PART 1
WHAT IF THE FORTS OF LIEGE HAD HELD UP THE GERMAN ADVANCE
FIGHTING ON 4 AUGUST
On the first day of World War I for the Kingdom of Belgium, around 0900, 12 regiments of the German 2nd and 4th Cavalry Divisions invaded the district of Herve, which would permit a rapid advance to the Meuse. The cavalry needed to seize Vise, which commanded the passage of the Meuse. Without Vise, it would be impossible to invest Liege or to deploy a cavalry screen on the left bank to mask the main army's movements.
Behind the cavalry, the mass of the Army of the Meuse, 130,000 strong, entered Belgium by the road from Aix-La-Chapelle, by the main road from Gemmenich to Vise, by the valley of the Vesdre, and by the Malmedy Road. The distance from the border to the Meuse River was 30 kilometres. By mid-afternoon, the Germans had reached the position Bombaye-Herve-Pepinster-Remouchamps.
At 1300, the 2nd and 4th found the bridges at Vise and Argenteau destroyed. The 2nd Battalion of the 12th Belgian Line Regiment under Major Collyns was deployed on the left bank to disrupt any attempted river crossings. The Germans attempted to build a pontoon bridge and came under heavy fire from across the river and from Fort Pontisse. The 2nd Battalion valiantly defended the river approaches, using their Parent Regiment's Machine Gun Company preventing the German force from crossing the river. German casualties were high. Further north, at Lixhe, on the Dutch frontier, two Hussar regiments forded the river. This Cavalry force was spotted in advance by the Belgian’s left flank companies, with enough time to create a temporary barricade up the Belgium’s force threw back a attempted charge by the Hussar regiment, causing them heavy causalities.
German bombardment of the Stubborn Belgians was answered by the guns of Fort Pontisse. The guns of the Fort Battice and the 2/12th Regiment held off Von der Marwitz's forces for the rest of the day and he was forced to bivouac for the night without reaching his objective. The German’s continued to suffer from random artillery fire and sniping shots from Belgium sharp shooters. The Germans had received their first taste of the Belgian spirit. In the desperate hours to come, the ferocious defence of Liege would exact a greater toll on the right bank.
THE TERRIBLE NIGHT OF 5-6 AUGUST
During the night, a bridge was built at Lixhe despite the Belgium forces inflicted heave causalities on the German Engineers, and the cavalry squadrons which were sent to penetrate as far as Tongres to screen movements of the main army north of Liege were also thrown back in complete disorder.
Early in the morning a flag of truce was sent to Major Collyns asking him to allow the Germans to pass. He refused.
Swarms of Germans advanced in the Meuse-Vesdre sector, covered by fire from their heavy guns (15 cm howitzers) German guns were directed by aircraft spotters. These Guns shelled the bank of Meuse river, trying to force the 2/12 Regiment to withdraw. This was only partially successful, as the Belgium’s had used the night to dig into the town, using cellars and the sewer system. Their morale was raised when the nearby fortress’ guns replied effectively to the enemy fire.
At 1740 hrs, with the Belgium’s being reduced to only 25% of their original strength, Maj Collyns decided to carry out a orderly retreat into the Countryside, making his men to don civilian clothing, and prepare to carry out Franc-Trilliers style attacks on the advancing German.
On the morning of the 6th, after completing new pontoon bridges the previous night , the Germans, after been held up for two days on the banks of the Meuse, attempted to launch an attack to enveloped Chaudfontaine. After a preliminary bombardment, the enemy infantry appeared and advanced in close formation. The guns of the forts, interval artillery, machine guns and rifles fired at the masses. Entire ranks were mowed down, but they kept coming. Defenders withheld fire until the enemy reached the barbed wire entanglements and the glacis of the forts. Masses of Germans kept coming again and again. They succeeded in reaching the wire, despite tremendous losses and thy failed to reach the trench parapets. General Leman ordered a counterattack by the 11th Brigade, consisting of 11th and 31st Regiments under General Bertrand. The Belgians advanced with fixed bayonets and the Germans retreated.
All day long, Belgian forces and fortress artillery successfully checked the German advance. In the vicinity of Evegnee, the Belgians took 800 prisoners.
In the north, fighting concentrated around Fort Barchon. At 1000, after a preliminary bombardment, elements of the German 53rd Regiment, 27th Brigade, approached the fort, threatening the gorge. They were thrown back by infantry fire and by the quick-firing 5.7cm guns and by counterattacks of the 11th Brigade. By 1700 the German attack had abated, but bombardment of Barchon and Evegnee by 21cm mortars of the 27th located at Mortous and Bolland, continued.
At 1430 main elements of the 34th Brigade arrived in the northern sector. By 2230 two regiments had forded the Meuse at Lixhe. Further south, the 14th advanced to the line Melen-Soumagne, the 11th to the east of Chaudfontaine. The Germans in this vicinity had met only small patrols. In the sector Vesdre-Ourthe, the 38th marched on Beaufays to menace Fort Embourg and to protect the flanks of the 11th. Behind the 38th was the 43rd, near the confluence of the Ourthe and Ambleve.
In the Meuse sector, two platoons of 2nd Lancers came upon the lead cavalry patrols of the 38th Brigade, some 500 strong. The lancers set up a defensive position in the cemetery of Plaineveaux, in the Forest of Beauregard, near Boncelles. By 2000, forward elements of the 38th reached Plaineveaux and engaged the Belgians in combat. 2nd Lancers had 75% casualties.
THE ATTACK ON THE FORTS
By the evening of 7 August, German forces were within 1 to 2 kilometres of the forts, which were pounded by German artillery throughout the night. During the night, the fighting continued in a surreal atmosphere. Soldiers clashed under the powerful beams of the fortress searchlights; grotesque images of death were illuminated by the constant flashes of exploding shells. Men fought in every sector, and in every sector the valiant Belgian defenders began to feel the weight of the German attack, and in some areas, began to break.
Fresh attacks were delivered in the Meuse-Vesdre and Ourthe-Meuse sectors. Fort Barchon was attacked from the northeast by Germans on the road from Dalhem to Jupille, passing by Rabozee. Guns of Barchon and Pontisse bombarded the attackers. As the Germans reached Rabozee, they were fired on from a trench at right angles to the road which flanked the position. Heavy losses were inflicted from a second, concealed trench. Bayonet fighting ensured. By dawn over 400 Germans lay dead in the fields.
There were also attacks during the night at Fort Boncelles. Defence of this position was very difficult because the Germans advanced under cover of the Forests of Plaineveaux, Neuville, and Vequee, and the Forest of Begnac, a continuation of the St. Lambert woods, which reached all the way to Trooz on the Meuse. Here, the Hanoverians advanced by way of Francorchamps, Spa, Stoumont, Aywaille, and Esneux.
At 1130 on the 8th, the Germans began shelling Forts Embourg and Boncelles. Shellfire was very well directed, exploding on the parapets. An infantry attack followed. Infantry attacked the trenches in the gaps and were mown down by machine guns and from the guns of the forts. The first attack was repulsed. At 0300, a fresh assault was launched. The Germans crept to the trenches and attacked. The searchlights of the forts were turned on them and they were annihilated. The attackers fell by the hundreds. Succeeding waves crawled over dead comrades to the trench parapets. Hand-to-hand fighting continued for 5 hours. The defense started to give. General Leman dispatched men of the 12th, 9th, and 15th Regiments to assist. Counterattacks stopped the advance. Of the defenders of Fort Boncelles, 9 were killed and 40 wounded. 1,400 interval troops were killed (men of the 1st Chasseurs, 9th Regiment). The statement by those who cleaned up the battlefield the following morning that 10,000 German bodies were removed was never officially admitted or confirmed.
Similar fighting took place at Fleron and Chaudfontaine and in the gaps between Fleron and Evegnee. At 1900 on 8 August, Germans dug in 800 meters from Retinne attacked the outposts of Evegnee. The gap between Fleron and Evegnee was defended by a trench 150 meters long at Surfosse. At 2330, the Germans advanced on the trench and were set back with murderous fire from the thinly manned trench. Fighting for the trench continued until 0230. The Germans finally silenced the position by 0400.
By now it was evident that the Belgians were fighting at a fever pitch. Not only that, but many believed that they could defeat the mighty German army. An example of this confidence is depicted in the narrative of the men fighting in the Evegnee-Fleron gap, under command of Commandant Munaut. He noticed that his men were firing blindly at the advancing Germans, failing to look through the loopholes in the parapets while they fired, and missing their targets which were only 100 meters away. Munaut noticed that the German aim was no better and decided to show his men how bad it was. He jumped on to the parapet and took a step towards the enemy – not one German bullet struck him. The act gave his troops new-found confidence.
At 0230 the 34th marched south out of Hermee and quickly came under fire of Fort Pontisse. 3 companies were ordered to take out the Belgian artillery positions but discovered the fire was coming from inside the fort. The companies found themselves at the foot of the glacis, unable to advance. Between Pontisse and Liers, the 90th Fusilier Regiment attacked the interval trenches, but were caught by a heavy crossfire from the Milmort and Rhee forts. Suffering heavy loses and becoming pinned and disorganised after their Commanding officer was killed leading a charge, they were forced to withdraw.
Heavy, bloody fighting continued throughout the morning, resulting with failure of 90th Fusilier Regiment to take the Milmort and Rhee forts. The failure of the taking of Herstal postponed the planned taking of Liege. Thus, the failure to penetrate the fortress interval positions was starting to create dangerous consequences for whole timing of the plan to march into France and circling Paris.
While resistance in the vicinity of Pontisse, Barchon, and Boncelles was stiff, the Germans still unable to penetrate via the intervals. Many of the routes between the forts were heavily wooded, in deep cuts, out of the line of sight of the fortress guns. (Where attacking forces were spotted, the guns were very effective). Thus, throughout the night of 8-9 August, the Germans attempted to penetrate the gap between Barchon and Meuse, and the Evegnee-Fleron gap to fight their way into the city. At 1000, the 165th Regiment fought its way to the heights at Jupille, to the east of Chartreuse, by way of Queue-du-Bois and Bellaire. At each step, the Belgian resistance was fierce and fighting was murderous, and eventually being forced to retire.
With the failure to capture the hills overlooking the city of Liege, German forces unable to carry out the planned bombardment the Citadel and the city. The bombardment would continue throughout the night. Meanwhile, General Lundendorff’s launched a attack to seize key locations in the city, including the bridges. However, by this time, General Leman 3rd Division from Liege, was heavily dug in, and with Artillery support from the Citadel and close forts, General Lundendorff’s force was stalled, after several further attacks, the German High Command conceded that the continued attack should be halted, after General Lundendorff was killed leading a third attack.
The communiqué of 9th August to the German High Command announced that the Fortress of Liege had failed to fall.. Von Emmich's troops marched out of range of the forts guns to regroup and to wait for the arrival of the heavy Austrian Mortars and the Grupps 420mm Guns. The forts, especially those of the left bank, remained in Belgium hands. Until they fell and the roads and railroads west of Liege were opened, the huge German Army was going nowhere.
POINTS OF DIVERGENCE:
1. The 2nd Battalion, 12th Line Regiment at the time had no Machine Guns attached to them. Although the held up the German force for a short time and inflicted heavy causalities they were forced to withdraw. With the addition of the Regiments organic Machine Gun Company - 12 Machine guns, this would provide the battalion the firepower to prevent the successful pinning of the advancing German Infantry. With the failure to cross the river Meuse, this would hold up the advance and delay the bringing up of the Heavy Artillery to start the bombardment of the Belgium forts.
2. The Hussar Regiments turned the 2nd Battalion, 12th Line Regiment’s flank, forcing them to withdraw in good order.
3. The Pontoon bridge was built at Lixhe without any interference due to the 12th Line Regiment withdrawing on the 6th August.
4. The German 90th Fusilier Regiment was able to penetrate the trench line and eventually made it to the Milmort and Rhee forts. Forcing the Belgium defenders to retreat to Liege after Herstal had fallen
5. After the fall of Herstal the Germans were able to march into the city of Liege.
6. The German 165th Infantry Regiment were able to capture the heights of Jupille, allowing them to them to shell the defenders at Liege
7. The Belgium 3rd Infantry Division which was defending Liege was withdrawn after the hills over looking the city had fallen.
WHAT IF THE FORTS OF LIEGE HAD HELD UP THE GERMAN ADVANCE
FIGHTING ON 4 AUGUST
On the first day of World War I for the Kingdom of Belgium, around 0900, 12 regiments of the German 2nd and 4th Cavalry Divisions invaded the district of Herve, which would permit a rapid advance to the Meuse. The cavalry needed to seize Vise, which commanded the passage of the Meuse. Without Vise, it would be impossible to invest Liege or to deploy a cavalry screen on the left bank to mask the main army's movements.
Behind the cavalry, the mass of the Army of the Meuse, 130,000 strong, entered Belgium by the road from Aix-La-Chapelle, by the main road from Gemmenich to Vise, by the valley of the Vesdre, and by the Malmedy Road. The distance from the border to the Meuse River was 30 kilometres. By mid-afternoon, the Germans had reached the position Bombaye-Herve-Pepinster-Remouchamps.
At 1300, the 2nd and 4th found the bridges at Vise and Argenteau destroyed. The 2nd Battalion of the 12th Belgian Line Regiment under Major Collyns was deployed on the left bank to disrupt any attempted river crossings. The Germans attempted to build a pontoon bridge and came under heavy fire from across the river and from Fort Pontisse. The 2nd Battalion valiantly defended the river approaches, using their Parent Regiment's Machine Gun Company preventing the German force from crossing the river. German casualties were high. Further north, at Lixhe, on the Dutch frontier, two Hussar regiments forded the river. This Cavalry force was spotted in advance by the Belgian’s left flank companies, with enough time to create a temporary barricade up the Belgium’s force threw back a attempted charge by the Hussar regiment, causing them heavy causalities.
German bombardment of the Stubborn Belgians was answered by the guns of Fort Pontisse. The guns of the Fort Battice and the 2/12th Regiment held off Von der Marwitz's forces for the rest of the day and he was forced to bivouac for the night without reaching his objective. The German’s continued to suffer from random artillery fire and sniping shots from Belgium sharp shooters. The Germans had received their first taste of the Belgian spirit. In the desperate hours to come, the ferocious defence of Liege would exact a greater toll on the right bank.
THE TERRIBLE NIGHT OF 5-6 AUGUST
During the night, a bridge was built at Lixhe despite the Belgium forces inflicted heave causalities on the German Engineers, and the cavalry squadrons which were sent to penetrate as far as Tongres to screen movements of the main army north of Liege were also thrown back in complete disorder.
Early in the morning a flag of truce was sent to Major Collyns asking him to allow the Germans to pass. He refused.
Swarms of Germans advanced in the Meuse-Vesdre sector, covered by fire from their heavy guns (15 cm howitzers) German guns were directed by aircraft spotters. These Guns shelled the bank of Meuse river, trying to force the 2/12 Regiment to withdraw. This was only partially successful, as the Belgium’s had used the night to dig into the town, using cellars and the sewer system. Their morale was raised when the nearby fortress’ guns replied effectively to the enemy fire.
At 1740 hrs, with the Belgium’s being reduced to only 25% of their original strength, Maj Collyns decided to carry out a orderly retreat into the Countryside, making his men to don civilian clothing, and prepare to carry out Franc-Trilliers style attacks on the advancing German.
On the morning of the 6th, after completing new pontoon bridges the previous night , the Germans, after been held up for two days on the banks of the Meuse, attempted to launch an attack to enveloped Chaudfontaine. After a preliminary bombardment, the enemy infantry appeared and advanced in close formation. The guns of the forts, interval artillery, machine guns and rifles fired at the masses. Entire ranks were mowed down, but they kept coming. Defenders withheld fire until the enemy reached the barbed wire entanglements and the glacis of the forts. Masses of Germans kept coming again and again. They succeeded in reaching the wire, despite tremendous losses and thy failed to reach the trench parapets. General Leman ordered a counterattack by the 11th Brigade, consisting of 11th and 31st Regiments under General Bertrand. The Belgians advanced with fixed bayonets and the Germans retreated.
All day long, Belgian forces and fortress artillery successfully checked the German advance. In the vicinity of Evegnee, the Belgians took 800 prisoners.
In the north, fighting concentrated around Fort Barchon. At 1000, after a preliminary bombardment, elements of the German 53rd Regiment, 27th Brigade, approached the fort, threatening the gorge. They were thrown back by infantry fire and by the quick-firing 5.7cm guns and by counterattacks of the 11th Brigade. By 1700 the German attack had abated, but bombardment of Barchon and Evegnee by 21cm mortars of the 27th located at Mortous and Bolland, continued.
At 1430 main elements of the 34th Brigade arrived in the northern sector. By 2230 two regiments had forded the Meuse at Lixhe. Further south, the 14th advanced to the line Melen-Soumagne, the 11th to the east of Chaudfontaine. The Germans in this vicinity had met only small patrols. In the sector Vesdre-Ourthe, the 38th marched on Beaufays to menace Fort Embourg and to protect the flanks of the 11th. Behind the 38th was the 43rd, near the confluence of the Ourthe and Ambleve.
In the Meuse sector, two platoons of 2nd Lancers came upon the lead cavalry patrols of the 38th Brigade, some 500 strong. The lancers set up a defensive position in the cemetery of Plaineveaux, in the Forest of Beauregard, near Boncelles. By 2000, forward elements of the 38th reached Plaineveaux and engaged the Belgians in combat. 2nd Lancers had 75% casualties.
THE ATTACK ON THE FORTS
By the evening of 7 August, German forces were within 1 to 2 kilometres of the forts, which were pounded by German artillery throughout the night. During the night, the fighting continued in a surreal atmosphere. Soldiers clashed under the powerful beams of the fortress searchlights; grotesque images of death were illuminated by the constant flashes of exploding shells. Men fought in every sector, and in every sector the valiant Belgian defenders began to feel the weight of the German attack, and in some areas, began to break.
Fresh attacks were delivered in the Meuse-Vesdre and Ourthe-Meuse sectors. Fort Barchon was attacked from the northeast by Germans on the road from Dalhem to Jupille, passing by Rabozee. Guns of Barchon and Pontisse bombarded the attackers. As the Germans reached Rabozee, they were fired on from a trench at right angles to the road which flanked the position. Heavy losses were inflicted from a second, concealed trench. Bayonet fighting ensured. By dawn over 400 Germans lay dead in the fields.
There were also attacks during the night at Fort Boncelles. Defence of this position was very difficult because the Germans advanced under cover of the Forests of Plaineveaux, Neuville, and Vequee, and the Forest of Begnac, a continuation of the St. Lambert woods, which reached all the way to Trooz on the Meuse. Here, the Hanoverians advanced by way of Francorchamps, Spa, Stoumont, Aywaille, and Esneux.
At 1130 on the 8th, the Germans began shelling Forts Embourg and Boncelles. Shellfire was very well directed, exploding on the parapets. An infantry attack followed. Infantry attacked the trenches in the gaps and were mown down by machine guns and from the guns of the forts. The first attack was repulsed. At 0300, a fresh assault was launched. The Germans crept to the trenches and attacked. The searchlights of the forts were turned on them and they were annihilated. The attackers fell by the hundreds. Succeeding waves crawled over dead comrades to the trench parapets. Hand-to-hand fighting continued for 5 hours. The defense started to give. General Leman dispatched men of the 12th, 9th, and 15th Regiments to assist. Counterattacks stopped the advance. Of the defenders of Fort Boncelles, 9 were killed and 40 wounded. 1,400 interval troops were killed (men of the 1st Chasseurs, 9th Regiment). The statement by those who cleaned up the battlefield the following morning that 10,000 German bodies were removed was never officially admitted or confirmed.
Similar fighting took place at Fleron and Chaudfontaine and in the gaps between Fleron and Evegnee. At 1900 on 8 August, Germans dug in 800 meters from Retinne attacked the outposts of Evegnee. The gap between Fleron and Evegnee was defended by a trench 150 meters long at Surfosse. At 2330, the Germans advanced on the trench and were set back with murderous fire from the thinly manned trench. Fighting for the trench continued until 0230. The Germans finally silenced the position by 0400.
By now it was evident that the Belgians were fighting at a fever pitch. Not only that, but many believed that they could defeat the mighty German army. An example of this confidence is depicted in the narrative of the men fighting in the Evegnee-Fleron gap, under command of Commandant Munaut. He noticed that his men were firing blindly at the advancing Germans, failing to look through the loopholes in the parapets while they fired, and missing their targets which were only 100 meters away. Munaut noticed that the German aim was no better and decided to show his men how bad it was. He jumped on to the parapet and took a step towards the enemy – not one German bullet struck him. The act gave his troops new-found confidence.
At 0230 the 34th marched south out of Hermee and quickly came under fire of Fort Pontisse. 3 companies were ordered to take out the Belgian artillery positions but discovered the fire was coming from inside the fort. The companies found themselves at the foot of the glacis, unable to advance. Between Pontisse and Liers, the 90th Fusilier Regiment attacked the interval trenches, but were caught by a heavy crossfire from the Milmort and Rhee forts. Suffering heavy loses and becoming pinned and disorganised after their Commanding officer was killed leading a charge, they were forced to withdraw.
Heavy, bloody fighting continued throughout the morning, resulting with failure of 90th Fusilier Regiment to take the Milmort and Rhee forts. The failure of the taking of Herstal postponed the planned taking of Liege. Thus, the failure to penetrate the fortress interval positions was starting to create dangerous consequences for whole timing of the plan to march into France and circling Paris.
While resistance in the vicinity of Pontisse, Barchon, and Boncelles was stiff, the Germans still unable to penetrate via the intervals. Many of the routes between the forts were heavily wooded, in deep cuts, out of the line of sight of the fortress guns. (Where attacking forces were spotted, the guns were very effective). Thus, throughout the night of 8-9 August, the Germans attempted to penetrate the gap between Barchon and Meuse, and the Evegnee-Fleron gap to fight their way into the city. At 1000, the 165th Regiment fought its way to the heights at Jupille, to the east of Chartreuse, by way of Queue-du-Bois and Bellaire. At each step, the Belgian resistance was fierce and fighting was murderous, and eventually being forced to retire.
With the failure to capture the hills overlooking the city of Liege, German forces unable to carry out the planned bombardment the Citadel and the city. The bombardment would continue throughout the night. Meanwhile, General Lundendorff’s launched a attack to seize key locations in the city, including the bridges. However, by this time, General Leman 3rd Division from Liege, was heavily dug in, and with Artillery support from the Citadel and close forts, General Lundendorff’s force was stalled, after several further attacks, the German High Command conceded that the continued attack should be halted, after General Lundendorff was killed leading a third attack.
The communiqué of 9th August to the German High Command announced that the Fortress of Liege had failed to fall.. Von Emmich's troops marched out of range of the forts guns to regroup and to wait for the arrival of the heavy Austrian Mortars and the Grupps 420mm Guns. The forts, especially those of the left bank, remained in Belgium hands. Until they fell and the roads and railroads west of Liege were opened, the huge German Army was going nowhere.
POINTS OF DIVERGENCE:
1. The 2nd Battalion, 12th Line Regiment at the time had no Machine Guns attached to them. Although the held up the German force for a short time and inflicted heavy causalities they were forced to withdraw. With the addition of the Regiments organic Machine Gun Company - 12 Machine guns, this would provide the battalion the firepower to prevent the successful pinning of the advancing German Infantry. With the failure to cross the river Meuse, this would hold up the advance and delay the bringing up of the Heavy Artillery to start the bombardment of the Belgium forts.
2. The Hussar Regiments turned the 2nd Battalion, 12th Line Regiment’s flank, forcing them to withdraw in good order.
3. The Pontoon bridge was built at Lixhe without any interference due to the 12th Line Regiment withdrawing on the 6th August.
4. The German 90th Fusilier Regiment was able to penetrate the trench line and eventually made it to the Milmort and Rhee forts. Forcing the Belgium defenders to retreat to Liege after Herstal had fallen
5. After the fall of Herstal the Germans were able to march into the city of Liege.
6. The German 165th Infantry Regiment were able to capture the heights of Jupille, allowing them to them to shell the defenders at Liege
7. The Belgium 3rd Infantry Division which was defending Liege was withdrawn after the hills over looking the city had fallen.