Battles & Campaigns · 1914
Battle of Liège
Liège, Belgium
What happened
German armies invaded Belgium on their way to France and reached Liège, ringed by forts. Leman refused to surrender, saying 'You must fight your way through'. Ludendorff talked the city's garrison into giving up the city on 7 August, but the forts held out until huge German siege guns forced them to surrender one by one.
Why it matters
It was the first battle of the First World War. Historians disagree on how long it delayed the German march into France, from about two to five days.
What came next
The Belgian army fell back toward Antwerp, and Brussels was taken without a fight on 20 August.
Did you know?
France awarded the city of Liège the Légion d'Honneur for its resistance in 1914.
Timeline
- 5 Aug 1914Leman refuses to surrender.
- 7 Aug 1914The city of Liège is surrendered.
- 16 Aug 1914The last fort surrenders.
- 20 Aug 1914Brussels is occupied.