King Leopold III was the King of the Belgians from 1934 until his abdication in 1951. He was born on November 3, 1901, and became king after the death of his father, King Albert I. His reign was marked by the challenges of World War II, during which Belgium was invaded by Nazi Germany in 1940. Leopold's decision to surrender to the Germans was controversial and led to significant political turmoil. After the war, Leopold faced criticism for his actions during the occupation, leading to a national debate about his role. In 1950, he went into exile, and a plebiscite was held, resulting in his abdication in favor of his son, King Baudouin. Leopold returned to Belgium in 1951 and lived a quieter life until his death on September 25, 1983.