Leopold III (3 November 1901 – 25 September 1983) reigned as King of the Belgians from 1934 until 1951, when he abdicated in favor of his son Baudoin. Leopold was a controversial monarch. His handling of World War II and the German occupation of Belgium has been heavily scrutinized. Although Leopold saw to it that Belgium was prepared militarily for a German invasion, he did not make the most of the military aid Britain and France provided. Thus, after a period of intense fighting in May 1940, Leopold surrendered to Germany. Many in his own cabinet feared that his actions might be in fact treason, particularly as he insisted upon staying within the country and in German custody. He eventually deported to Germany in 1944. After his liberation, he was to remain in exile for another six years