August 20, 1914
August 20, 1914Not surprisingly, the OHL realized they had insufficient cavalry on the right wing. Whentrying to screen his two armies on the far-right flank, Bülow complained vehemently about his…
August 19, 1914
August 19, 1914Second Army reached the line between Wavre and Namur. First Army was driving west of Louvain. Both were still a significant distance east of Brussels. There was one…
August 18, 1914
August 18, 1914 The first day of the German general advance was a failure. Yet, compared to all the work done on the German decisions at the Marne, this has been…
August 17, 1914
August 17, 1914German reconnaissance determined that Belgian field army were still at the Gette River position. The expansion of Namur’s fortifications with fieldworks and the occupation of the Meuse down…
August 16, 1914
August 16, 1914Liège’s remaining two forts finally surrendered—Fort Flemalle after a three-hour bombardment by the 21-centimeter mortars and Fort Hollogne with no bombardment at all. Resistance was ended. The road…
August 15, 1914
August 15, 1914The 21-centimeter mortars and infantry continued to engage Liège’s remaining forts. Forts Boncelles and Lantin surrendered. The 42-centimeter mortars joined the 21-centimeter in the destruction of Fort Loncin.…
August 14, 1914
August 14, 1914Using the 21-centimeter mortars, two additional forts were destroyed—Forts Fleron and Liers fell. The disabling of these fortresses settled into a pattern as infantry closed off the forts…
August 13, 1914
August 13, 1914Forts Çhaudfontaine, Embourg, and Pontisse fell. Adding to the fire of the 21-centimeter guns, the 42-centimeter monsters continued shelling Fort Pontisse, firing another forty-three rounds. The shocked Belgian…
August 12, 1914
August 12, 1914German aerial reconnaissance now focused on the Meuse between Namur and Givet: the area from which relief attempts for Liège could be expected. No activity was observed on…
August 11, 1914
Click edit button toAugust 11, 1914By late afternoon of August 11, the 21-centimeter mortars had pounded Fort d’Evegnée into submission. Even before the arrival of the main body of the…