Belgium had with German help started building fortifications along the French border. The project was codenamed as Wacht am Westen. Little fortifications were built along the border with Netherlands and foolishly the Netherlands saw this as a reassurance that their borders would remain safe. They hoped that in the event of a European war to stay neutral once again. On third of July the first parts of the line became ready.
On the 15th of July Lt General Piron got his own army that so far was planned to contain two motorized and one armoured division. 3éme Division Motorisée became the first division.
A conflict exploded in open war on the 18th of July. The western powers did not want to interfere but USSR actively supported the republican side a move countered by Italy and Germany who both supported the nationalist forces. The Belgian government discussed whether to go to war or not. Piron volunteered for the task to command Belgian divisions under Spanish flag. However it was decided not to send help, officially that is. Three brigades were organised, The first one consisted of two army regiments of the most experienced divisions, the second brigade of two other army regiments and the last and third brigade was made up of ex Luxemburgian military and police forces that had not been rotated into Belgian military service. This was a highly secret plan and to keep it secret the Belgian navy transports would not be used. Instead two civilian cruise ships were bought. On the first of august they left harbour at about 22.00. The troops did not have their arms with them, since they where to be armed in Spain, although each ship had a small emergency armoury hidden away. Both ships also had two old world war one artillery pieces hidden on deck.
As the ships sailed throe the English Channel a ship was spotted and coming closer. "Faster" ordered the Belgian commander of the two ships. But within minutes it lay on the starboard side of the Belgian convoy, it was the cruiser HMS Belfast. HMS Belfast didn't do anything but it did keep pace with the Belgians and it was obvious that they were shadowing the small convoy. More ships could be seen in the distance, including the HMS Warspite. At around 23.40 the Belgian ships where coming out of the channel a voice said in a loudspeaker from HMS Belfast: "Belgian ships stand down and prepare to be boarded". Now the discussion ran high onboard, resist or not resist. However the commander aborted all conversation and said calmly "Look fog is coming in, if we are fast we can make it into the fog!". The decision was met by agreement and so the commander radioed the second ship and ordered it to rush into the fog. HMS Belfast was closing in onto the first ship and to the crew’s surprise the two Belgian ships increased speed and ran into the fog. That night troops onboard of both ships had big parties, they with two small Belgian civilian cruise ships had made fools of and outran the Royal Navy.
The HMS Belfast:
A diplomatic argument followed between Belgium and United Kingdom but in the end United Kingdom had bow as Belgium claimed that the ships were normal Belgians on their way to Africa and that the actions taken by the Royal Navy was highly illegal and could be seen as very provocative. On the 15th the Belgians arrived in Vigo and where armed by the Spanish. On the 30th of August a second diplomatic crisis erupted as Belgium was labelled as a liar. The ships heading for Africa has stopped in Spain and looked to be staying. Belgium replied with that they had no official control over what their civilians did and that any official’s onboard had no hurry to get to Belgian Africa. Secondly the ships had been quarantined by Nationalist Spain and Franco confirmed that the ship where to stay there for the time being.
Piron got his second division on the 30th, 3éme Division Motorisée. The Belgian armed forces replace the old flame throwers on the 23rd of September with modern flamethrowers. On the 4th of November the results from the USA election is in, FDR will be president for another four more years. The Belgian armed forces are all equipped with anti-tank rifles on the 16th. More forts are finished on the 10th of December.
News from the Belgian volunteers in Spain is that they have been used in the Battle for Madrid; right now they are biting down and holding down a counterattack. At the 20th most nationalist forces are on the retreat as the republicans has used the tankaid for USSR to counterattack the nationalist positions. At the 26th the last nationalist forces leave Berlin. The Belgian brigades suffering extreme casualties. Practically only one Brigade is left, for the remainder of the war the Belgian will mostly cover the rear.
More industries are finished in the colonies on the third of January 1937. On the 18th the last division for Pirons army is done 1ére Division de Chars, fitted with Renault FT-17 tanks.
More upgrading of the Belgian army is done as the infantry gun 30mm+ is introduced. On the 29th early gear for a new tank type is finished. On the 22nd of February more fortifications are done. On the 13 April early suspension is finished.
