Northumbrian Gunner: Invasion of Belgium

Monday 24 March 2014

Invasion of Belgium - Namur

On the 4th August 1914 German Cavalry crossed the border into Belgium signalling the start of the First World War. They were the lead elements of the army of the North, a collection of German Corps tasked with coup de main operations on the fortress cities of Liege and Namur. The intent was to secure the cities to allow the main bodies of the Germany to execute the Schlieffen plan by securing vital communication links through Belgium.

Schlieffen Plan

Von Moltke, Chief of German General staff, 1906
“LIEGE and NAMUR are of no importance in themselves . They would be weakly garrisoned but they were strong places. They block the Meuse railway, who’s use during war can not therefore be counted upon. Its is of the greatest importance to take LIEGE by an early stage, in order to have the railway in ones hands. The possession of Liege is the absolute essential of our advance

The fortress city of Liege lasted 8 days from the 8th to 16th August.

Liege Fortresses

To the east of Liege along the Meuse was Namur. The city was strategically placed at the point that the River Meuse divided into the River Sambre.

Namur - Sambre & Meuse diverge

The fortresses defending the city were engaged from the 22nd August to 25th August 1914.

Namur Fortresses

As the Belgians in Namur resisted the German siege, the French and British forces to the west of the city were engaged in the Battle of Charleroi and the Battle Of Mons, leaving the city isolated and capitulation inevitable.