinous war that he knew Belgium could not win, he chose to fight in defense of his little country's Independence and her violated neutrality.
von Moltke said the same thing as Nyetnyahoo.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, Belgium had more fighting on its soil than most of the belligerents did on theirs.
ReplyDeletei.e., if civilians - whether Belgian or Palestinian - don't want to get killed, they should get out of the way.
ReplyDelete