Germans capture Namur
- Category:
- Military operations
- Front:
- Western Front
- Date:
- 25 August 1914
- Author:
- Łukasz Skowroń
- Battle:
- Siege of Namur
- Tags:
- Namur, Belgium, Germany, siege artillery
On 25 August 1914 the Germans took the last forts of the fortress of Namur. That day the forts of Emines, Dave and Suarlée surrendered. The Belgian fortress at the confluence of the Sambre and the Meuse, attacked on 21 August, fell faster than anyone had expected.
Five days of siege
Namur was defended by a ring of nine forts, built at the end of the 19th century to a design by General Henri Brialmont. The fort garrisons and the Belgian 4th Division, some 37,000 soldiers in all, were under the command of General Michel. Facing them was the group of General Max von Gallwitz from the 2nd Army, numbering more than 100,000 men and supported by the heaviest siege artillery: German 420 mm M-Gerät mortars and Austro-Hungarian 305 mm Škoda mortars.
The bombardment, begun on 21 August, smashed the concrete vaults and armoured turrets of the forts, which had been built with much lighter shells in mind. On 23 August the German Guard infantry took the forts of Marchovelette and Cognelée in the north-east and in the evening entered the town. The same day Fort Maizeret fell. General Michel, judging further defence impossible, led the 4th Division out to the south. On 24 August the forts of Andoy, Malonne and Saint-Héribert fell. The last three, Emines, Dave and Suarlée, held out until 25 August.
The balance
The Belgians lost at Namur, according to various estimates, about 15,000 soldiers: killed, wounded and taken prisoner. More than 5,000 Belgian soldiers were taken prisoner, together with French troops from the few units that had managed to come to the fortress’s aid. German losses were many times smaller, amounting to about 900 men. During the days of the town’s occupation part of the centre of Namur burned down, including the town hall on the Place d’Armes.
Some of the defenders, however, managed to escape. A column of the 4th Division fought its way through the region between the Sambre and the Meuse to Mariembourg and on into France, although its rearguard was surrounded at Ermeton-sur-Biert. About 12,000 soldiers reached France and from there returned to Belgium by sea to join the army defending Antwerp.
Significance
The fall of Namur opened the way for the Germans along the Meuse into France and deprived the Allies of their last strongpoint in the valley of that river. It coincided with the French defeat in the Battle of Charleroi and the British retreat from Mons. It also showed, as Liège had before, that 19th-century fortresses could not withstand modern siege artillery. Soon the heavy mortars were moved to the French fortress of Maubeuge.
Remember the articles you have read? Only in this browser; nothing is sent anywhere.How it works
Read ·
Spotted a mistake?Report an error
Meanwhile
(04)Elsewhere in the same days.
- 25 August 1914 · Eastern FrontEnd of the Battle of KraśnikOn 25 August 1914 the Austro-Hungarian First Army took Kraśnik and the Russian Fourth Army fell back towards Lublin. It was Austria-Hungary's first victory.
- 25 August 1914 · Balkan FrontEnd of the first invasion of SerbiaAt the end of August 1914 the Serbs recaptured Šabac and the last Austro-Hungarian units withdrew across the Drina and Sava. The first invasion ended in defeat.
- 25 August 1914 · Asia and the PacificJapan breaks off diplomatic relations with Austria-HungaryOn 25 August 1914 Japan broke off diplomatic relations with Austria-Hungary. The ambassador, Baron Ladislaus Müller von Szentgyörgy, left Tokyo.
- 25 August 1914 · Asia and the PacificJapan declares a state of war with Austria-HungaryOn 25 August 1914 Japan and Austria-Hungary found themselves at war. The reason was the Austro-Hungarian cruiser Kaiserin Elisabeth, stationed at Tsingtao.
Related events
(04)The same battle, people or subject.
- 21 August 1914 · Western FrontGermans attack the fortress of NamurOn 21 August 1914 German siege artillery began shelling the forts of Namur. The fortress, held by the Belgian 4th Division, fell after five days.
- 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.
- 25 August 1914 · Western FrontSiege of Maubeuge beginsOn 25 August 1914 German troops began to encircle the French fortress of Maubeuge on the Sambre, left behind by the retreating Allies.
- 7 September 1914 · Western FrontCapitulation of MaubeugeOn 7 September 1914, after almost two weeks of siege and bombardment, the French fortress of Maubeuge surrendered to the Germans. Its garrison was captured.