Belgian government moves from Brussels to Antwerp
On 17 August 1914 the government of Belgium left Brussels and moved to Antwerp. After the fall of the forts of Liège the German army was free to advance into the interior of the country, and the capital lay directly in its path.
The fortress on the Scheldt
Antwerp was Belgium’s largest port and the country’s strongest fortress. It was surrounded by rings of forts, and pre-war plans envisaged that in the event of invasion it would become the last bastion of defence, the so-called national redoubt. From Antwerp the Belgian army could threaten the flank and rear of the German forces marching on France, and through the port it could keep in touch with Britain.
The Belgian field army, commanded in person by King Albert I, was also falling back on the fortress. The King judged it better to keep the army intact than to risk its destruction in open battle against superior German forces.
Brussels an open city
There was no intention of defending Brussels. It was declared an open city to spare it destruction and casualties among its inhabitants. On 20 August German troops entered the Belgian capital. For many hours long columns of soldiers marched through the city before the eyes of its silent inhabitants, and Brussels came under an occupation that lasted until November 1918.
Significance
Antwerp held out until October 1914. After its siege the Belgian army withdrew westwards to the river Yser, where it held on to a small strip of unoccupied territory. The government then moved to France, to Sainte-Adresse near Le Havre, where it remained until the end of the war. King Albert I commanded the army at the front for four years, becoming a symbol of Belgian resistance.
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Meanwhile
(04)Elsewhere in the same days.
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- 18 August 1914 · Middle EastPersian foreign minister Vosugh od-Dowleh resignsChronicles of the time record that on 18 August 1914 Persia's foreign minister Vosugh od-Dowleh resigned. The country faced a choice of stance towards the war.
- 15 August 1914 · War at seaBritish and French squadrons join forces at the entrance to the AdriaticOn 15 August 1914 British and French warships joined forces at the entrance to the Adriatic to blockade the Austro-Hungarian fleet together.
- 15 August 1914 · AfricaGermans occupy Taveta in British East AfricaOn 15 August 1914 a German detachment under Tom von Prince crossed the border of British East Africa and took Taveta at the foot of Kilimanjaro.
Related events
(04)The same battle, people or subject.
- 19 August 1914 · Western FrontBelgian army withdraws from the Gete to AntwerpOn 19 August 1914 the Belgian army withdrew from the Gete to the fortress of Antwerp. In the towns it left, German troops committed crimes against civilians.
- 25 August 1914 · Western FrontBattle of Mechelen beginsOn 25 August 1914 the Belgian army sallied out of the fortress of Antwerp and attacked the Germans near Mechelen. It was the first Belgian sortie from Antwerp.
- 27 August 1914 · Western FrontBattle of Mechelen endsOn 27 August 1914 the Belgian army's first sortie from Antwerp ended. After three days of fighting near Mechelen the Belgians returned behind the line of forts.
- 27 September 1914 · Western FrontSiege of Antwerp beginsOn 27 September 1914 the Germans began the siege of Antwerp, Belgium's last fortress. The next day heavy mortars began to smash the outer forts.