All operations in the West was based on Schlieffen plan. The first obstacle was apparent, Fortress Liege.

They are coming. The place photographed is not identified but on the magazine it has a caption read "somewhere in Belgium".

The Germans crossing the border on 4 August, 1914 did not expect Belgians to resist. The first invaders were cavalry called "Uhlan" from the Allied. They proclaimed that they had regrettably to get through Belgian territory from military necessity. they cut Belgium national flag down and hoisted German flag with black eagle crowned instead.

Belgians were not pleased. They murmured, " Uhlans are coming."

As soon as the Belgian government was informed of Uhlans crossing the border the King Albert became the commander in chief accorded by the constitution. Albert ordered to fight and to strengthen the defence of the fortress Liege. On the other hand chief of general staff, General Sellier following the prearranged mobilisation plan ordered to disperse soldiers all along the border. From the first day of mobilisation everything went up side down. General staff's plan was not based on real invasion from outside but a simple appearance to fight.

Albert countermanded all orders from the General staff and improvised to set up the defence centred in Liege.

Moreover, the fortress was believed to be one of the most formidable position in Europe among military analysts but in reality it did not have such a value. The defence itself had long been neglected.

This fortress was built by Henri Brialmont, fortress engineer of the days in 1884. His idea was to surround the city by twelve forts. Each fort was garrisoned by 400 soldiers. Between two forts defenders could sap trench for invaders not to infiltrate. However, the time given to Belgians was too short and the order to dig and cut down obstacles to fire came through only on 2 August. The Belgians only had 6 divisions upon mobilisation. It is estimated now that 6 divisions to be deployed all along the forts were not enough to defend in agreeable manner.

Albert ordered the 3rd division to concentrate in full at Liege and appointed General Leman as chief of the 3rd division and commander of garrisons. Such was all he could do.
The rest of divisions were simply waiting following the prearranged mobilisation plan behind their capital, around Antwerp. So, they virtually lost the chance to defend Liege to the last from the beginning.

Following Schlieffen plan the Germans assembled three armies, 34 divisions in number 750 thousand men strong as being the right wing in Aachen. These three armies were commanded by Kluck, Buelow and Hausen in numerical order.

Moltke jr. already decided how they sieged the fortress and who was in charge long in advance. Emmich was in command and given 6 brigades as was called Emmich detachment.

Emmich

Emmich detachment night-attacked eastern three forts since the evening of 5 August. The Germans were in dense formation and relied on bayonets. All attacks with three waves failed with bodies piled up. It was amazing this type of senseless slaughter took place from the start of the war.

Ludendorff, later becoming military dictator of all Germany was deputy chief of staff for the 2nd army and in this siege battle was specially appointed as a liaison officer between assault brigade #14 and main body.

He worked for both Schlieffen and Moltke jr. in the capacity of section chief of mobilisation to nail down the Schliefen plan. He was without von and a son of merchant in West Prussia. The first step to dictator was the merit of this battle.

In the late night of 5 August Ludendorff knew chief of brigade #14,　Wussow killed in action. He immediately decided to command the brigade #14 and ordered to advance between forts, to avoid frontal attack toward a fort. Sensitive a decision.

The brigade broke through between Fort Evegnee and Fort Fleron without resistance.

Fortress Liege

Throughout night they advanced and reached the right bank of the Meuse overlooking the city Liege. As soon as field howitzers arrived they fired toward the centre of the city. After bombardment Ludendorff sent an emissary to the headquarters of Leman to surrender, but failed to shake Belgians' determination.

And then, a ruse flushed into Ludendorff suddenly. Trying to kidnap or kill Leman he sent to the Belgian's headquarters a special group, 30 in number, disguised in British like uniform and, in friendly manner. Major Marchand, aid to Leman found out the group as disguised German soldiers. Gun fight aroused. Marchand was killed but most of Germans were also shot to death. In this confusion Leman escaped to fort Loncin.

Leman knew exactly well about what the king thought of his country and her independence. If the army commanded by the king remained in the corner of the territory, whatever small, Belgium could survive without being not only at the mercy of Germans but their Allies.

He ordered the 3rd division to withdraw. Even though this division was not large it had to join the rest of the army. He, on the other hand, decided to remain in fort Loncin and to fight to death. The history shows that his decision was quite correct.

At the general headquarters of Belgian army in Louvain, something like euphoria prevailed due to the fight the day before. Some staff officers insisted on offensive to the right wing of the Germans consisting of 34 divisions. Albert vetoed this idea and asked Poincare, president of France for help.

Poincare and Messimy, secretary of defence were not reluctant to offer. However, Joffre, chief of general staff did not have any idea but to pursue the original plan. His ideas was to attack to the German centre, Ardenne forest, by concentrating all tree armies available. He had had again no intention to foretell this offensive plan to civilians and proposed Belgians to get abreast with French left, which meant all Belgian troops were to withdraw to Namur.

Albert could not accept this idea because withdrawal to Namur meant almost all Belgian territory given up. He decided to withdraw rather to Antwerp, the opposite direction. Different from the original intention this operation would contribute a lot to assist the Allied in the race toward the sea in late 1914.

On 7 August in the morning Ludendorff seeing the resistance dwindling drove to the gate of the city with a single adjutant. The 3rd division was not there and the mayor offered surrender. He furthermore requested the mayor for all forts surrendered but was told that the civilian was not authorised to get connected with military affairs.

42cm.siege motor

Ludendorff gave up frontal attack against forts and decided to bring two 42 cm siege motors and Skoda 30.5 cm. The Germans were so impressed by Japanese 28 cm siege motors to reduce the port Arthur that they ordered in secrecy Krupp to make two 42 cm siege guns with recoil system in preparation for the siege battle of Namur and Liege. Moltke jr. also asked Conrad, chief of general staff, for permission to use Skoda made siege guns.

Krupp made 42cm Gun

42 cm guns were in Essen and ready for transportation by train. The Belgians all destroyed any train facilities including bridges and tunnels. The gun was pulled out by 28 horses. Skoda guns were easy to carry because the whole body could be decomposed into three parts.

It took three days to complete the disposition of all guns aimed at the targets.

During this preparation the German Government "begged" the king Albert to surrender and to allow German forces to pass through in return for the guarantee of the Belgian territory. King Albert refused. After the war he was honoured by this act and questioned why he was so steadfast. He replied Belgians were cornered so that at no time they thought of reconciliation.

On 12 August the bombardment began.

The first shell with delayed action fuse hit fort Pontisse. When it reach the ground a mushroom cloud rose to 300 meters high. Fort Pontisse was hit by 45 shells a day resulting into a simple ruin. Next day German infantry opened the cupola and found nothing to move.
Before shelling the Germans took only one fort by frontal attack but on 13 August and 14 they took seven, all forts east.

The First Army of Kluck started to march on 14 August. By 16 August all forts except Loncin fell. Emmich sent a final emissary to ask Leman to surrender. Leman did not. The bombardment began again. A shell unfortunately penetrated the ceiling of the fort and exploded inside the magazine.

When German soldiers went inside they found the lifeless body with two stars sholderstrap. An adjutant of Leman cried, "Respect please, this was commanders'. " He got temporarily unconscious but alive. He was sent to Emmich. He said " I was unconscious. Take this sword and keep it into your dispatch." Emmich replied,"Military honour should be kept. Please keep it."

Fort Loncin after Bombardment

The rest of German armies, the second of Buelow, the third of Hausen started to march on that day.