War chronicle · 3 August · Liège, Belgium
German invasion
Germany goes to war with old enemy France and neutral Belgium.
A tangle of alliances means France will join the war to support Russia. But Germany wants to avoid fighting on two fronts. It decides to attack its old enemy France before the Russians can finish gathering their armies. A quick defeat of the French will allow Germany to next focus solely on Russia.
The Germans eye up Belgium because of its strategic location. They want to send troops through its territory to attack the French Army from behind. On 3 August, Germany declares war on France and 500,000 German soldiers begin to cross the border into Belgium. But the Belgians fight back.
The Germans find their path blocked by the fortress city of Liege. Angered by Belgium’s defiance, Germany orders its troops to use force to overrun towns and villages. German soldiers go on to commit several horrific massacres and other crimes.
Word of the invasion and the atrocities moves quickly across the country and around the world. Hundreds of thousands of frightened Belgians flee their homes to become refugees.
Photos & objects
