On August 5, 1914, Germany attacked the city of Liege, Belgium, violating that country’s neutrality and beginning the first battle of the War to End All Wars. Germany’s second army, numbering 320,000 men, desired to advance through Belgium to attack France in the North. At the time Liege was considered the most heavily fortified city in Europe. Liege was set on a 500 foot slope rising from the Meuse River. It was protected by a total of twelve heavily armed forts, 6 on either side of the river. Each fort was separated by one to three miles and approximately three to six miles from the city itself.
The Second German Army was under the command of Karl von Bulow. Under von Bulow’s orders, the second army began its attack of Liege on August 5. The Belgian Army, under the command of General Leman, fought furiously to protect the country’s neutrality and freedom at the urging of King Albert. At the end of the day on August 5 the Belgians still held the city, and the Germans suffered heavy losses. This was a shock to the confident Germans.
Rather than continue to battle by traditional means the Germans introduced a new weapon; a howitzer built in Austria. These cannons had a barrel that measured 12 inches in diameter. Additionally the German’s used a cannon manufactured in their motherland. This cannon had a barrel that measured 16.5 inches in diameter. Up until this point the largest barrel ever seen belonged to the British and measured 13.5 inches in diameter. The destruction was devastating.
Ten days after the fighting began, 11 of the 12 forts had been taken by the German’s. On August 15 the final remaining fort was exploded. The German’s entered the rubble to find General Leman alive but unconscious. Leman was taken prisoner. The tiny country’s intense and unending resistance earned it respect throughout the world. The German advance through Belgium toward France continued three days later.