“This war is not our war. The British Empire has not been attacked. Whilst we will, undoubtedly remain vigilant in this time of peril for the European continent, we will remain neutral. Armed neutrality shall be our watchword.”- Herbert Asquith, British Prime Minister. 4/8/1914
The build up to the critical moment.
On July 26th 1914, French intelligence picked up reports of German intention to attack France through Belgium. These reports were passed onto the Belgian Government with the advice of full mobilisation for the Belgian Army and the statement that France would support any defence of Belgian territory. The Belgian Government took the reports seriously, and on 28th July, partial mobilization was called, publicly as a sign that none of the great powers should consider Belgium as an open passageway to the other..
On the same day, the French offered to send a small force of 20,000 men and a squadron of the French Air Force into Belgium which it was stated could only be used in the eventuality of a German invasion. The French importantly decided to leave this as an open offer and stated the troops would be ready whenever called upon. Initially the Belgians rejected the offer on the grounds that it would imperil Belgian independence and neutrality.
On 2nd August, the Germans handed the Belgians an ultimatum. Either accept German passage through Belgium in a German assault on France or be considered an enemy. Within hours, thousands of French troops began crossing the Belgian border, with the blessing of the Belgian Government, this occurred alongside the beginnings of a full mobilisation.
The lights burned into the night in the cabinet rooms of number ten Downing Street. In allowing the French Army into Belgium before the German invasion, was Belgium acting in an aggressive manner towards Germany? After all, officially at any rate, Belgium was a neutral power. The cabinet voted on the matter.
The position was officially that the Belgian escalation had negated the British need to defend Belgium. Great Britain would remain neutral in the continental war. The French decried this example of Perfidious Albion, but it was to matter not. The defence of Western Europe was to lie in French hands.
On 4th August, Germany invaded Belgium. The Belgian Army heroically defended its positions but was pushed back, as the number of French troops increased however, the front stabilised. This war was destined to be one of attrition.
The build up to the critical moment.
On July 26th 1914, French intelligence picked up reports of German intention to attack France through Belgium. These reports were passed onto the Belgian Government with the advice of full mobilisation for the Belgian Army and the statement that France would support any defence of Belgian territory. The Belgian Government took the reports seriously, and on 28th July, partial mobilization was called, publicly as a sign that none of the great powers should consider Belgium as an open passageway to the other..
On the same day, the French offered to send a small force of 20,000 men and a squadron of the French Air Force into Belgium which it was stated could only be used in the eventuality of a German invasion. The French importantly decided to leave this as an open offer and stated the troops would be ready whenever called upon. Initially the Belgians rejected the offer on the grounds that it would imperil Belgian independence and neutrality.
On 2nd August, the Germans handed the Belgians an ultimatum. Either accept German passage through Belgium in a German assault on France or be considered an enemy. Within hours, thousands of French troops began crossing the Belgian border, with the blessing of the Belgian Government, this occurred alongside the beginnings of a full mobilisation.
The lights burned into the night in the cabinet rooms of number ten Downing Street. In allowing the French Army into Belgium before the German invasion, was Belgium acting in an aggressive manner towards Germany? After all, officially at any rate, Belgium was a neutral power. The cabinet voted on the matter.
The position was officially that the Belgian escalation had negated the British need to defend Belgium. Great Britain would remain neutral in the continental war. The French decried this example of Perfidious Albion, but it was to matter not. The defence of Western Europe was to lie in French hands.
On 4th August, Germany invaded Belgium. The Belgian Army heroically defended its positions but was pushed back, as the number of French troops increased however, the front stabilised. This war was destined to be one of attrition.
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