Deleted member 1487
would the belgians resist a french attempt to pass through their country in ww1? What would have been the effect on their society and how would the british react?
would the belgians resist a french attempt to pass through their country in ww1? What would have been the effect on their society and how would the british react?
If the Schlieffen Plan didn't go into effect, Belgium would remain neutral.I don't follow the point of this thread. For one, the French, British, and the Belgians were allies during WWI. If you're postulating that the French try their own variant of the Schlieffen Plan, this would of course necessitate the Germans not trying the same thing themselves. In any case, the Belgians would be nuts to refuse French/British help in WWI, as a part of the front went straight through their nation.
Yes, more or less, that's it.Actually, I suppose you could have a scenario in which the Germans go East, the Brits stay out for some internal reason (Ireland's the usual), then the French either sit and wait or - following a failed attack into Alsace-Lorraine - attempt the route through Belgium (and perhaps south Holland), upsetting everyone. In fact, I believe that's Lord Insane's current TL.
If it occurred before the German invasion, then I could see Belgium defending itself against French violation of its sovereignty. I think it had border fortresses facing the French border resembling the Liege network in the east. Also, wasn't the Belgian army positioned around Brussels, ready to strike out in either direction?
As already stated, Liége and Namur were not designed to withstand a regular siege, but consisted of a ring of forts (12 at Liége, 9 at Namur) which controlled the free use of the Meuse bridges, and marked a favourable line of battle. Constructed about 1890, these forts, of triangular or rectangular design, had vaulted casemates of 2m. 50-cm. Concrete and were completely out of date; they were armed with two 15-cm. guns in cupolas, two 12-cm. guns and two-21-cm. howitzers, besides some pom-poms in “éclipse” cupolas, all firing black powder.
It is my impression the Belgians denied the Germans passing trough Belgium because they didn't want to see their neutrality violated. I don't see why a French ultimatum would've been any different. And any less suicidal for the Belgians upon refusal.
And Belgians allied with France/Britain? They were on the same side. But Belgian soldiers were never under direct allied command.