Leopold III

Japanese: レオポルド[3世]（英語表記）Leopold III

1901‐83
The fourth King of Belgium. Reigned 1934-51. The eldest son of Albert I, he ascended to the throne after his father's sudden death. After the outbreak of World War II, he maintained a policy of neutrality, but when the German blitzkrieg began, he surrendered unconditionally to Germany, refusing the cabinet's advice to seek asylum. He was subsequently captured and imprisoned by the German army, and after Germany's defeat, he moved to Switzerland. After the war, however, his surrender to Germany came under attack, which led to the question of his abdication, and he was finally restored to the throne by a narrow margin (57.68% in favor) in a national referendum in 1950.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

1901‐83
ベルギーの第4代国王。在位1934‐51年。アルベール1世の長子で，父の急死により即位。第2次大戦勃発後も中立政策を固守したが，ドイツ軍の電撃作戦を前に，ベルギー軍の最高司令官として，内閣による亡命の勧めを蹴ってドイツに無条件降伏した。その後ドイツ軍に連行されて幽閉され，ドイツ敗北後スイスに移った。しかし，大戦終了後，ドイツへの降伏が攻撃の的となって退位問題を引き起こし，50年の国民投票により少差(賛成57.68％)でやっと復位が認められた。

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