August 1914: the forts of Liège facing the German army

Before the Yser trenches, before Verdun and the long war of attrition, one of the first battles of the Great War took place around Liège. For nearly two weeks, the city’s forts held off an army of Germans who believed they could quickly cross the Meuse River. Their resistance would not save the city from occupation, but it would upset the timetable of the invasion.

In the early days of August 1914, Liège still did not have the appearance of a war-torn city. The streets were still bustling with activity, the shops were open, and the trams were running. However, in the east, the movements of troops were approaching. For several years, Belgium has known that in the event of an European conflict, its neutrality might not be enough to protect it. The city of Liège, gateway to the Meuse and major transportation routes, is one of the country’s strategic points.

A concrete belt around the city

Following the concerns arising from the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871, the Belgian government decided to strengthen the defense of the Meuse. On June 27, 1887, an extraordinary credit was voted to build forts in Liège and Namur. The Liège project was entrusted to General Henri-Alexis Brialmont, a renowned military engineer. Twelve forts were built around the city: six large and six small, distributed on both banks of the Meuse.

Their mission is clear: to prevent an enemy army from freely crossing the region, to protect the bridges and communication routes, and above all to gain the time necessary for the mobilization of the Belgian army. Forts do not form a continuous wall. They are spaced out, arranged in a circle around the settlement, and must be supported by their fire. Between them, gaps remain to be defended by field troops.

The fortifications are impressive for their time. Constructed of concrete, protected by ditches and equipped with reinforced domes, they house cannons, machine guns, barracks and reserves. But their design is based on the military knowledge of the 1880s. In 1914, artillery had advanced at a considerable pace. The shells were more powerful, the calibers heavier and the methods of bombardment changed. This gap will weigh heavily in the days that follow.

August 4: Belgian neutrality is violated

On August 4, 1914, German troops crossed the Belgian border. Belgium refused the passage requested by Berlin: the invasion began. In the Liège region, the first battles quickly broke out. The Belgian force, under the command of Lieutenant-General Gérard Leman, had to face an army much larger in size.

On the night of August 5 to 6, the Germans launched their attack against the fortified position. The fighting is particularly fierce in the gaps between the forts. At Herstal, Rabosée and on the heights of the Sart-Tilman, the Belgian units put up an unexpected resistance. The German assault, conducted in confusion and with an imperfect knowledge of the terrain, was costly. Units were repulsed, others disorganized. The battle did not resemble the rapid march that the imperial headquarters had hoped for.

On August 7, however, German troops managed to penetrate the city. Liège fell, but the forts continued the fight. This distinction is essential: the capture of the city does not mean the fall of the fortress. The fortifications, isolated from one another, become autonomous points of resistance.

The forts hold out; heavy artillery comes into play

The Germans understand that they will not be able to use the communication axes freely as long as the forts remain. They then deploy siege artillery of a power rarely encountered by the defenders before. The 420 mm mortars, soon associated in the narratives with the «Grosse Bertha», fire projectiles capable of breaching the fortifications’ defenses. The bombardment targets not only the domes: it shakes the vaults, destroys the installations and sometimes makes the air unbreathable inside.

The garrisons endure the heat, the dust, the fumes and the vibrations of explosions. Communications become difficult. Electricity and ventilation may be interrupted. In the galleries, the soldiers live in almost permanent darkness, amidst the wounded and the debris. However, the resistance continues, one after another.

The fort of Barchon capitulated on August 8. Other fortifications fell in the following days. The Germans gradually concentrated their fire on the forts still active, whose domes were sometimes put out of service. The defenders knew that the situation was almost hopeless, but General Leman’s orders remained to hold on for as long as possible.

Loncin, August 15, 1914: the explosion that marks memories

General Leman established his headquarters in the fort of Loncin. On August 15, after several days of bombardment, a shell hit the powder reserve area. At 17:20, the explosion was terrible. Part of the fort was blown away, the vaults collapsed and dozens of soldiers were buried alive. General Leman was found alive, seriously wounded and unconscious. The Germans captured him and treated him with the respect due to an adversary whom they recognized for his courage.

Loncin becomes the symbol of the Liège resistance. The site still preserves the traces of the disaster and remains a place of remembrance. Most of the forts in the belt surrendered or were neutralised over the course of the days. On August 16, the last fortifications ceased fighting. The Battle of Liège is over.

A military defeat, a strategic setback

The city is occupied, the forts are destroyed or damaged, and Belgium did not prevent the invasion. Yet, the resistance in Liège had a scope that went beyond the local outcome. It slowed down the German advance and contributed to disrupting the planned timetable for the offensive. The time gained counted in the concentration of Allied forces and in the preparation of the French defense.

On August 7, 1914, France decided to award the Legion of Honor to the city of Liège. The decoration recognized the courage of the defenders of the square, the soldiers of the 3rd division, and the garrisons of the twelve forts. Liège became the first foreign city to receive this distinction.

The fortified belt had not stopped the German army. However, it had imposed a battle on the invader that he did not expect, and given the city a unique place in the history of the beginning of the Great War. In August 1914, Liège was not an invincible fortress. It was a place that held out for long enough to count.

To go further

The Province of Liège offers a timeline of the battle and a presentation of the twelve forts. The State Archives recall the conditions under which they were built and the place of the Brialmont project in the Belgian defense.

The Battle of Liège – Province of Liège · The forts of Liège in 1914 – Province of Liège · The forts of the province of Liège – State Archives

An article in the Liège 360 series dedicated to the history of the fortified belt of Liège.