Chapter 0177: The Battle of Liège Fortress

On August 4, the German army crossed the border and advanced towards the Liège Fortress. To capture this vital stronghold, the Germans formed the Meuse Army, consisting of the 11th, 14th, 27th, 34th, 38th, and 43rd Infantry Brigades—totaling over 59,800 men with more than 100 cannons, all under the command of General Otto von Emmich. 

However, the Belgian forces stationed at Liège numbered more than 36,000 troops with 252 artillery pieces, in addition to the hundreds of cannons mounted on the fortress itself. In terms of firepower, the Germans were at a significant disadvantage. 

Liège, situated at the confluence of the Meuse and Ourthe rivers, between the Ardennes forest in the south, Dutch Maastricht, and the Flemish plains to the northwest, held strategic importance. The Meuse River, running through deep gorges, provided the city with a natural barrier. The main railway from Germany to Brussels passed through Liège, eventually leading to Paris. Both Schlieffen and Moltke planned to use this railway to transport troops into France. However, to achieve this, they first had to take the Liège Fortress.

The Liège Fortress comprised twelve forts, located 6-8 kilometers from the city, with 3-5 kilometers between each. Six forts on the eastern bank faced Germany, while the six on the western bank encircled the city. These forts resembled medieval castles buried underground, with only a triangular top visible on the surface, where domed covers concealed all the gun turrets. Most of the structures were subterranean, with sloped tunnels connecting the turrets, ammunition depots, and fire control rooms. The complex included 400 cannons, the largest being a 210mm howitzer. Small turrets at the corners of the triangular tops housed rapid-fire guns and machine guns, controlling the slopes leading up to the forts. Each fort was surrounded by a 9-meter-deep trench, with a steel observation tower capable of being lowered underground, equipped with a searchlight. Around 400 soldiers manned each major fort, comprising two artillery companies and one infantry company.

Before the war, in an effort to maintain neutrality, Belgium had deployed six infantry divisions and one cavalry division in various directions to counter any invaders. The 1st Division was stationed in Ghent facing Britain, the 2nd in Antwerp, the 3rd in Liège facing Germany, and the 4th and 5th faced France in Namur, Charleroi, and Mons. The 6th Division and cavalry were centrally located in Brussels.

On August 3, King Albert formally took command of the Belgian army. He personally appointed the 63-year-old General Gérard Leman as the commander of the 3rd Division and the military governor of Liège. The King ordered him to defend his position to the death.

The Belgians placed undue reliance on Brialmont's meticulously designed fortifications. The garrison was understrength, composed mostly of reservists, with only one officer per company. Trenches and barbed-wire obstacles had only begun to be dug on August 2 to defend the gaps between the forts, and buildings and trees that obstructed artillery fire had just started to be cleared. When the Germans launched their assault, these measures were barely underway.

After arriving at Liège, the Germans immediately launched an attack. Although the Belgian defenders were no match for the Germans in terms of combat capability, they had the advantage of the fortress's formidable defenses. While the Germans were able to defeat the Belgian forces outside the fortress, capturing the stronghold itself proved to be a far more difficult task.

Attempting to pass the fortress without first securing it was akin to courting death. The cannons mounted on the fortress would exact a heavy toll on any German troops attempting to move through the area.

On August 5, the Germans began their assault on the various forts of the Liège Fortress. However, it quickly became apparent that the German forces were severely hampered by their lack of sufficient artillery. Despite the bravery of the German soldiers, they were still flesh and blood, vulnerable to being torn apart by the fortress's relentless bombardment.

"Boom! Boom!" The German artillery fired frantically, attempting to provide support for the infantry attacking Liège. But the relatively small-caliber howitzers had little effect on the heavily fortified strongholds. Additionally, the Germans were outnumbered in artillery, leaving them unable to offer adequate fire support for their advancing infantry.

"Fire! Blast those damn Germans to hell!" shouted a Belgian officer.

The Belgian artillery, stationed inside the fortresses, unleashed a relentless barrage. Shells rained down like hail, exploding amidst the advancing German ranks. Despite the Germans spreading out their formations, many soldiers were still shredded by the deadly artillery fire.

"Boom!" A massive fortress shell hit the ground, leaving a crater several meters wide. Nearby German soldiers were killed instantly by the blast.

"Rat-tat-tat!" Belgian heavy machine guns, perched atop the fortresses, opened fire. Bullets poured down like a storm, mowing down many German soldiers in a sea of blood.

"Damn it! The Belgians may not be great fighters, but their fortifications are impenetrable. If we can't destroy their defenses, we'll never capture Liège!" Major General von Wachtel, commander of the German 11th Infantry Brigade, watched in fury as his troops fell in the blood-soaked fields. To avoid further casualties, he had no choice but to order a temporary halt to the assault.

General Otto von Emmich, commander of the Meuse Army, was equally grim-faced. The assault on Liège was the first major battle of the war for the Germans. If they were stalled here, it would severely impact German morale. Worse still, if those above started assigning blame, it would be more than he could bear.

Despite launching several subsequent attacks, von Emmich's forces were unable to break through the Belgian defenses. Even the deployment of advanced weapons like Zeppelin airships and German-manufactured tanks proved ineffective against the fortress. The formidable stronghold remained an immovable obstacle in the German advance.

With no other option, General von Emmich had to report the situation to the General Staff. They couldn't afford to be delayed at Liège any longer. A breakthrough was urgently needed, or the enemy would have more time to respond, tipping the scales against them.