Opposing Forces

Liège was defended by the 3rd Division. Lieutenant-General Leman served as Military Governor of Liège and commander of the 3rd Division and the Fortress Troops. The 3rd Division comprised: four mixed brigades, each with two infantry regiments, one artillery group (three batteries, four pieces each), one company of machine gunners, and one platoon of gendarmes.

       - The 9th Mixed Brigade was commanded by Major-General Gillis and consisted of the 9th and 29th Infantry Regiments. Its Artillery Group was comprised of the 43rd, 44th, and 45th Artillery Batteries. Each regiment had three battalions of four companies each. Each company had three platoons, while the remaining brigades had two platoons in each company.

       - The 11th Mixed Brigade was commanded by Major-General Bertrand and consisted of the 11th and 31st Infantry Regiments. The Artillery Group was made up of the 37th, 38th, and 39th Artillery Batteries.

       - The 12th Mixed Brigade was commanded by Major-General Vermeulen. It consisted of the 12th and 32nd Infantry Regiments, and its Artillery Group consisted of the 40th, 41st, and 42nd batteries.

       - The 14th Mixed Brigade was commanded by Major-General Andringa. It was made up of the 14th and 34th Infantry Regiments. The 46th, 47th, and 48th Artillery Batteries made up the Artillery Group.

       - The 3rd Artillery Regiment was commander by Colonel Berger and consisted of one group of three batteries (49th, 40th, and 51st).

       - The 3rd Engineer Battalion was commanded by Captain-Commandant Ver Eecke. It was made up of two platoons of pioneers.

       - Telegraph communications were managed by the 3rd Telegraphist Section.

       - 2nd Lancers were commanded by Colonel Cumont and consisted of 2 Groups of two Squadrons each.

       - The 15th Mixed Brigade reinforced the Liege garrison on 5 August and consisted of two regiments of the 1st and 4th Chasseurs. Each regiment was made up of four companies. Companies of the 1st had two platoons each and those of the 4th had three. The 15th also had a platoon of gendarmes and an Artillery Group (61st, 62nd, and 63rd batteries

The fortress troops were commanded by Major General Janssen, and consisted of four reserve infantry regiments. Each regiment had three battalions. Each battalion had four companies and each company had two platoons. The 14th Regiment had four battalions/three companies/two platoons. The 9th Regiment was commanded by Captain-Commandant Lemaire; the 11th Regiment was commanded by Major Jaumont; the 12th Regiment by Major Jeanne, and the 14th by Major Haneuse. Total number of rifles was 7530.

Liege had one Artillery Regiment commanded by Colonel Marcin, and consisted of 12 batteries, one at each fort, for a total of 78 guns, not counting the 5.7s.

Four reserve batteries (13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th), were formed on mobilization.

       - For interval defense: six batteries of four-8cm pieces; three batteries of four-8.7cm mortars; two batteries of four-12cm pieces (Model 1862); and three batteries of four-15cm pieces.

       - For defense of the Citadelle: three batteries of four-8cm pieces. It was also planned to place two batteries of 12cm pieces, and three batteries of 12cm pieces at the Citadelle for interval defense, for use on the bridges, and to cooperate in the defense of the right bank bridgehead.

Colonel Lemiere commanded the fortress engineers, which consisted of one battalion and four companies; one company of pontonniers (bridge-building engineers); one company of telegraphists, and two companies of sappers/miners.

Fortress troops also ran the supply, transportation, gendarmerie, and depot.

Also part of the defense was the Civic Guard of Liege: infantry, artillery and 1 squadron of horseguards - 27 officers, 463 men.

Not counting the Civic Guard, the Fortress Troops could count 8490 rifles and 180 guns, not including the 5.7cms.

Thus the 3rd Division, including the 15th Mixed Brigade and the Fortress Troops would face the German onslaught with 31,990 rifles, 252 guns, 492 sabers, and 30 machine guns.

According to the Schlieffen Plan, 3 German Armies, the First, Second, and Third, would cross Belgium then turn south to envelop French forces. These armies would pass through Belgium and Luxembourg, pivoting on the fortress of Metz. General Von Kluck's First Army was the right wing. It would begin its march at Aix-la-Chapelle. Second Army, under General Von Bulow, waited on the border of the province of Liège. Its mission was to secure the routes through the Liège gap. Third Army would march through Luxembourg.

The vanguard of the German forces, which would march on and clear Liège to make way for the First and Second Armies, was called the "Army of the Meuse," and was led by General Von Emmich. His chief of staff was Colonel Freiheer Von der Wenze, Graf Von Lambsforff. It was comprised of the following units:

       - 34th Infantry Brigade of IX Corps, from Schwerin, led by Major-General Von Krawewll, consisting of 89th Grenadiers, 90th Fusilliers, 25th Infantry Regiment, 9th Chasseur Battalion, 5th Squadron of the 16th Dragoons, 2nd Group of the 60th Field Artillery Regiment (howitzers), 1st company of the 24th Pioneers, 1st company of the 7th Pioneers, and the 3rd Company of the 4th Pioneers.

       - 27th Infantry Brigade of VII Corps, from Cologne, led by Colonel Von Massow, consisting of 16th Infantry Regiment, 53rd Infantry Regiment, 7th Chasseur Battalion, 2nd Squadron of the 16th Uhlans, 2nd Group of the 43rd Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Battery of 21cm mortars from the 9th Artillery Regiment.

       - 14th Infantry Brigade of IV Corps, from Halberstadt, led by Major-General Von Wussow, consisting of 27th Infantry Regiment, 165th Infantry Regiment, 4th Chasseur Battalion, 1st Squadron of the 10th Hussars, 2nd Group of the 4th Field Artillery Regiment, 7th Battery of 21cm mortars of the 4th Artillery Regiment, and 4th Company of the 24th Pioneers.

       - 11th Infantry Brigade of III Corps, from Brandenburg, led by Major-General Von Wachter, consisting of 20th Infantry Regiment, 35th Fusilier Regiment, 3rd Chasseur Battalion, 5th Squadron of 3rd Hussars, 2nd Group of 39th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Company of 3rd Pioneers.

       - 38th Infantry Brigade of X Corps, from Hanover, led by Colonel Von Oertzen, consisting of 73rd Fusilier Regiment, 74th Infantry Regiment, 10 Chasseur Battalion, 4th Squadron of the 17th Hussars, 1st Group of 26th Field Artillery Regiment, 1 company from 10th Pioneers.

       - 43rd Brigade of XI Corps, from Cassel, led by Major-General Von Hulsen, consisting of 82nd Infantry Regiment, 83rd Infantry Regiment, 1 squadron of 6th Cuirassiers, 1 group of 21st Field Artillery Regiment.

       - 1 Squadron of monoplanes

       - The Zeppelin "Cöln."

Each brigade was comprised of 2 regiments each (3 in 34th; the 25th stayed at Aix-la-Chapelle); 1 battalion of chasseurs; 1 cavalry squadron; 1 artillery group of 10.5cms or 7.7s; 1 company of pioneers.

The Army of the Meuse also included the 2nd Cavalry Corps, led by Lieutenant-General Von der Marwitz (2nd (led by Major-General Von Krane), 4th (led by Lieutenant-General Von Garnier), and 9th (led by Major-General Von Bülow) Divisions); 2 batteries of 4 21cm mortars; 1 squadron of aircraft; 1 zeppelin for aerial bombing. Total size was 59,800, with 35,000 rifles, 100 machine guns, 100 cannon, and 14,000 sabres.

Lines of march were as follows: 34th Brigade would march north of Liège to the left bank of the Meuse to force the line of Loncin-Pontisse; 14th Brigade would march on the interval Evegnee-Fleron; 11th Brigade would march on the interval Fleron-Chaudfontaine; and 38th and 43rd Brigades would march south of Liège, to the sector Ourthe-Meuse.

German forces would set out across the border at 0800 on 4 August. They would reach the fortress line on 5 and 6 August.

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